Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

What I’ve Been Up to This Summer!

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Hi Friends! Like most of you, I have a busy 4th of July weekend. I’ll be hanging out with friends at a barbecue and watching fireworks. Then my family is coming to visit for a few days (my two brothers and their wives and children) and we’ll be traveling to Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes and Traverse City for the Cherry Festival. It’ll be a busy but very fun time! Actually, summer tends to be busy … [Read more...]

Christian Fiction Readers Retreat

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Hey friends! A heads up on the 2016 Christian Fiction Readers Retreat coming to Nashville, TN! A one day gathering of Christian Fiction readers and over 30 authors will be meeting in Nashville on August 24th from 9am-6pm CDT. The event’s theme is Honoring God through Christian Fiction and will feature speaker sessions, author panels, breakout sessions, prayer & worship, and author … [Read more...]

Welcome Guest – Leanne Smith

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  Don't you love when God creates a "chance" encounter that leads to something so much bigger? That's how I met Leanne. I came in late to a general session at a writing conference a couple years ago and saw a lovely lady sitting by herself at a table in the back of the room. Not wanting to cause any disruption, I slipped into the chair next to her. We got to talking afterward and … [Read more...]

Stepping Into Summer

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Last time I wrote about some transitions in the Klassen household. Now that our eldest’s graduation is behind us, and the boys are busy with their summer jobs, here are the latest steps we’re taking this summer: Tap Dance Class—I'm literally taking (and learning) new steps with this one. Seven friends from church ages 35-65 signed up together for a beginning adult tap class. Here we are, trying … [Read more...]

The Oatmeal Story

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A collection of oatmeal tins and boxes sits atop the cupboards in our kitchen. I love the look of the old round Quaker Oats and Irish Oats packages, but that's not why I collect them. There's a story behind those colorful boxes, and every time I tell it, I'm reminded all over again of God's loving care for His children. The story begins in 1975 when my husband of barely four months "dragged" me … [Read more...]

God Provides!

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Most of the dangerous adventures I encounter happen to fictional characters and take place within my imagination.  But one morning this past week, I encountered a [slightly] dangerous real life situation. My 7 year old and I pulled out of our neighborhood onto a busy six lane road en route to the gym.  I was driving in the middle lane when my car suddenly died.  Luckily, there were no other … [Read more...]

What if…God gave us a desire of our heart?

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In 2012 my family spent two months in Hannover, Germany, while I taught a graduate class. It was an incredible trip. One we continue to talk about as a key part of our family history. [Tweet "What if God gives us the desires of our heart? It's a ? @Cara_putman explores."] Yet it wasn't until we were about to come back that I learned the contract for Shadowed by Grace was on the way. Why … [Read more...]

Missing Daddy, Missing Pieces

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Last Sunday, we celebrated Father's Day in the USA. I never got to celebrate a Father's Day with my own dad, not counting when I was an infant of about five or six weeks old. I was reminded on Sunday of a paper I wrote for my college English class back in 2014. I decided I would like to share it with you. I had to edit it as it was too long for a blog post, but I hope you'll enjoy what … [Read more...]

New covers and old pies

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A cover—and pie recipe—reveal! I'm thrilled to share my next cover with you guys. A Note Yet Unsung, the third Belmont Mansion novel, releases in January 2017. So what do you think? Coming January 2017 Belle Meade novel #3 About A Note Yet Unsung: A master violinist trained in Vienna, Rebekah Carrington manages to wheedle her way into an audition with the Maestro at the newly-formed … [Read more...]

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