About Us
Sharing God’s light through words and brushstrokes
“If they won’t write the kind of books we want to read, we shall have to write them ourselves…” — C. S. Lewis
My oldest son had already started his class at our homeschool community, and I had some time to spend with my three younger boys before their classes began. Instead of waiting amidst the playful chaos inside, I decided to find a little peace for myself. I ran into Starbucks and picked up a vanilla latte, along with some lukewarm hot chocolates for the boys. Then, I returned to the church parking lot, popped an episode of Do You Know What’s in the Bible? into my minivan’s DVD player, gazed out the window, and let my mind wander. Inspired by C. S. Lewis’s quote, I asked myself, “What kind of book would I want to read?” I opened the Notes app on my phone, and that's when the concept for Becca Gables, her children, and the Tales & Tails bookstore/coffee shop was born. As much as I loved the idea for my book, I knew I wouldn’t be able to bring my story to life until my youngest son had graduated and was out of the house.
But then God brought Ben into my life. After a Bible class he taught one day, we were chatting, and I casually mentioned that I love writing and planned to write a mystery novel someday. He asked me, “Why not start now?” I laughed, convinced there was zero chance I could fit writing into my life. He encouraged me to pray about it, so I did. God responded in His characteristic way—making the seemingly impossible possible. It turned out that Ben also enjoys storytelling and shares similar tastes in themes. He joined me in creating and shaping the plot of Death at the Paper Palace, as well as developing the characters. God then allowed me to find time in my day to write, as I began waking up at 4:30 a.m. twice a week. As divine providence would have it, Ben is also an incredibly talented artist, providing the cover art and chapter illustrations. There’s actually much more to our story and our writing process, and we will share more about both in the future.
Kristin Brellen
Kristin Brellen is the author and writer of the Tales & Tails Mysteries, a cozy mystery series featuring a homeschool mom, her three children, and their whimsical bookshop. She earned her degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in Language Arts from UW-Eau Claire. For as long as she can remember, Kristin has dreamed of creating her own Nancy Drew or Hercule Poirot. Thanks to the encouragement and support of her co-author and by the goodness of God, that dream is now being realized through the character Becca Gables.
Kristin lives in a small Wisconsin town with her husband, four sons, and her faithful feline writing companion, Minnie. Fueled by cups of creamy coffee, she has the joy of homeschooling her children, teaching English grammar and writing to their homeschool community, leading women's Bible study at church, and of course, writing. When her fingertips aren’t on a keyboard, Kristin enjoys reading, exercising, cooking, baking, and watching Hallmark movies.
Ben Alexander
Ben Alexander is the co-author and artist of the Tales & Tails Mysteries. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Divinity. Although he has always been a natural storyteller, he is actually new to the mystery genre and had never read a murder mystery before helping to craft Death at the Paper Palace.
Ben has lived in several states but currently resides in Wisconsin’s heartland with his adorably quirky green parakeet, Rembrandt (Remy, for short). He works a 9-to-5 job, but his greatest passions include teaching weekly adult Bible studies, writing devotions, and occasionally preaching at his church when requested. Additionally, he is a self-taught professional artist, contributing the cover art and chapter illustrations for Death at the Paper Palace. An accomplished home chef, Ben’s kitchen is often filled with the aromas of garlic, onions, and wine. In his spare time, he practices martial arts, researches swords, sculpts, and watches Hallmark and Great American Family movies.