Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Cover Model Interview

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If you happened to see my last blog post about the making of Her One and Only's cover, then you know that the couple on the cover are a real life husband and wife. Their names are Aaron and Melissa and they very kindly allowed me to interview them!  Thank you so much, Aaron and Melissa.  I'm honored to have the two of you on my novel's cover.  It was a treat to get to know you via these … [Read more...]

Finding Beauty in Unexpected Places

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Last weekend I went out to our patio and found a fun surprise sprouting and blooming in the very narrow sand lines between the bricks. Interspersed intermittently all along the bricks were these tiny, tenacious pansies. I'm not really sure where they came from, but as I pulled the weeds last night, I left these little beauties. Part of me wanted to know as I absorbed their beauty what had given … [Read more...]

Embrace Life

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Yesterday was my birthday. One of those major milestone birthdays. Not sweet sixteen. A little older than twenty-one. Beyond the Big 4-0. You figure it out. As I stared in the mirror Tuesday morning, I wondered how it was that my mom was so old at this same age while I am so young. I wish she were alive so we could laugh about that together. But I imagine she's going to look at me when I … [Read more...]

New Series, New Setting

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I recently turned in revisions for my next book, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill (December 2016)—Book One in my first ever series! (The rest of my 10 books are stand alone.) The series focuses on four women friends in an English village who face changes and challenges with the help of their quirky neighbors and intriguing newcomers.   In the first book, a young widow  has to decide between … [Read more...]

♫ Happy birthday, dear Tobi ♫

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Since my day to blog falls on my eldest daughter's birthday, I can't resist taking this opportunity to wish her happy birthday in a very public way. First, let's get this photo out of the way... (I'm going to be in SO much trouble! Teehee!)           I never thought I'd be a mom of girls. I grew up as the oldest of five, with only one brother. But … [Read more...]

Is saying “I’m too busy” just an excuse?

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Often when I talk about being an author, people say, "With your busy life, I can't believe you find time to write." And when I start talking about how I love to read, people will invariably say something like, "I don't have time for reading. I'm just too busy." Both statements stem from a similar presupposition–that it's nearly impossible to find time to write or read amidst the crazy chaos of … [Read more...]

Help Me Pick My Website Photo

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Two weeks ago, my daughter and I had photo sessions with a lovely lady from our church who does photography on the side of her regular teaching gig. My daughter was having her senior pictures made, and I was getting new head shots and promotional photos. Bethany, being young and beautiful, made gorgeous pictures. The more mature member of the photo brigade had a few more challenges. Being an … [Read more...]

Celebrating readers and writers

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Hello. I just returned from beautiful but chilly Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I attended the 5th Annual Barbara Vey Readers Appreciation Luncheon. This was my first time going to this popular event. A friend "sponsored" me to help her with a pre-conference event. Many of you might know Winnie Griggs. She writes wonderful historicals for Love Inspired. She spearheaded a fun writer bingo game that … [Read more...]

Visiting Greenfield Village

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On a recent trip to Rochester, Michigan, Joe and I visited Henry Ford's Greenfield Village—and loved it! Then again, I'm a sucker for anything historical. Greenfield Village is a huge outdoor museum spread across more than 80 acres that has a plethora of authentic historic structures. And it was a gorgeous spring day, which made the excursion all the more enjoyable. Henry Ford's Greenfield … [Read more...]

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