Slated for release in October, 2008 ... Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World (Moody).

Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? Trusting God with a Hope Deferred (Crossway, 2004)

No matter whether you've been waiting to get married for six months or sixty years, I hope you'll find much Godward encouragement in this book. The subtitle says it all: "Trusting God with a Hope Deferred." That thought echoes the well-known proverb, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12 ESV).

What's the book all about? Understanding why you're single now, what to do with your singleness, and how to cultivate fruitful femininity without a "better half." You can check out the contents or read the first two chapters online, courtesy of Crossway Books.

You can find this book in your local Christian bookstore or purchase it online from all the usual sources, including Crossway Books, Christianbook.com/CBD, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more.

As the Lord provides sales royalties from this book, a percentage goes to support two ministries that affect the lives of women and young girls in various nations: Covenant Mercies (serving AIDS orphans in Africa) and Shared Hope International (rescuing women from sex trafficking/slavery). I encourage you to visit their websites and consider supporting these organizations, as well.

"Young girls grow up dreaming of wedding days and the births of children, but for many women in this particular generation, those days may never materialize.  Ask ten people why they think that is and you will have ten different answers.  Carolyn McCulley's Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? will not offer any answers either.  What she does offer is a healthy heaping of biblical encouragement for women who desire to live to the glory of God while waiting for Mr. Right. For the Christian married woman with children, the calling and tasks are obvious.  She finds satisfaction and joy in fulfilling her roles as wife and mother as described in the Bible.  But what about the single woman?   Is a never-married woman less feminine than her married, procreating counterparts?  McCulley explains that femininity is God-given, not activity driven.  'Our femininity is not dependent on marriage or motherhood to be fully expressed.  We are feminine from the moment we are conceived because that is God's design, and He has a purpose for our femininity throughout the various seasons of our lives' (p.51).   This is one reason this book is a good read for any woman, never-married, married, divorced or widowed.  McCulley addresses biblical, fruitful femininity, with a specific emphasis on the never-married woman.  She addresses three important areas of a single woman's life:  her relationship with God, her relationships with men, and her life in general. . . Being a married woman with four children, I surprised myself highlighting as much as I did.  I learned a little something about what to teach my sons to look for in a virtuous wife and what to teach my daughters as I prepare them for courting and marriage.  At the end of each chapter, McCulley includes a helpful list of books and articles for further study, which I plan to utilize.  If you are a single woman, no matter your age or stage of life, and would like to read more about trusting God and glorifying Him during your time of singleness, then I highly recommend Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye?"—Discerning Reader

“Carolyn McCulley pierces right to the heart of single women in this excellent study on God’s plans and purposes for singlehood. Drawing from her own longing as a forty-year-old single woman, she describes singleness as a gift most people would rather do without, but which holds unexpected blessing. Don’t look here for advice on finding a husband. McCulley teaches women to treat all guys as brothers in Christ, not dividing them into possibilities, just friends, and “I’d rather not even talk to him!” While sympathizing with the pain single women feel, she pulls readers beyond their pity parties to see the real potential of singlehood. Following instruction found in the life of the Proverbs 31 woman, McCulley shows readers the importance of guarding their hearts, being hospitable, and finding ways to interact with children. Other topics include finances, service, and growing older. Chapters contain many examples from the author’s own life and others’, increasing the book’s readability amid otherwise serious prose. Joshua Harris, the author’s pastor, wrote the foreword and came up with the unique parody title. Recommended for single women who are looking for more than just the right guy to come along.”—Christian Book Previews

“This is one of the most honest, heartfelt books on being single you’ll ever read.   Carolyn McCulley knows how it feels to be a single woman…she views it as a gift from God that allows her to perform a unique role in the body of Christ. “Why aren’t I married?” isn’t the question to ask,” says Carolyn, “because it implies lack.” The essential question is, “What is God doing with and through my singleness?” With refreshing candor, she reminds us that God is working in our lives. He wants us to live to the fullest of the gift of being single, pouring His gift into the church…the place and people He loves.  We encourage every single woman to read this book to be greatly blessed with a new sense of purpose in life.”—Crossings club review

“McCulley, a 40-something still-single woman, offers hope to fellow nonmarrieds who question their worth outside the roles of wife and mom and who wonder if God's forgotten about them. Using biblical examples of the single woman's role, she encourages readers to see their singleness not as a burden, but as a unique gifting and role in the church.”—Today's Christian Woman magazine

“McCulley's book, which includes a foreword by best-selling author Joshua Harris, affirms single women without decrying the institution or goal of Christ-centered marriage. The author teaches that 'your singleness is not about you,' a message rarely heard in this generation. Biblical and contemporary illustrations are used to demonstrate the value of following God's path and trusting Him step-by-step, whether that means a wedding in the future or not. With her sense of humor intact and without taking a cookie-cutter approach to the issue, McCulley offers a breath of fresh air to single women in their God-given 'current assignment.'”—Christian Retailing magazine

“This book is one of the most biblical, substantive, and helpful resources I am aware of on this topic. Carolyn gives single women a map to help them discover God’s purpose, mission, and calling for their lives. Her writing is engaging, practical, thought-provoking, and refreshingly transparent. I am confident that every woman who reads this book will be greatly blessed, challenged, and encouraged.”—Nancy Leigh DeMoss, author, host of Revive Our Hearts 

 “We have nothing but superlatives for Carolyn McCulley and this book. Its biblical content and timely wisdom are fully supported by her compelling personal example. These honest and hope-filled pages will encourage countless single women to trust God and embrace His wise plan for their lives.”—C. J. Mahaney, Senior Pastor, Covenant Life Church, and Carolyn Mahaney, author of Feminine Appeal

“Carolyn McCulley has written a remarkable book, biblically saturated and Christ-exalting. Her words are wise, encouraging, personal, and much needed. I highly recommend it.”—Randy Alcorn, author, founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries

“Carolyn McCulley has a gift for the body of Christ. This is a warm, tender, gracious, and God-centered challenge to singles to live a rich and abundant life for His glory. Carolyn understands the issues, and she faces them head-on. Her transparency and vulnerability as a fellow single adult make this a book that singles will connect with.”—Bob Lepine, Co-Host, FamilyLife Today   

"Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? is an insightful and cross-centered look at faithful obedience lived out in a life spent in singleness. Carolyn McCulley doesn't mince words about the real struggles singles face, but she won't leave you in despair, either. Instead, she consistently focuses on the gospel and the good news that soon there will be a wedding ceremony where the sorrows and disappointments of this life will be swallowed up in unbounded joy. In the meantime, though, happiness and delight can be yours as you learn how to pick up the basin and the towel and rejoice in the fellowship of believers."--Elyse Fitzpatrick, author, founder of Women Helping Women Ministries

“When a man married for twenty years can enjoy a book written for single women, you know the author has done something special. That’s the case with Carolyn McCulley's Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye?  Carolyn's sense of humor, biblical insight, and deft handling of Scripture, together with a refreshingly unsentimental view of sin and the human heart, has produced an inspiring and spiritually uplifting book. Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? is engaging, honest, real, insightful, fun to read, and spiritually inspiring--all this, plus it has a perfect ending. I highly recommend this fine book."--Gary Thomas, author of Sacred Marriage and Sacred Pathways