Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Banoffee Pie: A Slice of British Life

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I am racing to finish revisions on my next novel set in England, and so my mind naturally goes to...dessert.   Banoffee pie is a popular dessert in Great Britain. The first time my husband and I had it was not in the UK, however, but in Minnesota, when we were invited to dinner at Jeff and Susan’s house. Jeff is from England, and Susan had kindly learned to make the pie for him—and … [Read more...]

Grandma’s Feather Bed

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Today I’m thinking about beds. Hoping for a nap? Nope. Doing research for a scene in a book, which sent me down a research rabbit hole. The articles and photos I perused about beds led to an “aha!” moment for me. Remember the  Hans Christian Andersen story, “The Princess and the Pea”? In the story, a skeptical queen decides to test a so-called princess by seeing if she can feel a pea … [Read more...]

Reading With Jane Austen

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Every now and again, I need a little dose of culture. So recently, I left the comforts of my suburban home and drove down to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to see their new exhibit, Jane Austen’s Reading Room (its curator is a fellow member of my local chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America). This room, along with the Georgian Drawing Room, are part of the museum's "living … [Read more...]

Lasting Impressions | Guest Blogger, Anna Paulson

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Anna Paulson works as Julie Klassen’s research and writing assistant. Pink lipstick, a rapturous voice, and long, black hair that curled in disarray around her glowing face—these were my first impressions of Siobhan (pronounced shi-VAWN), my creative writing professor at the National University of Ireland, Galway. She reminded me of a whimsical book character, and I thought it fitting. Nearly … [Read more...]

Snow Angels

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I am writing this from a beautiful rental home near Bird-in-Hand, PA, where I have had the privilege of being snowbound with five other writers. We gathered for a writing retreat in Lancaster County, a few hours from author Dani Pettrey’s home. We toured the countryside and an Amish house and farm, and also visited Hershey’s Chocolate World before winter storm Jonas hit. We planned on a … [Read more...]

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