Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Ecclesiastes

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I always enjoy reading the book of Ecclesiastes.  In younger years I never paid much attention to the book, and had even heard that Solomon was a little off his rocker when he wrote it near the end of his life.  By then, of course, he had been pulled away from his devout love of God by his foreign wives, who led him into idolatry. But Ecclesiastes is chock full of wisdom--it's just a wry and … [Read more...]

Winter Wonderland & Snow Days, Back to School, and Juggling Stories

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The Boise area has had some major snow over the past ten days. We normally don’t get a lot of snow that is deep and lingers long. This is one of our snowy years. Deep and lingering. And while it makes for horrible driving, it is beautiful to look at. My oldest is a teacher in Boise, and she’s had two snow days over the last week. When I was a kid (also in Boise), we never had a snow day. Not … [Read more...]

Do You Like a Challenge?

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With the cold front that has swept the country this week, I'm feeling a strong desire to shirk all responsiblities and curl up in a cozy nook with a warm beverage and a good book. I haven't given into said urge . . . yet . . . I'm still going to the day job and pounding out words on the computer at home. However, I keep my Kindle and tea mug close at hand in case I can sneak in 20-30 minutes of … [Read more...]

Story Shift

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There are two kinds of writers in this world. Well, perhaps three.  Plotters Pantsers Hybrids Plotters plan the story before writing. They know where it’s going and what comes next.  Pantsers are those who write "by the seat of their pants." They have an idea, sometimes very detailed, but they simply start writing and let the story play out on the page.  Hybrids are … [Read more...]

Writing on backsides & bottoms . . . and 2x4s & concrete

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Do you love moving? Does anyone love moving?? I certainly don't. And yet that joy is looming in our very near future. On one hand, this move is exciting and is a huge blessing! New house, new beginnings, unpacking all the stuff that's been in boxes for the past year. It's like Christmas, remembering all the stuff you forgot you had—and perhaps realizing you should have tossed before you packed … [Read more...]

Cover Reveal!

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Except for the moment I hold a brand new book in my hands, I think one of the most exciting moments for me as an author is when I first lay eyes on the cover of a new book. And even more fun: sharing it with my readers. Today is the day I get to do that! You may recognize this title. The first story in this two-novella collection was first published as a hard-cover gift book from Barbour … [Read more...]

My Health Journey in 2023

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I shared this on social media this week and wanted to share it with you, the wonderful Inspired by Life and Fiction community, too. . . I’ve had my hands so full with this privately that I haven’t felt the tug to share this publicly until now—at the start of this new year. (I’ve never been so happy to see one year end or so grateful to welcome a new year with new hope.) In February of … [Read more...]

5 Book Recommendations for Your Reading Pleasure + 1 Giveaway

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With the cold weather or book deadlines, all I've wanted to do is curl up with a good book. Thanks to that, I've been reading a lot of great books lately. Today I thought I'd bring you a few of my favorite reads form the last few months. I love writing, but I also love sharing books I enjoy with other readers. It's one of the reasons I started Book Talk. So be sure to check out these books if you … [Read more...]

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