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Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Guest blogger–Erica Vetsch

November 17, 2021 By D'Ann Mateer

Hey, y'all! D'Ann here. I'm 2 weeks from my book deadline and a week from Christmas/Thanksgiving with all my kids, so meet the lovely Erica Vetsch! (Her books are great, by the way.) “You have to follow your own voice. You have to be yourself when you write. In effect, you have to announce, ‘This is me, this is what I stand for, this is what you get when you read me. I’m doing the best I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: Erica Vetsch, voice

My Favorite Mysteries

November 3, 2021 By D'Ann Mateer

I’m currently working on a mystery novel for an upcoming Guideposts series, so I’ve been thinking a lot about mysteries lately. The truth is I love mystery stories. I love reading them and watching them. But before now, I was scared to tackle writing one! And yet here I am. It’s been a learning curve, for sure, but it’s been fun to figure out how to set up the clues and the tension and them make … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Movies & TV, Reading Tagged With: msytery, mysteries

Christmas Reading Reward

October 20, 2021 By D'Ann Mateer

Every year I set aside the time from Thanksgiving week through New Year’s Day to read Christmas-themed novels. It’s one of the ways I enjoy the season. However, this year my Christmas reading can’t start until Dec. 1, the day I turn in my book. And so Christmas reading will be my reward for finishing. Only I had no idea how motivating this would turn out to be! Three of my (many) favorite … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Reading Tagged With: Christmas

Seeing Clearly

October 6, 2021 By D'Ann Mateer

I have bad eyesight. Like, really, really bad. I’ve been wearing glasses since 3rd grade, contacts since 7th. I use daily prescription drops for severe dry eye as well as for glaucoma. My glasses help me not run into things but not much more. And even my vision in my contacts can be iffy. A few years ago, my longtime ophthalmologist and I worked hard to get my distance vision as perfect as … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Faith

From Anne to D’Ann

September 15, 2021 By D'Ann Mateer

Ten years ago this month my first novel released. It was a time of dreams come true in so many ways. But there was one dream I didn’t see realized in that moment—my true name on a book cover. When I received that first publishing contract from Bethany House, they had one request of me: a pen name. Why? A couple of reasons. First, they had historical author Deeanne Gist under contract. For … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Writing

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