Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Spring has arrived!

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Spring has arrived in Indiana, and I am loving it! Spring has always been my favorite season, and this year I'm delighting in discovering flowers and their simple beauty as I walk on campus or in our neighborhood. Maybe spring is my favorite because it starts days before my birthday. Daffodils were my birthday flower, so it is delightful to walk by this patch of beauties when I arrive on campus … [Read more...]

The Big Boston Birthday

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We spent the last weekend in March in Boston for a very special birthday. Our oldest—our only girl—turned 30! Jeff and I had already planned to go up there to celebrate with her when one of my sisters called. She and my other sister were worried Elizabeth would be alone on her birthday and wanted to be there with her. (Both of my sisters have a unique relationship with my daughter.) I said, the … [Read more...]

Podcasts worth listening to

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I enjoy listening to podcasts and have several that I routinely follow—and highly recommend! In no certain order, they are: I listen to these as I'm getting ready in the morning, walking (me—and the dogs!), washing dishes, etc... It's a great (and easy) way to keep learning, keep growing, to be challenged in my thinking, and to laugh. Do we have any podcasts in common? What are your … [Read more...]

Bikes and More Bikes!

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If you’ve read my blogs before, you’ll know that I’m an avid bicyclist. That’s why I’m thrilled with the cover of my newest book, “Chasing Shadows,” which releases June 8. The windmill reveals the novel’s setting in The Netherlands. The low-flying airplanes, the model’s clothing, and her concerned expression hint that it takes place during World War II when the Nazis invaded that peace-loving … [Read more...]

Inspired by Scripture

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We wish the readers of Inspired by Life...and Fiction a very blessed Easter! May you know that your Redeemer lives! This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashVerseoftheDay.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with Scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online. … [Read more...]

Good Friday

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Good Friday is a revered holy day that marks the death of Christ. It’s easy for us to throw around the word GOOD when it relates to Christ’s death, isn’t it? We know his death was for our GOOD. And we can be happy and grateful for his sacrifice. But it’s NOT easy to use the word GOOD when we talk about the difficulties and death of anyone else. In fact, the word death usually evokes deep … [Read more...]

Antique Quilts

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A couple weeks ago, my daughter and I got together for a Girls' Getaway Weekend in Waco, TX. Now that Bethany is pursuing her PhD At Texas A&M, I miss seeing her on a regular basis. So we've made a pact to get together for one weekend each semester. And because she's the one family member who is as big of a history nerd as I am, we always find a way to work in historical places to stay and … [Read more...]

Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler

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I spent last week in New Orleans! While we were there, one of our tour guides mentioned the phrase laissez le bon temps rouler -- let the good times roll -- which captures the flavor of New Orleans well. I'm glad I set aside a whole week for our trip! Because we took our time, we were able to explore numerous facets of the city. The history, the food, the music, the … [Read more...]

When the Headline doesn’t disappear + Giveaway

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One thing that I learned early in my writing process is that I have to find an idea I can fall in love with for two years. Yep, you read that right. Two years. It takes roughly two years to go from building the proposal to writing and editing the book then through marketing the book as it releases. I knew I had to find an idea with Beyond Justice that could carry me through that space of … [Read more...]

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