Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & 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...]

Guest Post from Dani Pettrey (and a giveaway of her new book!)

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I'm so pleased to welcome Dani Pettrey to the blog today!  She's been a wonderful friend to me for years, she's fresh off a trip to the beach, and her newest release is fresh off the presses.  Be sure to check out the fun summer giveaway (of Dead Drift, a candle, and a set of note cards) that I'm offering below.  -Becky Last week my family and I journeyed from Maryland where we live down … [Read more...]

Exploring Italy

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My family and I returned last week from a stint in Rome. We were there so I could lead a study abroad. This wasn't our first time, but it was our first time to live in Rome for two weeks. It was a delightful trip for many reasons -- but it's also why I missed my last post. You see, I left my computer at home, which means I didn't have my account passwords. [Tweet "How does a writer rest? Not … [Read more...]

100 Days of Bible Promises Completed

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I am in the knuckle down phase of finishing a new book, but I have managed to stay current with the creative devotional, 100 Days of Bible Promises. Back in April I shared some of my entries from the first few weeks of journaling. Since today was day #100, I thought I would share some of my favorite entries from the last half of the devotional. This experience has been a wonderful one. I highly … [Read more...]

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