Creativity Coach Certification (Cand.)
Spiritual Direction Certification, Mars Hill Graduate School, 2002
M.A. (Journalism), Wheaton College, 1989
B.A. (Psychology), Grand Rapids Baptist College, 1986

Article and fiction writing.

Milton’s Cloud, a 420-page contemporary novel manuscript (being marketed).
Tending the Holiday Blues (being marketed).
 “God authors rich romances.” The Herald. Cornerstone University. March 2009.
“Dessert Medicine review.” The Grand Rapids Press, November 2008.
“We need gender redemption.” The Herald. Cornerstone University. October 2007.
“ ‘Madman’ brings life to story behind Gospel.” The Grand Rapids Press. Section J/8. 4 Nov. 2006.
“Crazy Horse and TNT.” Media Ethics. Ed. Clifford Christians, et al. White Plains: Longman, 1997.
“Our Daily Bread.” Popular Religious Magazines of the United States. Ed. P. Mark Fackler and Charles Lippy. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1995.

I have authored over 100 articles published in newspapers and magazines.

What can students expect from your classes? From your division?

My students get a writing professor who does the work of writing. I’m enamored with writing, yet I’ve had to work through blocks and fears. So I can pass along not only the craft end of writing but the soul end as well.

Of all the classes that you may teach, which one are you most passionate about?

New for me this year is fiction writing. It has been a real joy to teach. The students care about growing as writers, and studying the craft has helped me revise my own work.

Grow your creativity to live your big life.

Where were you born or raised?

Oceanside, Calif.

Family information:

Married to Dave Beach, my true companion since May 21, 1994. One stepdaughter, Kate, who is now married and lives in Lansing. Gent, my beautiful black part-Friesian horse. Livvie, a timid gray fluff of a feline.

 I live the “literary life,” meaning that my life is full of writing. I write. Also, I am a member of two writing groups. In addition, I co-founded and run the writing conference Breathe. I also work as a writing and creativity coach. Besides writing, I love to scrapbook, walk, travel and play Sequence with Dave. Each day I look forward to spending time with my horse, Gent — whether it’s feeding, brushing or working with him.

I love the emotionally and spiritually intelligent fiction from Sue Monk Kidd and love how she handles God talk in novels, which can easily become inauthentic. She keeps it authentic.

Ezekiel 36:26 means much to me lately: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees.”

I love our freedom to talk about Christ and to critique our Christian culture.

616.949.5300 ext. 1335

Cynthia/Beach|cornerstone/edu