Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Cover Reveal: Who I Am with You

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In 2017, after turning in the manuscript for You’re Gonna Love Me, I was reading my long-used (over 20 years), well-loved Bible which is full of highlights, dates, and notes in the margins. Suddenly I wondered what this Bible might mean to members of my family after I am gone. Will one of my daughters or grandchildren or as-yet-to-come great-grandchildren one day leaf through this book and hear … [Read more...]

The Author-Editor Relationship

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Recently, my local chapter of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) asked me and my longtime editor, Karen Schurrer, to speak about the author-editor relationship. Karen Schurrer has edited Christian fiction for almost twenty years, primarily for Bethany House Publishers. She has worked with me on all twelve of my Bethany House novels in one capacity or other, along with my acquisitions … [Read more...]

Busy Days!

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The past few days have been busy ones for me. On Saturday, April 28, the alumni board at Hope College, my Alma Mater, presented me with the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award at their annual banquet. What a huge honor! Years ago, I chose to attend Hope, a Christian college, because I wanted to build my life and my education on a spiritual foundation. I found what I was looking for there. (And … [Read more...]

The Cover Development of Together Forever (with pictures of alternate covers!)

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Together Forever, my second orphan train book, released this week! A book’s birthday is always a special time! And to celebrate the release, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the cover development. To discover what went into making the cover, I interviewed Senior Graphic Designer Jenny Parker (with input from Bethany House Fiction Marketing Director Noelle Chew). Senior Graphic … [Read more...]

The Love Knot

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It's release week!!! The final story in the Ladies of Harper's Station series is now available as an e-single. This story is not new. It released back in January as part of the Heart's Entwined novella collection, but it's been given a makeover with a new cover and a low price point for the stand alone e-version. Claire and Pieter's story is a special one to me because it is the fulfillment … [Read more...]

My book addiction

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  Hi everyone! I am thrilled to be joining the Inspired by Life … and Fiction blog. You will be able to find me here on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. It’s always daunting to introduce myself to a new group of people (though I hope I’m not entirely new to some of you), but I didn’t have to look around too long to be inspired by life (and fiction!) as to how to make your … [Read more...]

Writing real history

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Do you love reading real love stories? Me too! I'm currently heavy into rewrites on With This Pledge—the first full length Carnton novel that hits the shelves in December—and my editor's comments and suggestions are really challenging me (in a great way) to take this story to a deeper level. Captain Roland Ward Jones and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Clouston truly lived—and fell in love—at … [Read more...]

Behind the Scenes of Falling for You’s Cover Shoot

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I'm a fan of cover art!  So I was especially excited to get a glimpse behind the scenes of Falling for You's cover shoot, thanks to the following photos.  It's my hope that you'll enjoy them, too! I began work on Falling for You in September of 2016.  I submitted it to my editors June 1st of 2017.  I rewrote it last August.  This cover shoot took place in … [Read more...]

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