Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Saying Goodbye to Summer

By

How I hate typing those words: Goodbye to summer. It seems like summer just got here! I decided to take a peek through my vacation photographs and recall all of the reasons why I’m thankful for the Summer of 2016. Vacation time started in June with a family trip to Colorado. We rented a cabin near Rocky Mountain National Park and hiked in the woods and mountains every day. The beautiful … [Read more...]

How Do Authors Keep Coming Up With Book Ideas?

By

One of the most common questions that readers ask writers is: "How do you keep coming up with book ideas? I just don't understand how you can find so many different stories to write." I recently finished writing my third book this year and am in the process of plotting another. You’d think my mind would be blank, that my creative juices would be sucked dry, that I’d have nothing … [Read more...]

Friends, Awards, and Pancakes

By

Last week, I attended the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Nashville. I felt like I had come full circle. The very first ACFW conference I attended had also been in Nashville, back in 2005. Four years before I signed my first contract. Now that I'm published, the conference is less about pitching book ideas and more about networking, sharing fellowship with other authors, … [Read more...]

Christian Fiction Readers Retreat

By

I was fortunate to attend the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat yesterday in Nashville!  The day was organized by Carrie, Annie, and Bonnie, the fabulous ladies behind the Reading is my Superpower, Just Commonly, and Overcoming with God blogs.  Approximately 30 authors and 120 readers were in attendance. The day kicked off with praise and worship followed by talks from Mary Connealy, Ruth … [Read more...]

By

This week is ACFW's national conference in Nashville. I arrived Tuesday for board meetings yesterday, and then the fun started. So today I wanted to share some photos with you of before the conference began. As an avid reader, it's easy to go all fan girl with my writing buds. They are sooooo talented. There are approximately 600 people attending, so if you like a Christian fiction author many are … [Read more...]

https://inspiredbylifeandfiction.com/10929-2/

I Love the Fair!

By

I pulled almost an all-nighter in order to get my revisions done and to my editor on Tuesday morning. I worked until 2:00 AM. Slept for a couple of hours. Then was back to work by 4:30 AM until I sent the document off via email at 9:05 AM. My treat for getting it done? Spending an afternoon and evening at the Western Idaho Fair with my hubby, daughter, granddaughter, and her husband. And the … [Read more...]

First Series, First Map!

By

My first ten books have been stand-alone novels. As I mentioned in a previous post, I am coming out with my first series this year, called Tales From Ivy Hill. Book One, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill, releases in December. One of the main reasons I am looking forward to trying my hand at writing a series is that it will allow me to stay in one place for awhile. I have often lamented that after I … [Read more...]

Heading to ACFW in Nashville!

By

Tomorrow I hop on a plane and head for Nashville for the 15th annual American Christian Fiction Conference! Since the very first conference in Kansas City in 2002, I have never missed an ACFW conference. It's a highlight of my year and has been such a help to my career as a writer. It would take ten thousand photos to do justice to the conference over the years (and I probably have that many on my … [Read more...]

Recent Posts