Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Rocky Mountain High… Colorado

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Our own Lynn Austin wrote about the beauty and grandeur of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado a few days ago. Little did Lynn and I know that our time in Colorado with our families would almost overlap! They were leaving for home the same day we arrived at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park—which just happened to be my birthday. I can't think of a better way to have spent my … [Read more...]

New Book Release & a Giveaway!

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This week I’ve been celebrating the release of A Reluctant Bride, the first installment of my brand new Bride Ships Series. It’s been such a fun week as readers eagerly set sail on a new reading adventure! I’m thrilled to announce that the book recently received a Starred Review in Publishers Weekly, which is a pretty big deal since starred reviews are only given to a small selection of books … [Read more...]

Book Launch in my Book’s Setting

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This is release week! Hooray! Zach and Abigail's story is finally out in the wide world! Abigail Kemp needs a man's name on the deed to save her bakery. Zacharias Hamilton is finally free of his responsibilities as head of the Hamilton clan now that his adoptive siblings are wed, and he wants nothing more than to be left alone to focus on his own dreams for once. Yet the same reluctant drive … [Read more...]

Finding a Merry Heart

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My husband and I are both naturally serious people. Not that we don’t enjoy a good laugh. We do. But don’t tend to laugh together spontaneously. We usually need something to spark our laughter. This spring has proven to be a very stressful season in my husband’s job. He comes home at night needing to get his head out of his world of work. And so we’ve been looking for things that will bring … [Read more...]

Marginal Promises & prayers

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'Fess up! Are you a person who writes in their Bible? Last night I attended a Bible study and as I was looking up various Scriptures, I spotted precious notes, timely reminders, and personal pleas that I've written in the margins through the years. And I was reminded, yet again, of how faithful God is in answering prayer. One big prayer especially—which I listed last below. I loved running … [Read more...]

Book Lovers in New Orleans

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Along with Inspired by Life authors Jody Hedlund and Lenora Worth, I also attended Book Lovers Con in New Orleans. I had never been to a reader conference and I had never been to New Orleans. Both were interesting experiences.  As Jody wrote in her recent post, I enjoyed spending time the other inspirational authors who attended the large conference. Sharing meals and conversation together was a … [Read more...]

Keeping Up With The Whirlwind

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Have you ever felt like you were caught in a whirlwind and things were moving so fast you could scarcely keep up? That’s where Ken and I have been for the past few weeks as we prepare to move from our beloved Kansas to Southeast Missouri in order to be closer to our two daughters and five of our nine grandkids. (Our two sons and the other four grandkids are in Seattle.) Things went from whirlwind … [Read more...]

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