Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

What have you been reading?

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This is what I've been reading, along with the first sentence in each book. I just LOVE reading first sentences, do you? Me Before You by JoJo Moyes First sentence: "There are 158 footsteps between the bus stop and home, but it can stretch to 180 if you aren't in a hurry." I just finished this Sunday night. This was my first of JoJo's books, but it will by no means be my last. I loved it … [Read more...]

Dexter – A Love Story

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I’ve written about Dexter my “grand-cat” before. How he was rescued from the streets of Chicago and adopted by my daughter and her husband. How their patience and love transformed him from an aggressive, nearly-wild cat that couldn’t get along with any of the other cats in the Red Door Animal Shelter, into a much-loved family member. I’ve written about some of his quirks—how he likes to play kitty … [Read more...]

Romantic French Customs

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  France!  Home to the 'City of Love'.  Famous for its decadent food.  Full of charming scenery and historic architecture.  Birthplace to a person named Thierry Soufflard who took the time to write (and research?) a guidebook entitled The Best Places to Kiss in Paris. I traveled through France with my family when I was young.  Though I'd love to visit many places in Europe, I'd most … [Read more...]

Let It Snow. No, really!

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I love snow. Yes, I really do. I love the purity of a fresh snow fall. The way the trees glisten. The sparkles of ice crusting the top of a surface. I even love shoveling. Hey, I call it exercise for the day. Really. It's a great cardio-vascular workout. [Tweet "Are you a snow lover like @cara_putman? Winter doesn't seem right without snow. "]I have had snow envy as the East Coast got … [Read more...]

Come Away

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And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) — Mark 6:31, NASB95 The words "come away" from the above verse always resonate in my soul when I read them. I suppose because it is so difficult in this world to find the time and the secluded places to rest, to come away, to … [Read more...]

Lasting Impressions | Guest Blogger, Anna Paulson

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Anna Paulson works as Julie Klassen’s research and writing assistant. Pink lipstick, a rapturous voice, and long, black hair that curled in disarray around her glowing face—these were my first impressions of Siobhan (pronounced shi-VAWN), my creative writing professor at the National University of Ireland, Galway. She reminded me of a whimsical book character, and I thought it fitting. Nearly … [Read more...]

A (pre-)Valentine Givaway

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Okay, so it isn't quite Valentine's Day, but I've been decluttering this year, cleaning out drawers and desks and cupboards, and when I came to my old 2015 calendar, it was just too pretty to throw away. So I made a garland of paper hearts from it, and that got me in the mood for Valentine's Day, which, quite honestly, is my favorite holiday of the year!I posted a few photos of my garland on … [Read more...]

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