Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Who will roll the stone away?

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Today, I thought I'd share a passage of scripture that never fails to encourage me... in the hope that it might encourage you, too. In Mark 15:40-41 we learn that some of the women who'd followed Jesus and cared for his needs were present at His crucifixion, including Mary Magdalene and Mary (the mother of James and Salome). Later, in Mark 16:1, we catch up with the two women again. "When … [Read more...]

A Trip without a Laptop

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There once was an author who forgot how to live without her laptop. She began to feel like she needed to have it with her all the time...just in case. And that small laptop became a weight that reminded her all the time what she SHOULD be doing. Then this author realized she was exceptionally bad at taking a break. Even when she traveled overseas she had a job: teaching in study abroad, giving … [Read more...]

Canton, MO

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I love research trips. They are one of my favorite parts of the research process. Visiting a place always enhances the writing, whether because I’ve gotten a “feel” for the area (even if I later fictionalize it) or because of all the great people who help me along the way. On every trip I have had a providential meeting with someone who knew, or knew where to find, exactly the information I was … [Read more...]

Want to chat tonight?

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TONIGHT at 7:30pm CST our own Cara Putman and I will be chatting about life, love, Southern fiction and, specifically, my next novel tentatively entitled A Thousand Little Choices that will be out next year with Focus on the Family. And knowing Cara, this is going to be fun! I hope you'll join us. CLICK to go to Cara's Facebook Page where the chat will take place If you can join us LIVE, … [Read more...]

My 4th of July Favorites

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I’ve been reminiscing this Fourth of July about all the things I love most about this holiday. I have to say that at the top of my list are outdoor band concerts. My family lived near the West Point Military Academy when I was a girl and we usually attended their outdoor concerts on the Fourth of July. The academy perches on a mountaintop overlooking the Hudson River, and we would gaze out at the … [Read more...]

How to Create a Successful Launch Team

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I’m just finishing up a month of celebrating the release of Come Back to Me, my first time-crossing novel. And I have to say, one of my favorite parts about a book release is having a launch team. Launch team, influencers, release crew. Whatever the name, the primary purpose of such a group is to help with an author’s marketing and publicity in exchange for a free book. Influencers are NOT the … [Read more...]

The Making of a Title

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Before I started writing, I assumed that authors were in full control of things like titles and covers. Little did I know that there is an entire team of publishing professionals that weigh in on these kind of decisions. Self-published authors have much more autonomy, of course, but those of us who write for traditional publishing houses must remain flexible when it comes to titles, because they … [Read more...]

A New Home on the Web

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I'm so excited to have a brand spanking new website that just launched this week! Savanna Kaiser did a beautiful job making the site coordinate with my newsletter design and the colorful book covers my husband has designed for me. Here's a little sneak peek: Isn't it pretty!? If you click on the image, you can link to the whole website, but first, let me tell you the history behind my … [Read more...]

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