Hi! If you’re checking out this page, I guess you’re interested in where I came from. I was born in Mobile, Alabama, but grew up in Southaven, Mississippi—proud home of John Grisham, and right in the middle of William Faulkner and Eudora Welty country.

Education
My high school friends know me as quiet, shy bookworm Beth Cook—flute-player and drum major of the marching band, singer in church ensembles, and sketch artist. College friends probably remember me marching in the Famous Maroon Band at Mississippi State, active in Baptist Student Union missions projects, and singing at the drop of a hat.

Beth Gets Married
I met Scott White while I was at State, and just knew the Lord’s will was for me to become a minister’s wife. Good thing Scott thought so too! During five long years of seminary, I ignored my music-teacher’s license and worked as a bank teller. Then we found our little corner of heaven in Mobile, Alabama, where Scott served fourteen years at Dauphin Way Baptist Church. I taught private piano, voice, and flute lessons so I could stay home while our kids were small. We're now on staff at First Baptist North Mobile in Saraland, Alabama.

Becoming A Writer
People always want to know how you "get published". Everybody's story is different, but here's mine. Even as a teenager I enjoyed writing stories in a big flowered notebook hidden under my bed. But it wasn’t until I took a fiction-writing course at the University of South Alabama in 1986, that I realized there might be a market for what I wrote: Christian-based romances. To make a long story short, the first book I finished and submitted got close to publication. Even after the ultimate rejection, I was hooked—called, if you will, to write. I was determined to learn whatever it took to write a publishable novel.

I joined Romance Writers of America, then joined the Gulf Coast Chapter of RWA and met other writers with similar goals to mine—generous women who were also great teachers. At our local conference in 1998, I met an editor who was instrumental in my first sale to Tyndale’s HeartQuest romance anthology series. I’ll never forget her phone call telling me that my submission looked great! One of the biggest thrills of my life.

Zondervan Author Retreat 2005
After two more novella sales to Tyndale, I signed with literary agent Chip MacGregor of Alive Communications in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Before moving on to his new job with Warner Books in Nashville, Chip facilitated the sale of another novella, plus a three-book series with Steeple Hill’s new Love Inspired Suspense line and a two-book deal with Zondervan. My new agent, also with Alive, is Beth Jusino.

I feel blessed to have found a creative outlet that allows me to share my Christian worldview and entertain readers all over the world. God has truly given me the delight of my soul!

Meanwhile, I appreciate my most valued roles as wife and mom. I’m also second-grade Sunday school teacher, church orchestra member (I play flute), and artist. I love to read, crochet, sew, go on mission trips and avoid housework. We’re currently on staff at First Baptist Church of North Mobile (fondly known as NoMo), in Saraland, Alabama.

If you have questions about what it means to be a Christian, please contact me. I’d love to share!