Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Gifts for five-year-olds

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Ten years ago, my husband, Ken, began a wonderful tradition of giving our grandkids paintings of themselves riding their creature of choice. Our first two grandsons got their paintings the same year, but after that, the paintings were gifted to each grandchild on the Christmas they were five years old. Ken starts with a photo of the child, posed as if he or she was riding the creature of … [Read more...]

Release Time! Let’s party! (Plus a Giveaway!)

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NEVER LEAVE ME, the much-anticipated sequel in my Waters of Time series is hitting shelves this week! So far, early readers have been loving this second time-crossing novel. In fact, one reader said this: “Never Leave Me is one of my most anticipated sequels and it does not disappoint! Once again, author Jody Hedlund weaves a compelling, intelligent, page-turning story full of symbolism, … [Read more...]

From the Mountain to the Valley

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For the last several months, I've been rehearsing for a worship music recording that started on December 28. People from all over the country came to my hometown of Abilene, TX to participate in a Praise & Harmony recording. It happens in a different city each year, and when a friend of mine told me about it coming to Abilene, I was excited to join in. My worship tradition focuses on a … [Read more...]

My Favorite Year End Task

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Some seventeen years ago, I was discouraged. After five years of writing, my motivation to continue was waning. I had written three complete novels, and while my rejections always came with good feedback, it wasn’t easy to find the will to keep going. Especially when I felt like I had less time than I wanted for writing, even with my kids in school all day. Maybe God was trying to tell me I had … [Read more...]

Ah the joys of anonymous reader mail!

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I have three things to share today and I promise they're connected—though it may not seem so at the outset. FIRST, a video. In 2016, one of my publishers asked me to make a quick 1-minute video containing my best and worst review to date that would then be shown to the sales team during their conference. This video is the result. I've never shared it publicly, but am sharing it now for … [Read more...]

Let’s Talk About Lambs

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Remember the old game of gossip, where you whispered something in someone's ear, and by the time the words got all the way around the circle, it was so convoluted it made no sense?  For the last two or three years, at Christmastime I’ve received copies of an essay about newborn lambs—the perfect lambs intended for sacrifice—that were swaddled and placed in a manger. The essay says … [Read more...]

Happy New Year

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On January 1, 2021, I wanted the new year to bring an end to the pandemic and the social upheaval and the political unrest everywhere. But the start of a new year can't change everything. In fact, the only thing that the new year is guaranteed to change is the calendar. In too many ways (in my opinion, at least), 2021 seemed like 2020. Sigh. Still, I begin 2022 with hope. How can I do … [Read more...]

Christmas Isn’t Over Yet

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As you may know, I write historical fiction set in early 19th century England, a period called the Regency era.  A large part of writing fiction set in another country more than 200 years ago is research, which I (thankfully) enjoy. I have especially found it interesting to discover similarities and differences between how the British used to celebrate Christmas—and in many cases still do—compared … [Read more...]

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