In the beginning -- In a land far away -- In the days -- There once was a man -- And he went by the name of -- And in his heart -- And it came to pass -- He tucked the treasure deep in his sack -- He picked up the sword -- And there he met -- An old man sat by the side of the road -- The unseen world gathered -- Trouble was bound to come -- And the challenge of his life loomed -- And he was never the same again -- Happily ever after -- And if he's not gone, he lives there still

Debbie Macomber has inspired readers with her stories for decades. Now for the first time, she helps each of us to understand that life is a story, part of a grand narrative that God is writing day by day. With chapters that cover the importance of literary elements such as characters, setting, backstory, and conflict, Macomber uses the structure of a story to illustrate God's hand in our lives. Each chapter has a storytelling prompt--a searching question that will help frame our story--and a sidebar that pulls an idea out of the chapter and expands it with practical tips. Once Upon a Time shares Debbie's love of story and helps showcase the big picture of the story God is writing through us