Francine Fochler Biere

author

Arizona can seem harsh and bare, but it can also speak in its own unique way. Nights of stars and lightning, days of sunrises and sunsets, and dark afternoons of thunder. It can welcome or it can...view moreArizona can seem harsh and bare, but it can also speak in its own unique way. Nights of stars and lightning, days of sunrises and sunsets, and dark afternoons of thunder. It can welcome or it can reject. Sometimes it’s a longed-for dream, a delightful retreat, or dry and dusty landscapes. It’s a blush of sunrise that magically turns into a fiery morning sky. It’s filled with charming small towns colored by nature in brown, magenta, green, turquoise, orange, and yellow. It’s a blue sky so bright and intense it almost hurts to look at. I hope readers will taste the food, smell the fragrances, feel the warmth, see the unique beauty, and hear the sounds of the high desert. I’ve lived in the southeastern part of the state for more than 30 years. I fell in love with its dramatic beauty which is a constant inspiration for my fiction and non-fiction writing. Arizona is a land of contrasts with mountain vistas and desert canyons. It has a personality all its own that captures the imagination. The beauty of the Southwest captivated me and caught me up in her wondrous glory. Whether it’s the splendor of a sunset at the Grand Canyon or a high desert sunrise, Arizona seems always new yet comfortably old. Its past is filled with layers of cultures, its present saturated with diversity, and its future waiting to be unwrapped. There’s an honesty here in Arizona and much of the Southwest – there's little pretense in the sweeping desert landscape or lofty mountain tops. My writing is a reflection of all those things, both in phrase and meaning. Whether it’s through fiction, non-fiction, photography, or poetry, I pray that God uses my words to touch hearts and spirits with His love. I am an award-winning journalist, editor, and photojournalist with articles and photographs published in regional newspapers and Christian magazines in Arizona and Europe. I have published one novel, “Death in the Desert” and one Christmas inspiration book, “Christmas Chaos. I have three blogs: “Words from the Heart,” “The Storyteller,” and “Heart’s in Ireland.” view less