Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Plot, Play, & Pray Retreat #16

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Another brainstorming retreat has come to an end. We work hard at this retreat. We play hard at this retreat. And we pray hard at this retreat. This was retreat #16 for the majority of us. We have been the same 11 for about 7 years. Since our first year (2003) we have added four new members and said goodbye to three. And every year, these sisters of my heart become more and more dear to … [Read more...]

Fellowship and Inspiration

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Writing is often a solitary profession. I actually enjoy spending quiet hours alone in my writing cave, just me, myself, and my cats. But it's fun to come out sometimes, too, to fellowship with fellow (sister) authors, to serve younger writers, and be inspired. I had a couple of wonderful opportunities to do all three in the last few weeks and thought I'd share a few highlights with … [Read more...]

*♪♫ The Music of Life…and of Work ♪♫*

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We watched a movie the other night that I can't necessarily recommend because of some language and other elements, but oh, the music! I ordered the soundtrack while we were still watching the movie, and the music did not disappoint. I'm always looking for good music, especially music to write by. I discovered around the fourth novel I wrote (eighteen years ago now!) that music is a huge … [Read more...]

What Does It Really Take to Be a Die-Hard Writer?

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This past week I had the opportunity to sit down and chat about publishing and writing with a budding author who is working on his third novel. I had the privilege of answering questions and sharing my experiences and advice, which is always a lot of fun. In the end, my encouragement to him was to keep on working hard. Over the years, I’ve met with and spoken to many different aspiring writers. … [Read more...]

Add a Little Color to Your Devotions

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Over the last few months, I've been actively looking for ways to incorporate more scripture into my day. With a full-time day job, writing, and three children, time is a precious commodity. So I've slowly been adding small snippets of truth into my day. I have the You Version Bible app on my phone and set that to show me a verse of the day at 6:00 am when I wake up. I read it and meditate on it … [Read more...]

A Tale as Old as Time

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  Our middle child—our oldest son—got married almost 2 weeks ago. It was lovely and joyful, as weddings are. But it wasn’t perfect. In fact, it seemed every moment was fraught with the tension of plans going awry. A wedding band that  didn’t get shipped before the wedding. Thunderstorms hovering in the forecast over the rehearsal and wedding day. The deluge of rain that appeared in … [Read more...]

Southern Mansion Reader Weekend – Nov 30 & Dec 1

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Do you love touring historical mansions and learning the history behind the homes (and the novels written about them)? Do you appreciate delicious Southern food? Do you adore talking history and novels and writing and romance? Have you ever wanted to have dinner in the grand salon at Belmont Mansion where Adelicia Acklen threw her magnificient party for Madame Lavert in 1865? Does the … [Read more...]

Bikes, Beaches, Boats and Books

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Wow, it’s hard to stay focused on my writing this time of the year! The weather has been beautiful—perfect for going to the beach, riding my bike, and watching the boats sail on Lake Michigan. Perfect for everything, it seems, except writing a novel. The only solution I’ve found is to plan carefully and not let myself get distracted. To get up early and get to work so I can play later … [Read more...]

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