I grew up in southern California in the 1970s.  Back then, my friends and I would roam around our neighborhood playing Charlie's Angels or roller skating or riding bikes until the street lights came on.  That was our cue to return home for dinner. When the romance between Nancy and Ned Nickerson wasn't nearly as large a part of the Nancy Drew mysteries series as I would have liked, … [Read more...]

I realize that most readers probably don't have much familiarity with book awards.  What the different awards are.  How winners are selected.  Who judges.  What the categories are.  It can all be fairly mystifying to a layperson. We authors know quite a bit about book awards and here's why.  We all write solo, many of us in our homes.... or even in isolated caves rooms within our homes.  We're … [Read more...]

My daughter's second grade Sunday School class presented a nativity play to their parents this past weekend.  The play came complete with a narrator (the teacher in the red shirt in the below photo), dialogue, costumes, and hymns. The kids closed their performance by singing Joy to the World, which caused me to wonder about the history behind one my  favorite Christmas carols.  So I looked … [Read more...]

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Wade house. Just for fun, I thought I'd take you on a quick pictorial tour of my holiday decorations.  So, come on in! [And be sure to stick around for info on my free Christmas story and a Christmas giveaway while you're here.] For the second year in a row I purchased my wreath from Home Depot for less than $20.  Allergies prevent me … [Read more...]

Please welcome my friend, author Jill Kemerer, back to Inspired by Life... and Fiction.  On this Black Friday, she's spreading Christmas cheer with a giveaway just for you!  - Becky Thank you, Becky, for letting me hijack your scheduled day! I hope all our American readers had a lovely Thanksgiving, and for everyone else, let’s all celebrate that it’s almost the weekend. Woo … [Read more...]