Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Sisters Trip to Mexico

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In November of 2021, I traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona with my husband to celebrate my 50th birthday. My two sisters and my parents joined us there. I LOVED marking the occasion of my birthday with such a memorable trip. When my sister's 50th rolled around recently, we had the perfect reason to take another mini-vacation. This time--Cabo, Mexico! I grew up in California and have lived in … [Read more...]

How Authors Stay Sane

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Hi friends and happy Wednesday. I hope your day is off to a fantastic start.  Writing is not easy.  I believe Hemingway said it best in the following quote.  “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” While writing is a joy for me and a passion, that doesn’t negate the rough days or even rough seasons. The times when you have a word or page … [Read more...]

In Memory of Mandisa

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This is a post I originally published on August 30, 2011, long before I had the joy of meeting Mandisa in a Bible study we both attended in a friend's home here in Nashville a handful of years ago. As everyone says, she was—and still is—the real deal. I'm heartbroken over her passing, but her openness and transparency encouraged me then, and still does today. I originally entitled this August … [Read more...]

Mary Had a Little Lamb . . . and so did I!

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I don't know if you saw the hilarious picture of lamb cakes that was going around on Facebook . . . This photo makes me laugh every time I look at it. But because I love baking, I decided I had to make a lamb cake this year. Only I wouldn't make it at Easter, but at Passover . . . and I'd bake a cake with no yeast, baking powder, or baking soda, so there would be no leaven. (Pound cake fits … [Read more...]

Slow & Steady Gets It Done

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On Wednesday, D’Ann made mention of graduation (and gifts for graduates). I’m guessing she was thinking of 18 and 22 year olds, for the most part. A decade ago this month, I attended my oldest daughter’s college graduation. She’d had a long career as a flight attendant (close to 20 years) but was ready to stay home, so she went back to school to prepare for a career change. Now, it may have … [Read more...]

Fan Fiction Contest

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. One of the characters in my latest book - If the Boot Fits - is a young boy with a vivid imagination. Fergus Ellis is the hero's youngest brother, and he never goes anywhere without his pencil and tablet. He names the animals around the house and dreams up adventures for them that he jots down in his tablet. He has dubbed the family milk cow Mrs. Merriweather and has set her up as banyard … [Read more...]

The Merry Month of May

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It’s May, y’all. And you know what that means? Sooooo many gifts to buy! End-of-year- teacher gifts, Mother’s Day, graduations, weddings, babies—all the things. So I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite bookish gifts since, in my opinion, bookish gifts are suitable for all occasions!  Bookish tea towels—great for Mother’s Day, weddings, teachers, or a hostess gift! … [Read more...]

Lake House Getaway

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One year ago, I blogged in this post about the lake house my husband and I were in the process of building at Lake O The Pines in northeast Texas. We completed it early this year! Our family has been enjoying it immensely. As have the guests who've booked it as a vacation rental. A few photos... Didn't it turn out great? Since Monday, I've been on a "girls getaway" here at the … [Read more...]

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