Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Nashville and a Crazy Cover Giveaway

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Hi, y'all. My Southern is coming out after spending most of last week in Nashville for meetings with my editor and team at Thomas Nelson. There was a snowstorm that shut down the town for a day, but Eric and I had a great time anyway. [Tweet "@cara_putman shares about meeting her editor, #ACFW2018, and a crazy cover #giveaway of Imperfect Justice. Join the fun! #amreading"] Tuesday my … [Read more...]

A Few Goals for 2018

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The first month of the new year is awfully close to being over already. Amazing, isn't it? But it isn't too late for me to share a few of my goals for this year. So here goes: Read Through the New Testament Three Times In 1997, I began the practice of reading through the entire Bible in odd-numbered years and reading through the New Testament multiple times in even-numbered years. Last year I … [Read more...]

Libraries in Jane Austen’s Day

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As you know, I love libraries of all kinds (public libraries, church libraries, university libraries, etc.). In my latest book, The Ladies of Ivy Cottage, Miss Rachel Ashford (a gentlewoman in reduced circumstances), is determined to earn her own livelihood…somehow. Her friends encourage her to open a circulating library with the many books she’s inherited. As villagers donate additional volumes … [Read more...]

Extremes (and a prayer request)

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So, last week my husband and I spent the better part of an entire week either in bed sleeping or shivering by the fire under a blanket. Sadly, we had that awful 2018 flu that's making the rounds. I know a lot of you have had it too, and it is NO FUN! After sleeping, literally 90 out of 96 hours at one point, we started to feel like we might be back in the land of the living. It's been a slow climb … [Read more...]

One Essential Way to Boost Productivity

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Last year I hit a new record. I wrote five full-length novels. Three of the five were YA (Young Adult) books which are slightly shorter in length (and require less research) than my adult historicals. However, five is quite the accomplishment for me considering my busy schedule with five children and homeschooling. I’m often asked, “How do you do it?” I never have a perfect answer. Mostly … [Read more...]

True Love & Tea Parties

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Earlier this month, my baby brother got married. It was such a day of celebration. He'd waited 44 years to find the right woman, and the Lord finally brought her into his life. I didn't know much of the origin story of this relationship, but over the course of the weekend, I heard from multiple people about the providence of God in bringing Kenny and Lauri together. As a romance writer, I could … [Read more...]

Better late than never, right? And a giveaway!!!

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I'm fashionably late today but if you could see my pajamas and my puffy eyes, you would not call me fashionable at all. I have many excuses, however. Sunday afternoon, I put the finishing touches on a book due on Monday. Then my husband and I cleaned and rearranged my office so I could see out into the front yard more and enjoy the new recliner Santa brought me. It has beach words all over it! … [Read more...]

Things Deb and I would have done. . .

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Have you ever looked forward to something BIG TIME...only to have it not come to pass? Well, that happened this week. But it was no one's fault. It's just life. But I've been so bummed. First, some quick backstory… A few of you might not know that Deb Raney and I have been writing critique partners for over 14 years now. And during that time, we've become very dear friends. Well, Deb was … [Read more...]

The Voyage

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I once heard a speaker compare life to a kayak trip downriver. Sometimes the waters are smooth and we can enjoy a leisurely journey, admiring the beauty all around us. But every now and then we hit the rapids and we’re suddenly thrown into a mad scramble to stay afloat. As we navigate past rocks and other dangers, overwhelmed with fear, we wonder if life will ever be serene and peaceful again. … [Read more...]

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