Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Simple Pleasures–from an Upbeat Author

By

I like that word upbeat. But sometimes in life, it gets turned around and we feel just beat up. A good friend of mine who has become a lifeline since she moved from Tennessee to a few miles down the road from me, has decided to do something about the beaten moments of life. Trish Milburn has turned that frown upside down after reading the book "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. She created … [Read more...]

A sweet visit, an August 8th release—and 30 GIVEAWAYs!

By

Hey friends! I'm just back from Atlanta where I spent some time with my Dad, bless him. Love that man so much. Me & Dad Dad's had numerous TIAs (mini strokes) in recent weeks, and they've taken a toll on him physically. Yet he's still the same sweet, kindhearted man he's always been. Albeit, at 85, he's growing a tad weary of what accompanies aging (these earthly bodies aren't made to … [Read more...]

Time to Pull Weeds

By

I know there are people who love to garden. They enjoy nurturing seeds, planting bulbs, and planning perennial beds so that gorgeous flowers flourish in every season. My neighbor is one of them. I walk past her home (in the photos above and below) and sigh with envy at her creativity and diligence. I am not one of those people. While I do love the end result when my garden looks pristine and … [Read more...]

Aloha!

By

I've been traveling since I last blogged here at Inspired by Life!  I arrived home to Dallas yesterday and thought I'd take this opportunity to give you a peek into my Travel Journal. I don't do much writing during the summer months when my kids are out of school.  For one thing, my kids are out of school.  For another, I typically turn in my manuscripts at the beginning of June, and after the … [Read more...]

Giveaways, a Video, and More

By

Today I thought I'd do something different and give you a little look into one of the other hats I wear. By day, I'm a full time lecturer at Purdue University, a job I absolutely adore. I feel most alive when I'm teaching and writing. So here's a video I made this week on Facebook that shares a bit about what I'm reading right now for that job. I didn't include the Corporate Governance textbook. … [Read more...]

The Purge

By

I think most authors go through periods of time, due to approaching deadlines, when many things in their lives get ignored. I am guilty of that. To the max. Confession: I can let some things go without attention for years. There always seems to be something else more important to do with my time, including naps. My office and my walk-in clothes closet are two things I have needed to purge and … [Read more...]

Girls’ Getaway

By

A few weeks ago, I traveled with a group of old friends. Most of us met at an early childhood education class soon after our first children were born, and we’ve added two dear friends along the way. We planned to drive a few hours north to Duluth Minnesota to tour the Glensheen Mansion together. We decided to make a weekend of it—a girls’ getaway—something we had not done together before, if you … [Read more...]

“When it rains, it pours.”

By

“When it rains, it pours.” Yes, it’s a cliché. But it’s a good one. And according to Dictionary.com it means: “When something good or bad occurs, it usually occurs more than once and often within a short period of time.” So far this summer I’ve experienced the cliché in a bad way. I’ve had a deluge of difficulties. My month of June began with my twin daughters graduation from high school. … [Read more...]

Monthly Archives

Blog Categories

Recent Posts

Disclosure

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the pages on this site may be "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, someone will receive an affiliate commission. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."