Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Holiday Home Tour

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I love it when Deb Raney blogs about home decor!  I was inspired by her recent post to offer up a holiday home tour of my own (especially because a great deal of cleaning wasn't required). Come on in! Cyclamen in pots do wonderfully well for me during our Texas winters and add a festive pop of color.  When a neighbor gave us the nutcracker standing beside our door many years ago, the kids … [Read more...]

A Christmas Recipe

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I don't do a lot of holiday baking, but there are certain family favorites that make an appearance every year. Last week, I made a batch of shortbread cookies in miniature Christmas shapes for my publishing team and sent those off with some dark chocolate hot cocoa for my chilly Minnesota compatriots. This week, I'm making my chocolate peanut butter krispy treats. 4 out of 5 Witemeyers agree … [Read more...]

What’s On Your Bookshelf? Santa, we want more books!

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Hello. Today's post is brought to you by Santa and his little elves. When in doubt about what to get people for Christmas, a gift certificate to a bookstore (brick and mortar or online) is always a good idea. With everything from how-to and cookbooks, history, religion, fiction of all kinds and those side trinkets that go with books, I can't imagine anyone turning down a good browse in the … [Read more...]

7 Christmas ornaments that have stood the test of time

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I loved Lynn's post yesterday and decided I'd share a few ornaments from our tree as well, along with a thought or two behind each one... Ornament #1 This little bride and groom has graced our family’s Christmas tree for 33 years now, just as Joe and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary earlier this month on December 15th. My sweet Mom gave us this ornament on Joe’s and my first … [Read more...]

Trimming the Tree

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My publishing company, Bethany House, recently asked their authors to send a picture of their favorite Christmas ornament to post on their Facebook page. I had a very difficult time deciding! Let me take you on a tour of our Christmas tree so you can see why. These beautiful crocheted ornaments came from my sister-in-law, Marion Engel, who gave them to me a few years ago when she was down-sizing. … [Read more...]

Making Books a Part of Your Holiday Traditions

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Christmas traditions. We all have traditions of one kind or another including baking, caroling, decorating, family gatherings, special outings, and more. As I was thinking of some of the Christmas traditions in my family, I realized that books have had (and continue to have) a special place in our Christmas traditions. One way I incorporated book into the holidays was by making Christmas … [Read more...]

Christmas, Christmas Time is Here

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Christmas is around the corner, and I don't know about you, but I am in serious denial that we will be having a family Christmas celebration on Sunday. It simply doesn't seem possible that we're less than three weeks from a new year. Despite my denial, it's here. Because it's the season of giving, be sure to go to the end of the post to enter a gifting of one of my books--winner's choice. For each … [Read more...]

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