Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

A peek into my (very distant) past

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This is a story of boxes lost and found. Or rather found, because I really didn’t know they were lost!  When we sold our house in Rockwall after our move to Austin in 2015, I found some things we’d forgotten up in our attic when we were checking over the house before closing. They were boxes of things. My mother graciously let me leave them in her attic.  This summer, my nephews … [Read more...]

Burns Night Supper

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So my husband and I did a thing we never in a million years thought we’d do.  We hosted a dinner party for twenty in our home.  And not just any dinner party, mind you. No, we had a full-on Burns Night Supper!  Do you know what a Burns Night Supper is? Well, let me enlighten you if you don’t!  Every year on January 25, Scots all over the world—and especially in … [Read more...]

D’Ann’s Favorites

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The authors of Inspired by Life...and Fiction are offering a new weekly post featuring some of our favorite things. We hope you enjoy getting to know a little more about us—and we'd love to hear your answers to these "favorites" questions in the comments below. Favorite Holiday: I love everything about the Christmas season! Favorite Vacation Spot: Ever? Scotland, hands down. We … [Read more...]

A Different First Draft

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I’ve written many, many first drafts of novels, most of them “by the seat of my pants.” This means I have a story idea but don’t know exactly how it plays out until I write it. However, I have written a few (very few) first drafts from a synopsis. These drafts tend to have a little more structure when the story first goes down on paper (or screen).  I’m now beginning different kind of first … [Read more...]

Most Anticipated Reads in 2025

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Happy 2025!  The beginning of a new year is always exciting to me. There are so many things to plan for and dream about. One of those things is reading!  Shocker, right?  Here are some books I’m looking forward to reading in 2025. They are not all 2025 releases. Some came out at the end of 2024. Others are older than that. And many coming out in 2025 are not even on my … [Read more...]

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