15 Feb 2026 Author of the Month: Gayla Grace

By Susan L. Peterson

Conway resident Gayla Grace is an author, speaker and coach whose life’s work has grown out of her deep Christian faith and her calling to serve blended families. Her newest book, “Beautifully Blended: 101 Devotions to Encourage Couples in Blended Families” (2025), will be available nationwide in Cracker Barrel stores beginning this month, bringing her message of hope and God’s faithfulness to families across the country. 

Grace wrote “Beautifully Blended” to fill a need she personally felt. “I longed for a devotional that offered encouraging words for my unique needs and help for marriage in a blended family,” she said.

Although the book is aimed at blended families, its more than 100 devotions speak to anyone seeking strength, healing and a deeper walk with God. With titles such as “One Day at a Time,” “Moving Past Grief,” “Experiences Change Us,” “Expect the Unexpected,” and “Trusting God’s Promises,” the topics resonate with anyone.

Grace grew up in a traditional Christian home in the Texas Panhandle, the daughter of parents who were married for 65 years. Her father, a college professor and textbook author, nurtured her love of writing early on. That foundation of faith and family stability would later become a steadying force as she walked through difficult chapters of her own life.

After what she describes as “a messy divorce,” Grace found herself leaning deeply on her church family, who supported her and her two young daughters for a full year. Seeking to better understand human behavior and to help others through their own struggles, she earned a master’s degree in psychology and counseling. Through it all, she said God continued to guide her steps.

She did not expect to remarry, but more than 30 years ago, God brought Randy Grace — and his two children — into her life. Even his last name felt like a divine message, signaling the beginning of a new chapter filled with healing and blessing. 

“I didn’t step into adulthood with aspirations of being a stepparent,” she wrote. Yet she came to see stepfamily life as a calling — an opportunity to be a Christlike influence and a vessel of God’s grace within her new family. Together, she and Randy created a family of four children under the age of 10 before welcoming their own son.

Drawing on her personal journey, her professional training and the stories shared with her through counseling and coaching, Grace began writing in 2005. Since then, she has published more than 500 articles centered on parenting, marriage, wellness and faith. 

Her early books — “Unwrapping the Gift of Stepfamily Peace” (2012, co-written with Heather Hetchler) and “Quiet Moments for the Stepmom Soul” (2015, with Hetchler and Laura Petherbridge) — grew out of her desire to help other stepmoms feel supported and anchored in Christ.

Determined to grow as an author, Grace attended writers’ conferences and joined critique groups. At the 2015 Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference in California, she met and later signed with her literary agent, Karen Neumair, a turning point that allowed her to step away from self-publishing and into the broader Christian publishing world.

With that support, she released “Stepparenting with Grace” in 2018 through Worthy Publishing, offering practical guidance, real-life examples and biblical encouragement for newly blended families.

Today, Grace continues to use her gifts to serve the Lord. For the past six years, she has worked with FamilyLife Blended, a ministry of FamilyLife, whose mission is “spreading God’s Word through the family, making every home a godly home.” She writes, speaks at events, appears on podcasts, hosts a monthly livestream and offers Christ-centered coaching to couples navigating stepfamily life.

Her website, gaylagrace.com, provides additional resources, devotionals and insights for families seeking support. 

Grace and her husband, Randy, make their home in Conway. They enjoy traveling, hiking national parks and spending time with their five children, two sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren, with a third on the way. 

“Beautifully Blended” will be available in Cracker Barrel stores and is also found on Amazon. With its soft, leather-like blue cover and uplifting message, it makes a meaningful gift — especially for new blended families or anyone needing a reminder of God’s unending grace. Her other books are available through online booksellers.