Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Coins on a grave, and a special day

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First, a quick history… Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Major General John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It's believed that date was chosen … [Read more...]

Weird Things Writers Say (and What They Really Mean)

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Those of us in the publishing profession have developed a lingo all our own.  If you've spent any time at all interacting with authors on social media, then you've probably been treated to it.  And if you're a reader and not a writer type, some of it may have struck you as peculiar and/or baffling.  Thus, I thought I'd offer a writer-civilian translation guide.... "I'm on deadline." First of … [Read more...]

Some Great Christian Fiction & Giveaway

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While I love to write, I'm always reading, too. I was a reader first. And I'll always be a reader. So today I wanted to share with you several books I've read in the last couple weeks that I really enjoyed. Be sure to go to the end and enter the giveaway. I have a copy of each of these books to share with you! I've also tried to select books that will appeal to all of our readers :-) [Tweet … [Read more...]

And How Do I Really Feel About Deadlines?

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Let's just say that deadlines keep me writing, but I also think they might kill me before I reach the end. My work in progress (an April 2017 release) is due to my editor in a couple of days and I've got lots of writing left to do. So you know what that means. It means you are getting a very quick, very short post, focusing on a couple of my books I want you to know about. If you loved … [Read more...]

British Blooms and Books Giveaway!

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  Hello, gentle reader, and welcome to the first annual British Blooms and Books giveaway! This week, we’d like to celebrate the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show with you. After enjoying this post, please visit each of the other five authors’ blogs (links provided below) and, after a bit of reading fun, follow one simple instruction and then leave a comment on each, to … [Read more...]

Lessons from a Family of Robins

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We've had the uncommon privilege of watching a pair of robins build their home and start a family. I'm ashamed to say that I was annoyed to see the twigs and straw appear in the hanging pot I'd so carefully planted with caladiums and begonias on our front porch. But remembering a nest of mourning doves we'd watched in the same planter the first summer we lived here, I relented and let the nest … [Read more...]

How Far Will You Read Before Giving Up on a Book?

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One of my twin daughters got a new book in the mail and squealed with excitement as she opened it. Sadly, once she started reading the new squeal-worthy book, it fell into the book graveyard. It had a gorgeous, captivating cover. A catchy title. An interesting blurb. And it promised to be a fun, light read. So why did it die and get buried? After she read the first chapter, I asked her … [Read more...]

The Husband Maneuver

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Earlier this month, my Dead-Eye Dan novella, The Husband Maneuver, released as an e-single. I've written four novellas to date (one yet to be released), and I think Dan and Marietta's story is my favorite. I just had far too much fun writing the dime novel scenes. For those of you who might not have read A Worthy Pursuit, the novel that introduced Dan and Marietta as secondary characters, … [Read more...]

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