When I was recently in England (how much do I love typing that line? :) ) I was delighted to see Rachel Dodge's book, Praying With Jane, in a most auspicious place: Jane Austen's House Museum, where Miss Austen lived for many years and wrote and revised the majority of her beloved novels. It's always fun to spy author-friend's books out in the world, but this sighting was especially significant to … [Read more...]

I thoroughly enjoyed participating in FRS 2019, a gathering of fiction readers and 14 Christian Fiction authors held in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the fabulous Baker Book House. I met so many wonderful people. And what I especially loved was how interactive the event was. Instead of authors giving formal speeches, there was time to interact, both informally and in panels where readers could … [Read more...]

Recently, my publisher held a tea party to celebrate one million copies sold of my books. It was a lovely event. How do I feel about reaching this milestone? Do I feel proud or victorious? No. Am I ready to rest on my laurels and coast? No. Don't worry, it hasn't gone to my head. I am aware that many authors have sold far more (The Harry Potter series has sold over 500 million). But when the … [Read more...]

On our recent group trip (English Countryside & Coast Tour), we visited the coastal town of Lyme Regis in Dorset. Lyme's historic Cobb was featured in both The French Lieutenant's Woman and Persuasion--one of my favorites! The cobb wall provides a breakwater to protect the town from storms while at the same time creating the harbor that helped Lyme develop as both a port and shipbuilding … [Read more...]

I just had the privilege of hosting a second group tour of England. One of our stops on this trip was to Jane Austen's House Museum in Chawton, Hampshire. I have visited the novelist's grave in Winchester cathedral, but this was my first time visiting Chawton cottage, the only house Jane Austen lived in and wrote in that is open to the public. In 1809, four years after her father’s … [Read more...]