A lot of people have been posting their “word of the year” online, or asking people to finish the phrase: This is the year I___________.  The first phrase that came to my mind was not very profound or spiritual, I’m afraid. It was: “2017…The year I get off my can.” But that didn’t sound very ladylike, so next I came up with, “The year I take a stand.” A stand up desk, that is…  Because I sit … [Read more...]

Boom! Pop! The house shook and the lights went out. “What's going on…?” a teenager called in disbelief. The house was plunged into darkness. No more Christmas lights twinkling at the window, or a brightly lit tree. No more Christmas movie on television or Bing Crosby crooning over the speakers. Computers waned on battery power and cell phones--already at low battery near day’s end--were … [Read more...]

Two other Inspired by Life and Fiction Authors have posted photo-tours (here and here) of their festively decorated houses that are beautiful and deserve to be printed in glossy magazines. In case that makes you feel inadequate, here are a few photos from my house to make you feel better. I don't have a Martha Stewart bone in my body. Zero knack for decorating. Plus, I'm on deadline, so... I'm … [Read more...]

My new book in my first-ever series launches next week, and in its honor, Bethany House Publishers has created a dedicated mini-site for the series, at TalesFromIvyHill.com. I’m excited. The website offers: a color map of the village a detailed character list (which readers often request) photos of village buildings videos (me introducing the series, and on location in “Ivy … [Read more...]

Those of you who regularly read this blog know that I set my books in England, travel there when I can, and often post about topics of interest to other Anglophiles like me. But today, on US election day, let me state for the record: I may have a crush on England, but I am in a deeply-committed relationship with America. :) And although I shake my head at and mourn some of the things going on … [Read more...]