Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Do you ever stop reading a book?

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Usually, when I start a book I finish it. If I don't, it's because it gets buried in a corner. In the last week there were two books I was listening to that I had to stop and return to the library. One, there wasn't any saving it for me considering the number of curse words in the opening paragraph. The other was a 20 hours audiobook that I listened to for 8 hours. There was much I loved about … [Read more...]

Most Anticipated Reads of 2021

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I’m a writer, but I’m also a voracious reader. I’ve never actually met a novelist who wasn’t a reader at heart. I was captivated by stories at a young age—reading books, acting out stories with friends, and daydreaming stories in my mind. Daydreaming was my escape. I loved going for Sunday rides with my mom. We lived in New Mexico at the time, and every Sunday we’d go for lunch and then a long … [Read more...]

A Writer’s Purrfect Companion

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With many more people now working from home due to the pandemic, pet ownership has grown both in the US and abroad. The internet teems with articles about the pros, cons, and costs of pets, how to remain productive if you’ve adopted a needy pet, and debates about dogs vs. cats. Not long ago, my first-reader was trying to review my new manuscript to give me feedback and suggestions. She has a … [Read more...]

A Brand New Book

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I have a brand new novel out! Bridges is the first original novel from Raney Day Press. This means that my publisher, my art director, my graphic designer, my public relations person, and my accountability partner are all one and the same—my husband, Ken Raney. Here he is in his office the day we put the finishing touches on the book and hit "publish." The man can be a tough taskmaster at … [Read more...]

Should Authors Stick to Writing in One Genre?

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A fellow writer recently asked me: “How do you stick to one story? I find I have an overabundance of stories I'd love to tell, but they're scattered over different genres and times in history. I try to write whatever I can, just to get the stories down and find my voice, but it's so hard to choose just one and stick to it!” When I first started my journey to publication, the general opinion in … [Read more...]

Ye Olde Book Swap

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Are you a swapper? School lunches. Recipes. Wardrobe items. Books. There is something about the swapping process that excites me. The old suddenly has new value. The familiar opens the door to the unexplored. Possibilities abound. That's the idea behind the book swap that we're doing this month in my Posse Facebook group, and I'd like to invite you to join us. The Posse Book Swap combines … [Read more...]

Watch & Listen

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I thought I’d catch you up on a couple of new things I’ve been loving lately. They fall into two different categories: watch and listen. My thoughts are short and sweet today, but I hope one or the other will be something you can enjoy as well! Watch: The English Game I am so in love with this series! Written by Julian Fellows of Downton Abbey fame, it is the cross between an underdog … [Read more...]

Facing Tough Decisions

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I'm often asked, "How did you not cave to the pressure last summer when your publisher threatened to cancel your book if you didn't make their requested changes?" In short? God started preparing me for that challenge a year before that day came (when my novel Colors of Truth was ultimately cancelled). It's not something I'm proud to admit (to confess), but it's a forever lesson God … [Read more...]

Companions for the Journey

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A long time ago, before I had published a single word, a writer friend invited me to join a Christian writers’ group. Of course, I declined. I was much too uncertain of my calling or my future as a writer to accept. Eventually, my friend talked me into it, and I discovered the many blessings of partnering with other companions in the journey of faith. I grew a lot over the next few years, in … [Read more...]

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