Hopefully better late than never with today's post! :) Recently I returned home after a few days away. There's something about a a road trip and a little break in routine that refreshes the spirits, don't you agree? First, my husband and I set out for Pipestone, MN, which is about four hours from home. On our way, we found ourselves driving along the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway and … [Read more...]

Today I’m thinking about romances—reading them and writing them—and in particular what makes a hero seem heroic (even swoony) for you? To help you think about this, let’s first play a game. Match each of the 18 "hero actions" below with the period drama where it occurred. (At least 2 of these things appear in more than one drama.) These heroes are from three of my favorite adaptations: A. John … [Read more...]

I'm emailing this to readers on my email list and thought I would share it with you dear Inspired by Life and Fiction folks as well. Here's the cover of my new novel, The Widow of Woodlark Cottage, releasing December 1, 2026 (in the US; a bit later elsewhere). It's available for preorder now from major retailers (see below). First, here's a description of the book: Young widow Elizabeth … [Read more...]

I wanted to make sure you’ve all heard of the upcoming Going Deeper Conference, created for authors to improve their craft and better tackle those (dreaded) marketing tasks. I attended two years ago and it truly was a super-valuable conference at a super-affordable price. (And no, I’m not getting any kickbacks for this! :) ) Misty Beller’s workshops alone are worth the price! If you are a … [Read more...]

Many of Jane Austen’s book titles changed along the way. Sense and Sensibility started life as Elinor and Marianne. Pride and Prejudice was originally First Impressions, Persuasion was The Elliots, and Northanger Abbey was Susan.  Present day authors often change titles along the way, too. Either of their own accord or when a publisher suggests that an alternate title might better appeal to … [Read more...]