Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

My Week as a Beach Bum (and a giveaway!)

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I spent the last week of July very happily marooned on the Caribbean island of Anguilla with my family. I have photos to share! This blog post is full of oceanside photos and, before I go, I'm excited to tell you about a giveaway with an ocean tie-in. :) Over on my web site, my sweet friend and fellow IBL blogger Dani Pettrey is giving away a set of bookends and three of … [Read more...]

Help Needed? Yes, Please.

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A writer wears so many hats. Author. Marketer. Another job -- Maybe. Family. Friend. And so much more. One of the things I've really been thinking about this last few weeks is how to more effectively connect with readers. I read. A lot. I write. A lot. And I love to discuss books. All of us here do. That's why we're here :-) I'm also really curious. I'm always reading books on all kinds of … [Read more...]

Summer Reading

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Can you believe it’s already August? Although I don’t technically have kids going back to school, I do have two who still live by the school calendar—one as a teacher, the other as a grad student. Still, August seems to mark the end of long summer days, even if they haven’t been lazy ones. And while the situation of having a book in my hand doesn’t change from season to season, it is sometimes fun … [Read more...]

First Line Frenzy—& GiveawayS!

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I love reading first lines of novels. One of my favorite pastimes is pulling books off the shelf (or opening samples downloaded to my Kindle) and reading first lines of novels to see which ones pull me in the most. A phenomenal first line doesn't automatically guarantee a great read, of course. But it does mean the author has given thought as to how to capture—and keep—your interest! So … [Read more...]

Companions for the Journey

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I’ve been going through photographs from my bicycle trip through Europe last June, and before the memories fade, I want to share some lessons I learned along the way. My bike tour, like the Body of Christ, relied on three very important people—the Guide, the Corner, and the Sweep. The Guide, of course, is Jesus.  He knows the way and all of the challenges we’ll face. He has traveled this way … [Read more...]

Christian Novels Made Into Movies (And a Mini-Rant)

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What do you think about Christian novels being made into movies? Since it happens so rarely in the Christian book industry, I’m always fascinated when a Christian author has a story reach the big screen. We’re likely all familiar with Janette Oke’s Love Come Softly movies and more recently her When Calls the Heart Hallmark series. Karen Kingsbury has had a handful of books turned into … [Read more...]

Tea and Chocolate

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The two things that pair best with books, in my opinion, are tea and chocolate. Dark chocolate, in particular. And black tea sweetened with honey. Whether I'm reading or writing, tea and chocolate (individually or together) always seem to heighten my bookish experience. Earlier this summer, I had the chance to visit Victoria, British Columbia for a couple days on the way to drop off my … [Read more...]

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