Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & 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...]

Springtime Adventures

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Hi friends, Always happy to spend a day with you. It’s springtime, and I’m thrilled! Minus spring allergies, of course. But it’s staying light until after 7pm, flowers are starting to bloom (hence allergies), and the days are warming up! One of my favorite things about spring is getting to spend time outside without freezing. Here are just a few of the activities we enjoy! Hiking. We’re … [Read more...]

Cornwall’s Enduring Appeal

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My newest release, A Castaway in Cornwall, is about a young woman who is transplanted to rugged, remote North Cornwall after her parents die under mysterious circumstances. Laura lives there with distant relatives but never feels like she belongs. One night, Laura helps rescue a shipwreck victim and tends his wounds, though there is something odd about the man’s injuries and accent. Laura soon … [Read more...]

Hope for Times Like These (two giveaways!)

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I wanted to let you know about a great giveaway that's happening between now and Easter, featuring wonderful authors like Elizabeth Musser, Sharon Garlough Brown, Mesu Andrews, Roseanna White, Michelle Massaro, and many others. I'll be giving away two copies of my new novel, Bridges. Author Christine Dillon heads up the giveaway saying, "This time last year we were entering a time of real … [Read more...]

Four Tips for Crafting the Mood of a Scene

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Over the past decade, my five children have all moved into the teen years. Needless to say, we’ve had drama. And quite a bit of it. Moods swing high. And they swing low. Sometimes in a matter of minutes. All the moodiness in my house reminds me of the need for creating moods in our stories. But all too often, manipulating the mood falls to the bottom of our list of writing to-do's. When … [Read more...]

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