Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Events for Readers

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It's both fun and comforting to interact with people who share your love of reading, isn't it?  Many of us are involved in a local book club.  Many of us congregate with like-minded readers via Facebook groups or Twitter, Instagram, and the like.  And perhaps a few of us have had the opportunity to attend a large-scale event for readers. I thought I'd take this post to list some of the … [Read more...]

Book Cover Love

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If you ask me which book is my favorite, I’ll try not to answer your question. Frankly it feels like you’re asking me to choose a favorite child. An impossible task! There are elements of each book that make it unique.  This week I’ve received the new covers for my three Ohio WWII romances, and so my thoughts have focused on them and my new legal suspense series. [Tweet "It's time for … [Read more...]

Fact and Fiction, Part 4

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(To see the story from the start, visit Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3) What's a Query Letter? I wrote my first book long hand on yellow legal pads, then typed the manuscript on the typewriter at the office. I didn't use white out. I'd read that the manuscript had to be clean. So if I made a typo, I retyped the entire page. I estimate that I typed about four copies of that book. (I still … [Read more...]

From London and Dublin with love

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Joe and I recently took a trip to London and Dublin—with 26 Belmont University MBA students, lest you think it was a romantic getaway! Here are some pics from our trip!   The Elizabeth Tower (far left) behind me, with Big Ben (the name of the bell) within Our entire group at Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey Loved this sign outside Buckingham Palace … [Read more...]

The Sabbath Table

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One of my favorite weekend pastimes is celebrating the Sabbath with our Jewish family and friends. In the hours before I arrive, they will have been hard at work baking bread and preparing enough food to last for the next 24 hours. The table is beautifully set, and the aromas that waft from the kitchen make my stomach rumble. I sit down to enjoy the long, leisurely meal with a huge sigh of relief, … [Read more...]

The Power of Stories

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As an avid reader, I LOVE to be entertained by a well-told story. And of course as a writer, I LOVE when readers say things like: I couldn’t put your book down or it kept me up past bedtime. Fiction is supposed to be entertaining—a good story with lovable characters wrapped up in a riveting plot. But books are more than pure entertainment. They are laced with incredible power. First they … [Read more...]

Why I Love Spring

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Spring is by far my favorite time of year. Grass starts to green, wildflowers bloom, trees bud. It is a time of freshness, a time to witness God's creativity and beauty firsthand, a time to be inspired. I am not a plant person. As much as I love them, I am terrible about tending them. My knowledge base is extremely limited to start with and with my consuming schedule of writing, working, and … [Read more...]

What are you doing this spring? The Five R’s of Relaxation

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While most of the country is snowed in, Florida is having mild weather. Chilly but nothing compared to snow and ice and dangerous conditions. I've been enjoying springtime in Florida and thought those of you who are trying to stay warm will either love this post or hate it. I'm hoping soon we'll all be complaining about hot weather! Meantime, here are my five suggestions for Spring … [Read more...]

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