Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

The Ugly Truth About My Writerly Insecurities

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I am currently in MAJOR editing mode. For the past two weeks, I’ve been working through feedback from my editor for a brand new medieval YA series. And I still have a couple more weeks of editing to go!  *As a side note: The novella and three books release this fall! So mark your calendars for the release of the novella in mid-August and the first novel in late August. Once I finish … [Read more...]

Creating Characters and Audiobook Giveaway

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I'm about halfway through the creation of my next book. It's still the rough draft, really rough, but last night I was working on the cover and marketing information form. It's a little surreal to complete details about important scenes and the characters. I've known what Savannah, the heroine, has looked like since Beyond Justice, but now that she has her own book, I've had to dig deep. She … [Read more...]

Sweet Instruments

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Hi friends,  So happy to be back with you this week. I thought it would fun to give you a sneak peek at three of my favorite writing instruments: notebooks, pens, and literally instruments a.k.a music. One of the things I find most inspiring in life and in writing is the beauty of soul-stirring music. I love listening to music while I write. I have to listen to instrumental music … [Read more...]

Cover Reveal Time!

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It's always an exciting time when a new book cover is created, especially since the Bethany House design team does such a great job. Are you ready to see the cover of my next book? Drum roll, please… A New, Stand-Alone Romantic Mystery—Coming Soon! After a humiliating mistake, lawyer Benjamin Booker resolves to never again trust a beautiful woman. When an old friend is killed, the … [Read more...]

Two Anniversaries in One Week

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My husband and I are celebrating two anniversaries this week. Ten years ago this Wednesday, life took a turn that knocked us for a loop when Ken was laid off from his job after 25 years with the same company. It was a scary and uncertain time and I confess I did not handle it well. At all. It was a tough time in our marriage because I wasn’t trusting God—or the husband God gave me—as I should. We … [Read more...]

Here I am, Lord

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I'm using an app called Read Scripture to guide me through a read-the-Bible-in-a-year plan in 2019. I highly recommend the app! It provides frequent videos, which bring commentary and insight to each of the books. And it's very customizable. You can start at any time and read at your own pace, if you prefer. In the early books of the Old Testament, I've been struck again and again by two … [Read more...]

Cover Reveal

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Seeing a cover design for the first time is an exciting moment for an author. It's a little nerve-wracking as you hold your breath, praying that the designers captured the essence of your story in visual form. Their vision doesn't always match the author's vision, but when done well, a cover can prove to be the most effective marketing tool in a publisher's arsenal. The cover is what gets a reader … [Read more...]

When I Least Expected . . .

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I won’t lie. These past three years in a new city, living a new lifestyle have been tough. So tough that I’ve ended up being grateful that I didn’t have an outside deadline or find myself juggling several editing clients. But over the past few months, as my outlook has been improving, as my contentment has been growing, I’ve been wishing for writing or editing jobs again. Projects to force me to … [Read more...]

What are you listening to?

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While I love to read, I don't always have the time to cozy up in a big comfy chair with a cup of warm, foamy espresso and savor the written page. I listen on the fly as I'm running errands or, most often, traveling back and forth between Nashville and Atlanta visiting my sweet dad. I'm currently finishing the audio version of Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate and oh, it's been such an … [Read more...]

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