Are your pies safe? Are you sure? Have you checked them lately? The only way to be completely certain, of course, is put them in…a pie safe. Don't you just love that someone crafted a piece of furniture to keep pies safe? I wish I had one of these lovely pieces of furniture. The one to the right is a reproduction made by an Amish gentleman. Below are pie safes from the 1800s. Be … [Read more...]
Treasures
What is one of your treasured possessions? An interviewer recently asked me that question, and at first I wondered if it was a trick. We’re not supposed to “store up for ourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal,” are we? I pondered the question for a while and came to the conclusion that I was overanalyzing it. Interviewers are probably just as … [Read more...]
The Plot Thickens|Nancy Moser
Each Sunday "Inspired by Life...and Fiction" shares a Christian novelist's newest book and the garden spots where they find inspiration. NANCY MOSER is the best-selling author of twenty-five novels, including Love of the Summerfields, Christy Award winner, Time Lottery; Christy finalist Washington’s Lady; and historical novels Mozart’s Sister, The Journey of Josephine Cain, and … [Read more...]
Has Self-Discipline Become an Antiquated Word?
My twin daughters (age 15) have gone without eating sweets for almost four months. In January they both made the resolution to eat healthier during 2015. They decided that one way they could do that was by cutting out desserts, candy, and any other sweet treats. While I applaud their decision, I haven't joined them in giving up sweets. At this point, I'm not feeling called to abandon my … [Read more...]
Hidden within the pages . . .
A while back, a friend forwarded me a link to a fabulous collection of antique books. The books were wonderful in and of themselves, but what made them truly spectacular was the art hidden within the pages. Not illustrations inside the text, but hidden paintings secreted in the fan of page edges. The art is called fore-edge painting. When the book is closed the art is invisible. It can only be … [Read more...]
Day in the Life of a Best-Selling Author
How do you picture the day of a best-selling author? Sitting in a beautiful setting, sipping tea, reading classic literature, and penning prose? Or perhaps having time to sit and ponder major plot complexities. Or maybe ... just breathing life to words on this page this way. In real life this was my day: 7:45 a.m. woke up and realized I slept in and my three little … [Read more...]
Signs of Spring
Last Thursday, April 9th, it snowed a few inches here in Minnesota. I was so thrilled, that I wrote a little song about it: "Oh, the weather outside is frightful Snow in April is NOT delightful But it’s better than 40 below So let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...." The next day, my family and I did the only logical thing—we drove to a state even colder than ours—North Dakota. It was … [Read more...]
Another Fun Book Cover Story
Some of my favorite posts here on Inspired by Life...and Fiction have been those telling how our book covers came to be. I've loved seeing the photo shoots, the model makeovers, dressmaking, settings...the whole thing! Seeing a final book cover has to be one of the most exciting moments in the life process of any book. I got a peek at the new cover for the Dutch edition of my second Chicory Inn … [Read more...]
The Plot Thickens|DiAnn Mills
Each Sunday "Inspired by Life...and Fiction" shares a Christian novelist's newest book and the garden spots where they find inspiration. DiAnn Mills is the author of more than fifty-five books. Her titles have appeared on bestseller lists and won numerous awards, including the Christy Award. A founding member of American Christian Fiction Writers, she speaks and teaches writing … [Read more...]
The Making of a Book Cover
Jennifer Parker, the graphic designer who has designed all four of the covers for my Bethany House novels, is a very gracious person. I may have a bit of a frustrated graphic designer within me because I always ask Jennifer inquisitive questions about my covers. She always answers them with great patience. She sends me 'behind the scenes scoop' on the creation of my covers. And I send her … [Read more...]
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