Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Behind the Scenes of My Cover Shoot

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My new book, Sweet on You, released this past Tuesday! I've been so excited for you to have a chance to read this friends-who-fall-in-love story. Today, I have the pleasure of bringing you behind the scenes photos from Sweet on You's cover shoot! The cover shoot took place back in mid-August. My editor, Raela Schoenherr, was kind enough to snap these photos for us so that we could get a … [Read more...]

Character Inspiration

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When I first started writing, I never looked for inspiration images for my characters. I simply let them form in my mind and worked from there. However, when it came time to design my covers, my publishers kept asking for images of what my hero and heroine looked like as a starting point for selecting models for the photo shoots. I quickly learned that having images handy saved me time and effort … [Read more...]

A Grand New Adventure . . .

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It all started nine months ago . . . Well, eight, to be technical. We got a package in the mail from one of our married couples, then video-called them while we opened it (per the instructions) and discovered our first grandchild would arrive in April of the following year! April seemed so very, very far away. By the beginning of last month, we were all anxious, every twinge and drop … [Read more...]

Meet My Cover Model!

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I've had the honor of interviewing most of my prior cover models and I'm so thankful to Abby, Sweet on You's cover model, for allowing me to continue the tradition. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, Abby! Here she is on the cover of Sweet on You.... And here are Abby's answers to my questions.... Tell me about yourself! My name is Abby, I am 18 years old and I’m … [Read more...]

What book would you recommend to your younger self?

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This next week is going to be a blur. This weekend my husband and I are escaping to Charleson, SC, for two days, a dream of mine that was my Christmas present last year. My next book is due to Harper Collins Christian Fiction on Wednesday. And Wednesday evening I'm the faculty speaker at the graduation dinner for the masters students at Krannert. It's a lot, and it's all good. Because of a … [Read more...]

Even When

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Hi friends, So happy to be back with you this week. Today I’m continuing my series on The Power of Christian Fiction. You can read the previous posts here: The Power of Christian FictionHow Christian Fiction Mirrors the Hope God Gives Us Today’s focus is on how God never stops loving us even when we turn our back on Him or when we think our way is better. His plans for us are always … [Read more...]

Libraries—and a Secret Room!

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This last week I spoke at three libraries (Alexandria, Fergus Falls, and Elbow Lake, MN), which I greatly enjoyed. The events were well-attended and everyone was friendly and interested. Meeting the helpful staffs and many readers was a blessing and an encouragement to me as a writer. But the coolest part? One of the libraries has a secret room! I have long been intrigued by hidden … [Read more...]

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

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We've been traveling since April 10 when we flew to San Jose for the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. After a wonderful conference, Ken and I checked off a bucket list item when we rented a car and drove almost 1000 miles up the Pacific Coast, staying in Airbnbs and thoroughly enjoying the sights along the way. Our ultimate destination was the Seattle, Washington area where both our sons … [Read more...]

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