Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

To Tea or Not to Tea

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Did you know that tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world (besides water)? Nope—I didn’t either. Even though I write novels set in tea-centric England, I confess I am a tea novice and drink more coffee than tea (shhh! :)). But I do enjoy drinking tea in comfortable solitude now and then, or at social gatherings. And lately I’ve been learning more about this quintessentially British … [Read more...]

Our house is a very, very, very fine house…

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Do you know that song? If so, the line that comes next tells you my definition of a very, very, very fine house. "With two cats in the yard..." For much of our marriage, we've had at least one cat in the house, and one memorable summer, we had eleven cats in the yard (life used to be so hard!) thanks to two batches of kittens our stray mama cat, Biscuit, gifted us with as a thank-you for taking … [Read more...]

One of My Secrets to Managing Multiple Responsibilities

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When my twins were babies, I loved dressing them in coordinating outfits. I’d stick bows in their hair and make cute ponytails that stood straight up on the tops of their heads. When I’d take them out in the double stroller, people would always stop to admire them. I could never figure out why people asked, “Are they girls or boys?” I wanted to say, “Why in the world would I dress them in pink … [Read more...]

A Trio of Cover Reveals

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For me, one of the most exciting (and nerve-wracking!) parts of the publication process is seeing a new cover for the first time. We've all been told not to judge a book by it's cover, but that's exactly what we do every day. I know I do. The cover is what makes a story's first impression on a reader. Not the words we've painstakingly crafted over months of labor, but a single shot of art that we … [Read more...]

Two new novellas and a whole lot of learning

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I have so much to be thankful for this month! I've been published in traditional commercial fiction for twenty-two years now so I had to go kicking and fighting into Indie publishing. That word "independent" has taken on a whole new meaning as I venture into this new territory. But I have to admit it's fun and a definite learning experience.   First, I want to clarify that I will always … [Read more...]

A more grateful heart

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Perhaps it's the time of year with the holidays almost upon us (can you even believe it!), but lately I've been far more aware of how incredibly blessed I am. I'm currently in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) and we're studying the book of Revelation, and each week I find my gratitude for God's Word deepening, same as my thirst for it. I love the screen savers available at SheReadsTruth.com. In … [Read more...]

Mule-Headed Stubbornness

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I’ve had my stubborn moments. Times when I’ve refused to do what I’m asked. When I’ve folded my arms and refused to budge. An incident in seventh grade art class comes to mind. The teacher assigned a short research report on any famous artist we chose. I liked art class. I liked our teacher, an exotic woman who wore her hair in a chignon and dressed in Bohemian clothes and seemed wildly … [Read more...]

The Plot Thickens|Emily T. Wierenga

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Each Sunday "Inspired by Life...and Fiction" shares a Christian novelist's newest book and the garden spots where they find inspiration.  Emily T. Wierenga is a former editor, freelance writer, and columnist and has written for numerous Christian publications. Emily's first novel, A Promise in Pieces, released in April 2014.  She is wife to a math-teacher husband, mother, and … [Read more...]

For the Fun of It

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Registration for Spring 2016 college classes is fast approaching, so I spent last Friday morning, combing through the catalog, trying to decide what to take next term. Possibly take, I should say, since I've learned that a listing in the catalog doesn't always mean a course is offered in a particular term. I will still be enrolled in the College Math Prep class. What should I mix with … [Read more...]

Living in Jane Austen’s World | Conference Highlights

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Recently I attended the Jane Austen Society of North America’s  Annual General Meeting (JASNA AGM), held this year in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. The 4+ day event is a literary conference and celebration of author Jane Austen, attended by hundreds of men and women. (Ok, mostly women.) Because I write novels set in the Regency time period when Austen’s novels were published, I see the conference … [Read more...]

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