Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

How to Talk an Author off a Ledge

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I'm hard at work, editing my next book and trying to meet a tight deadline. Thus, my friends Crissy, Joy, and Amy offered to guest-blog for me! They're avid readers, active in the Christian fiction community, and wonderfully supportive of authors. Also, they're experts on today's topic. Writing despair/stress/fear has pushed me out onto a few ledges. :) And each time, they've talked me off. … [Read more...]

Reading & Writing Goals

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For years I've used Goodreads as a way to track the books I read. One side benefit of not going and doing as much this year is that I have read or listened to more than 140 books (you can see them and get the reviews I write here.) I read because it's like breathing to me. If I don't have anything else to read, I will literally read the Wheaties box. The book I started listening to yesterday is … [Read more...]

Inspired by Veterans Day

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Hi friends, Today is a special day. It’s the day our country sets aside to focus on our veterans—on those who served, sacrificed, and fought for freedom. I feel so blessed to come from a lineage of veterans—starting with the Revolutionary War that freed and formed our country, War of 1812, Civil War, WWI, WWII, Vietnam, and Operation Desert Storm.   I’m so proud of my husband’s … [Read more...]

A Few Fun Updates

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My new novel, A Castaway in Cornwall, releases in just three weeks (12/1/20). In anticipation, I thought I’d share a short video trailer a friend made for the book. Hope you enjoy it! The book is available for pre-order now and early reviews have been great: Klassen delights with a winsome love story between an orphaned young woman living on the coast of North Cornwall, England, in 1813 … [Read more...]

It’s Fall, Y’all (plus, a free e-book!)

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We've had such a gorgeous fall here in Southeast Missouri. I thought I'd share some photos from our evening walks and bike rides. Our week of sunshine has made for some glorious colors! [And be sure to scroll to the end of this post for how to download your free e-book copy of my novel A Scarlet Cord!] And before you leave, if you follow me on BookBub, you'll be getting … [Read more...]

5 Tips for How to Start the First Chapter

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Recently Abby K sent me an email and said: “I am 15 and my dream is to be a published author. I am currently working on a medieval fantasy and having a hard time starting it. Do you have advice on how to start the first chapter? Do you have any advice on how to finish a manuscript and keep yourself motivated? I always jump from one project to the next.” Beginnings and endings. The take-offs and … [Read more...]

When Cover Dreams Come True

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A book's cover is such a critical piece. It sets the tone of the book. It must grab a reader's attention and invite them in. I've been very blessed to have some really wonderful covers. But they don't just magically appear. There is a lot of hard work that go into them, and OK . . . a little magic. When my first Hanger's Horseman book came out, I fell in love with having a rugged cowboy on … [Read more...]

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Reading)!

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I confess, it was hard to decide what to post for today, knowing that today everyone would be dealing with the outcome of the election. But then Lynn Austin took the pressure off with her wonderful post on Monday. Click here to read it—or to read it again! Thanks, Lynn, for wise words and a kingdom perspective. So today I’m going a bit escapist. It’s November, which for me ushers in two … [Read more...]

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