Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Where I Find Ideas for MY Books

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Earlier in the week Robin Lee Hatcher shared a post about how she comes up with ideas for her books. I always love hearing writers talk about their creative process and how they develop their stories. Robin said this: "So very much of the writing process, so much about the gift of creativity, remains a mystery. At least that’s true for me." I found her answer fascinating, since my method of … [Read more...]

Character Interview and a Super Sale

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This month, my publisher is running a special promotion for the first book in my Ladies of Harper's Station series - No Other Will Do. You can get the e-book version of Emma and Malachi's story for just $1.99 at any e-book retailer. Amazon               Barnes & Noble            Christianbook.com Back when this book was first releasing, Natalie Monk did a fun character interview with Emma. I … [Read more...]

How Did You Come Up With the Idea for Your Book?

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The title of this blog post is a question authors get a lot during interviews. I can’t speak for others, but more often than not, it’s an impossible question for me to answer with absolute certainty—or even at all. On a very rare occasion, a book has sprung from some deeply personal experience (A Promise Kept, Beyond the Shadows, The Forgiving Hour), but mostly my stories are simply products of … [Read more...]

A Short History and an Anniversary

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I've been writing almost since I could hold a pencil, but I've been writing seriously and professionally since New Year's Day 1994. On that day, I sat down and wrote the prologue to my first novel, A Vow to Cherish, with a red Sharpie on a steno pad. Then I meticulously copied the words I'd written on my electric typewriter again and again until I had a flawless copy for my husband to read. Ken … [Read more...]

Reader Art!

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My next book, Falling for You, releases in less than two months! Back when I was expecting my babies, I remember that the first seven months of pregnancy took FOREVER.  Then the last two months seemed to speed up and streak past in an I-can-bend-over-to-pick-that-up-but-then-I-can't-straighten-back-up blur.  Toward the end I'd think, "Oh?  What?  It's almost time?  Yikes!  Now?  I've got so … [Read more...]

Where would you travel & Giveaway

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My husband and I are headed to a new-to-us part of the world Friday. It has me thinking how incredibly blessed I am. As a kid, the farthest I had traveled was Niagara Falls and touching Mexico. I always dreamed about seeing more of the world I had read about, but didn't think I'd ever have the opportunity to do so.[Tweet "Have the travel bug? @Cara_putman gifting books set in Italy and Mackinac … [Read more...]

Some fun happenings and you’re invited!

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Hello. It's spring in NW Florida and after finishing up several projects, I've got a bad case of spring fever! I've taken several walks on the beach and I've sat and enjoyed reading while the ocean and sun grow warm again. I'm also happy to see my yard coming back to life. Meantime, if you can't get enough of me here, well, I tend to pop up in other places, too. I thought I'd share some of those … [Read more...]

Prayers for my sweet Dad…and ramekins!

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Hey friends! I cherish the community we share here at Inspired by Life & Fiction, and would appreciate prayers for my Dad. As many of you know, Dad was diagnosed with dementia several years ago, and we recently moved him into memory care in ATL. It's been a month now and things are going fairly well. It's an adjustment for him, for us—and hasn't been without considerable … [Read more...]

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