Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Tea Time

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It’s getting down to the wire. Christmas is coming and so is my book deadline. Right about now I get tend to discouraged, wondering if this book I’m racing to finish is any good, and if so, what the ending should be. I’m putting in long hours in my office, while at the same time, I’m conscious of Christ’s advent and unwilling to let the celebration pass me by. My friend Jacki had the perfect … [Read more...]

What My Passion for Christian Fiction Led Me to Do This Fall

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Church libraries. Does your church have one? Mine does. I go to a large church and so our church library, while not enormous, is a decent size. Each wall is lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves packed full of all kinds of great books. This past fall I joined the staff at my church library. I’d been mulling over doing so for several months and felt lead to finally help out for several … [Read more...]

The Story of the Advent Calendar

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Did you ever play with those paper advent calendars as a kid? I used to love those things. Opening each door between December 1 - 24 until Christmas arrived. And no, I never cheated and looked at more than one hidden picture at a time. ;-) I actually like surprises. When my children were young, I invested in a wooden advent calendar. We would hang it on the wall, and each day, the kids and I … [Read more...]

When You’ve Lived a Historical

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My novel Silver Bells was first published by Summerside Press and was a finalist for the ACFW Carol Award. I recently got the rights back to that book and my husband designed a beautiful new cover for it with our Raney Day Press. It's now available in e-book and print (just in time for Christmas giving!) And today the e-book version is on sale for only 99 cents. If you'd like to order Silver … [Read more...]

Cozy Christmas Giveaway

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Please welcome my friend, author Jill Kemerer, back to Inspired by Life... and Fiction.  On this Black Friday, she's spreading Christmas cheer with a giveaway just for you!  - Becky Thank you, Becky, for letting me hijack your scheduled day! I hope all our American readers had a lovely Thanksgiving, and for everyone else, let’s all celebrate that it’s almost the weekend. Woo … [Read more...]

Thanksgiving: I’m Grateful for Writing & You

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Once upon a time there was a girl who dreamed of writing books. Books were magic carpets that transported her through time and across space. The only problem was her favorite authors simply did not write books fast enough. What was a voracious reader to do? She already haunted the local Christian bookstore, a feat she did with such regularity she'd walk in and the owner would hand the catalogs to … [Read more...]

A Grateful Heart

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Four weeks ago, I invited the Inspired by Life and Fiction readers to join me in a gratitude challenge. I hope those who participated felt your hearts increasing in thankfulness to God for all of the blessings in your lives. And I hope you'll continue to record in some way your gratefulness throughout the year to come. Don't stop with the month of November. God is good all the time and all the … [Read more...]

New Series, New Website (plus a giveaway)

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My new book in my first-ever series launches next week, and in its honor, Bethany House Publishers has created a dedicated mini-site for the series, at TalesFromIvyHill.com. I’m excited. The website offers: a color map of the village a detailed character list (which readers often request) photos of village buildings videos (me introducing the series, and on location in “Ivy … [Read more...]

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