Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Romance is Alive and Well

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Every 4-5 years, my husband goes all out in the romance department. One year it was a surprise anniversary trip to the place where we spent the first night of our honeymoon. One time he bought me a complete outfit (undergarments and accessories included) then arranged for a facial before taking me out to a nice dinner. On a couple of occasions, he's cooked a romantic meal from scratch. Last … [Read more...]

Why I love writing about K9 police and their canine partners

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I write a lot of books about K9 police officers and their four-legged partners. My first such book was a stand-alone for Love Inspired titled A Tender Touch. I became fascinated with the dogs that are trained to protect and serve. They go through intensive methods to teach them to search and rescue, find drugs and bombs and to track down dangerous criminals. They can pick up scents from twenty … [Read 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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