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Five Favorite Authors: Books That Illuminate Truth, Beauty, and Goodness

Some writers do more than tell stories—they draw us into a world where every page whispers truth and goodness, illuminating simple joys and deep aches.

The older I get, the more refined my reading taste has become. I don’t have much patience for twaddle (translation: utter nonsense) in literature. Time is limited, and I want my reading life to edify and encourage - not just entertain - me.

Today, I want to celebrate five authors whose books consistently fill my shelves and my soul. Their stories don't just entertain; they shape us, offering comfort, challenge, and a window to wonder. 

Five Favorite Authors that illuminate truth, beauty and goodness

Wendell Berry

Wendell Berry is a poet, novelist, essayist, and farmer whose work is rooted in the rhythms of land, family, and small community. His Port William stories invite us into a tapestry of interconnected lives—quiet, gentle, and imbued with purpose.

Berry’s writing pulses with reverence for creation, humility in the face of mystery, and a fierce, tender hope that small acts of goodness ripple outward. If you long for books that slow your heart and attune it to the sacred ordinary, Berry won’t disappoint.

My personal favorite is Hannah Coulter. I gave this book to my mom to read shortly before she died. She loved it, too, which makes it all the more special to me.

Elizabeth Goudge

Elizabeth Goudge’s novels feel like old friends. Her signature blend of Christian themes, forgiveness, and redemptive suffering creates a world where beauty matters deeply and “happy endings do, in fact, occur”.

Goudge’s love of nature and myth flows through each page, making it easy to believe that everyday moments are glimmers of grace. Her books, especially The Little White Horse and The Dean’s Watch, invite readers to seek goodness even in darkness and to marvel at the healing power of imagination.

I am a member of the Elizabeth Goudge Bookclub on Instagram and Substack. In 2024, I faithfully read one Goudge book each month and attended the online discussions. What a blessing that was! Her novels are sometimes hard to find in print, so if you’re in a used bookstore or at a library sale and find one - snap it up!

Check out Girls Gone By Publishers - they have many of Goudge’s books back in print, along with many other authors.

Elizabeth Musser

Elizabeth Musser’s stories have been called “entertainment with a soul”—and with good reason. Her books, like The Swan House Trilogy and Searching for Eternity, weave together faith, perseverance, and the tenderness of human connection.

Musser’s gift is creating characters who wrestle with real-world struggles yet find hope, always pointing back to Christ’s love. Whether set in Atlanta (hooray!) or woven through the fields of France and Algeria, her novels shine with encouragement, compassion, and a gentle nudge to live bravely.

I first found The Swan House at a used book sale - and loved it so much I sped through the trilogy in a couple of weeks! My Southern heart is always very happy when I read her books. Her latest novel, From The Valley We Rise, is right in the sweet spot of historical fiction that I love!

Katherine Reay

When you dive into a Katherine Reay novel, you enter a world saturated with literary references, heart, and authenticity.

Her fiction—Dear Mr. Knightley, Lizzy & Jane, and The Brontë Plot—draws on classic literature but feels fresh and fun. (Dear Mr. Knightley is one of my all-time favorite books!) Reay writes about real relationships—the messy, layered love between mothers and daughters, friends, and communities—with an emphasis on hope and healing.

Her books celebrate the transformative magic of story itself and leave you feeling both challenged and restored.

In recent years, Katherine Reay has written some spectacular historical fiction as well. I just finished The English Masterpiece and enjoyed it very much! Everything I read by her has become a favorite.

Willa Cather

Willa Cather’s enduring power lies in her evocative depiction of place—her Nebraska prairies and pioneer landscapes aren’t mere backdrops; they’re living, breathing characters. In novels like O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, and O Pioneers, Cather explores courage, nostalgia, longing, and belonging.

Her prose is spare and strong, always saturated with beauty and truth. Cather shows us the profound dignity in ordinary people choosing love, resilience, and faith as they build lives on the edge of the wild.

I haven’t read as many books by Willa Cather as I would like, but I have loved the following three. I’m on a mission to read more.

These authors remind me daily that beauty, goodness, and truth are intertwined—and that true enjoyment and edification can, and should, coexist in the books we cherish.

I hope their stories become dear friends to you as well, shedding light on your own journey and reminding you that wonder is never far away.

What Happens After Your Homeschooler Graduates

The final transcripts are sent, the last math lesson is logged, and—almost without warning—you find your house a little quieter than before.

Years ago, when we first began our homeschool journey, I obsessed over getting it “right.” Would my children be ready for the “real world?” Would I be ready when this chapter closed?

Let me whisper what I wish I could tell my younger self: “It’s going to be okay, friend. Truly, it is.”

Life After Your Homeschooler Graduates

Pause and Breathe: Embrace the Bittersweet

Let’s be honest. When our homeschoolers toss their caps in the air (or maybe they don’t, because we don’t do a lot traditionally, do we?), we often feel a mix of joy, relief, pride, and maybe even a tinge (or two)of sadness—the bittersweet ache of closing a sacred season.

Please know that you aren’t alone if you find yourself a little weepy while cleaning out a closet or driving past your favorite field trip spot. It’s normal to grieve the ebb of togetherness and the routine that carried you for so many years.

Rediscovering Yourself

Homeschooling may have filled your days and focused your purpose, so don’t be surprised if you sense a “now what?” echoing through your heart.

It’s time to rediscover you.

Give yourself permission to explore passions or projects that may have sat on the back burner. Maybe you’ll pick up that book pile, nurture new hobbies, or finally join the Bible study (I highly recommend it—what a blessing it’s been for me to have been in Bible Study Fellowship the past two years!).

Might I also suggest that every parent of adult children read Doing Life With Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut & The Welcome Mat Out. Trust me, it’s the best book you can read during this stage of life!

For some, new work opportunities or volunteering call your name. For others, the deep joy of being present and available for adult children as they chart their own paths becomes its own fulfilling work.

I’ve been blessed to continue my work in the music appreciation curriculum I started so many years ago, while also being a listening ear for my oldest, who is a special needs teacher at a school in our area. I love that I can chat on the phone with her after a challenging day, attend the school’s programs, and even volunteer in her classroom!

There Will Be Unexpected Gifts

Homeschooling equips our children for meaningful, real-life adventures. Don’t be surprised when your graduate calls home, not homesick, but thriving, well-prepared to face fresh challenges with confidence.

Remember: their independence isn’t a sign they’ve forgotten you, but a beautiful fruit of years spent learning and growing together. (I’m having to remind myself of this daily, especially with my youngest as he counts down the days until he returns to college for the fall semester!)

Pour Back Into Community

You now possess a wealth of wisdom—from transcript woes to great ideas for field trips —that’s pure gold to the next generation of homeschool parents.

Consider mentoring, writing, or simply being that welcoming face (with a cup of coffee!) for a family just starting their journey. It’s a way to honor your own experience and keep your heart invested in something meaningful.

My husband and I invest in young families through our church and also through a nonprofit organization we have become involved with. What a blessing it is to take a lot of our hard-won knowledge and gently share that with the next set of parents coming along! Many times, I learn so much from them and find I’m growing from our relationship, too.

I’m also loving volunteering with the special needs community right now. In my heart, I think I always wanted to be a music therapist or special education teacher, so I’m living out a dream.

Pouring back into the community as a homeschool mom

You’ve Done Well

Exhale.

You are not defined solely by your role as a homeschool mom (or dad); you are a vibrant, multi-faceted person with dreams yet to be discovered.

Celebrate the years you gave to your children’s education, but don’t lose yourself in nostalgia. This is a time for gratitude, self-compassion, and excitement for what God has in store, both for your children and for you.

Life Flourishes anew after homeschool ends

If you feel lost, call a friend. If you feel inspired, jot down those ideas for the future. Know that it’s okay to feel everything all at once. And always remember: this life after homeschool is not an end, but a gentle invitation to become, explore, and flourish anew.

You’ve shepherded your family well. Now, let yourself honor—and even savor—this next chapter. You’ve earned it.

Have you graduated homeschoolers and moved into the next phase of life? Do you have wisdom to share with us? Let me know in the comments below!