Joy Lutes wrote her first poem around age 10. In the ensuing two decades, she has crafted and accumulated poignant poetry as events in her life provided inspiration. Some were written to celebrate, others to motivate. What is central to them all is the message of hope and faith that is the center of Lutes' life. You will find that her poetry reflects the real world struggles of a believer in Christ who finds strength in her abiding faith as she encounters life's challenges. She has put together this compilation of work - some new and some from her past - in the hope that others will discover or rediscover the greatest inspiration of all and the only certainty in an uncertain world - faith in the One True God. Joy Lutes was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and spent her youth growing up 'across the river' in Marietta, Ohio. She earned a B.A. in Political Science from Wheeling Jesuit University. Joy spent several years in politics working on Capitol Hill and on several campaigns across the country. She now does freelance public relations work from her home in Alexandria, Virginia, where she resides with her husband and beloved basset hound, Riley.