Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

What are You Reading?

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As a voracious reader, my to-be-read pile never stops. Literally it is towering beneath my desk and next to my bedside...and on a bookshelf. And you get the idea! I love books too much. No. That's not possible. I simply need a vacation to read all the books I have stockpiled. Yes, that's better. [Tweet "What's on your #TBRPile? @Cara_Putman shares some of her recent reads and a … [Read more...]

Revision Time and Journaling Time

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Revising my Latest Book My editorial letter for my next book arrived on March 12, and so I have been hard at work over the last two weeks, brainstorming, adding, changing. I know a few writers who absolutely love the revision process. I wouldn't go that far. Sometimes revisions make my head want to blow up as I try to remember what I have added and what I have removed and what I have changed … [Read more...]

Like Minds

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A few days ago, Karen Witemeyer wrote a lovely blog post (read it here) about the spiritual aspects of a recent writers retreat we both attended, along with Inspired By Life members Jody Hedlund and Becky Wade, as well as authors Katie Ganshert and Courtney Walsh. (Sadly, Dani Pettrey and Katie Cushman were unable to join us this year.) I will just add a few things. There is something so … [Read more...]

Taking some time off

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A week ago today, I turned in my manuscript to my editor. Whew! It feels so good to meet a deadline and complete a project I've been working on for months! (That book, Reason to Breathe, will be in bookstores this fall!) I always try to take at least a week (and sometimes several weeks) off after I've finished a book. Of course, I can't just completely stop working for that long. There are … [Read more...]

Pre-Release Excitement and a GIVEAWAY!

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TOGETHER FOREVER the second book in my orphan train series releases on May 1, less than two weeks away! There are two things I look forward to in the weeks before the book’s release. The first is the single copy I receive from my editor about a month before the release. It’s my first glimpse of the book and is always accompanied by a personal card from my editor (which is super cool and … [Read more...]

The Spiritual Side of a Writing Retreat

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Writing retreats are a wonderful way for authors to feed their creative mind. Discussing ideas, brainstorming plots, sharing marketing tips - the fellowship is invaluable. Yet when you get together with Christian authors, there's an extra element that feeds the soul. This past weekend was the 3rd annual Inkette Retreat. The Inkettes were started by Dani Pettrey, and this wonderful group of … [Read more...]

Wonderful Waco

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Earlier this month ago, my daughter Kelsey and I journeyed to Waco, TX—the land of Chip and Joanna Gaines and all things Magnolia—and we had such FUN!! THANK YOU to everyone who'd been there before and gave us such fabulous advice on what to do and see. And since a picture paints a thousand words . . . Me and Kels at the start of our Magnolia weekend! … [Read more...]

Life-Changing Books

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I’ve been thinking about my spiritual journey lately, along with my journey as a writer. The two are closely entwined. And I realized what a powerful, life-changing effect books have had on those journeys. Space doesn’t allow me to list all the books that have influenced me, but four stand out. The first is “The Hiding Place” by Corrie Ten Boom. Corrie and her family lived uneventful lives in … [Read more...]

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