Joyce E. Longwriting as J.E. Laine
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Stories rooted in faith & hope

Words for the
journey within.

Christian author Joyce E. Long writes with curiosity, compassion, and the belief that every life holds a story worth sharing.

Explore the books Meet Joyce ↘
“Reading has drawn me closer to understanding this magnificent, God-given world.”
Vintage typewriter beside an open Bible, olive branches, fountain pen, and brass oil lamp
faithhope

From the bookshelf

Stories that stay
with you.

From devotional reflection to relevant fiction, each book invites readers to look closer, feel deeply, and discover hope.

  • J.E. LaineFiction
  • Joyce LongNonfiction

Click a book to learn more

01
Return to Duty book cover

Vitaly's Story of October 7, 2023 and Beyond

Return to Duty

A timely novel following a young Israeli reserve soldier through the chaos, grief, and unexpected redirection that begin on October 7, 2023.

“A good book is one that makes you feel like you are there in the story. This book did just that for me.”

A reader review on Amazon
Book details

This novel took me into that period through the story of one 22-year-old Israeli, Vitaly Katz. The author makes him a truly believable character as he navigates his emotions and his duties throughout Oct 7 and the five weeks following the attack. The attention to detail let me visualize daily life in Israel and what was lost for those living through this time.

From a reader review on Amazon
Written as
J.E. Laine
Genre
Christian fiction
Format
Paperback
ISBN
978-1-968792-92-3
View on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
02
Trinity book cover

Walk in Love, Forgiveness, and Peace

Trinity

Bring your doubts, assumptions, and questions—and explore evidence for God through nature, history, experience, and transparent personal stories.
Book details
Written as
Joyce Long
Genre
Christian living
Formats
Paperback and Kindle
ISBN
978-1-63357-137-2
View on Amazon (opens in a new tab)Also on Kindle (opens in a new tab)
03
Real Mothers book cover

A Bible Study about Mothers for Mothers

Real Mothers

Award2011 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year
Meet eight biblical mothers who faced complicated family relationships and learned to trust God when life did not make sense.
Book details

“Jealousy, adultery, out-of-wedlock pregnancy, and murder — the list reads like contemporary tabloid headlines.”

Each chapter is divided into five short sections, written around the time a mother actually has.

2011 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year — Bible Study and Theology

Written as
Joyce Long
Genre
Bible study
Format
Paperback, 140 pages
Published
April 2009
ISBN
978-0-9816983-4-2
View on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

On the writing desk

A novel inspired by a true story

Avoca Belle

The name belongs to someone real. Who she was, what she carried, and why her story surfaced now — that part stays sealed a while longer.

Expected late 2026

And Vitaly’s story is not finished

The Vitaly series, book two

Planned for 2027.

Author Joyce E. LongIndiana roots
Enduring faith

About the author

A teacher’s heart.
A writer’s soul.

Joyce Elaine Long grew up in southern Indiana. After college and marriage, she moved to the Indianapolis area, where she spent twelve years teaching eighth-grade language arts, nine years as an adjunct writing instructor at the campus now known as IU Indianapolis, and thirteen years leading communications and marketing for two nonprofits.

She credits her maternal grandmother with lighting her love of writing. Today, Joyce writes to remember, to process, and to help readers travel—to places in the world and places in the heart.

1976–1980
Eighth-grade language arts, Paul Hadley Middle School, Mooresville, Indiana
1992–2000
Eighth-grade language arts, Greenwood Middle School
Nine years
Adjunct writing instructor, the campus now known as IU Indianapolis
Ten years
Communications specialist, Mount Pleasant Christian Church
Three years
Marketing director, Center for Global Impact

She still writes for other people’s pages: a quarterly interview for Boomer, the Johnson County Daily Journal’s magazine, with earlier national work in Chicken Soup for the Soul and the now out-of-print Outlook Magazine.

Joyce and her husband have been blessed with two children, five grandchildren, and a menagerie of beloved stray pets.

A moment with Joyce

Short reflections.
Lasting encouragement.

Join Joyce on YouTube for brief videos about faith, writing, books, and the moments that make ordinary life meaningful.

Watch on YouTube
Joyce E. Long at her writing deskJoyce E. Long • Author reflections

Out and about

Where to find
Joyce next.

Book clubs, library visits, author fairs — the best conversations about a book usually happen in a room together.

  1. Oct142026

    Greenwood Middle School Alumni Book Club

    A discussion of Return to Duty with the alumni book club, organized by Tami Vest.

    Wednesday, October 14, 2026

  2. Dec52026

    Annual Book Fair, Indiana Historical Society

    A Saturday among Indiana authors, with all three books on the table.

    Saturday, December 5, 2026

Joyce E. Long at her author fair table, with copies of Trinity and Real Mothers
Joyce E. Long signing a copy of Trinity for a reader at the author fair
Joyce E. Long signing copies of Trinity at a cafe table
Joyce E. Long with a Johnson County Public Library staff member at a local author event

Recent author fairs and library visits.

Let’s connect

Have a story
to share?

For reader notes, speaking inquiries, book clubs, and other questions, Joyce would love to hear from you.

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