Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Favorite Quotes from Christian Novels

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I recently had the awesome experience of working with a launch team for A Beauty So Rare, the second standalone novel in the Belmont Mansion series. And oh, what fun it was! I'm honored that the nearly 60 bloggers were interested in partnering with me to help get the word out about this novel, and I enjoyed each minute of our chatting and sharing. As part of the process, I created a … [Read more...]

Life Lessons

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I attended a funeral recently for a man I didn’t know well. His daughter is a friend from church, his wife a friend from book club. “It is better to go to a house of mourning,” scripture says, “than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2).  I need a reminder, every now and then, of how short time my time on earth … [Read more...]

The Plot Thickens | Tamera Alexander

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Each Sunday "Inspired by Life...and Fiction" shares with our readers a Christian novelist's newest book and the garden spots where they find inspiration. Tamera Alexander is a bestselling novelist whose works have been awarded and nominated for numerous honors, including the Christy Award, the RITA Award, and the Carol Award. After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband have … [Read more...]

20 Easy Ways Readers Can Help Promote a Book

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Dear readers, did you know authors need YOUR help in promoting their books? Yes, they really do! Many readers already do a superb job promoting the books and authors they love. Some promote formally by signing up with a publisher’s book review program or with an author who asks for Influencers. (An Influencer is a fancy term for someone who gets a free book for the purpose of helping spread … [Read more...]

When Your Cover Doesn’t Quite Match Your Story

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I can honestly say that I've never had a bad cover. Bethany House has a phenomenal Art Department, and I've been blessed with some truly wonderful covers. However, when I first saw the cover for my e-single novella, A Cowboy Unmatched, I was a little confused. You see, in my novella, the heroine Clara is 9 months pregnant. Nowhere in the story does she sport the svelte figure of the lovely … [Read more...]

There’s Always a New Story to be Told

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  Novelists get asked all the time where their stories come from. My answer, as I've probably shared in this blog before, is that story ideas are a dime a dozen. They are everywhere, like wildflowers growing on a hillside in the spring, just waiting to be picked. Do you want proof? Yesterday, my 71st book—The Heart's Pursuit—was released. Trust me. When I put pen to paper on what … [Read more...]

Personal Connections Across the Pond

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I've just returned from 10 days in England, and along with the inevitable jet lag, I am filled with images and impressions still forming in my weary-but-content mind. The memories that stand out most are not the many interesting sights we saw, but the people we connected with along the way. One of my favorite days was one we (me and my travel-companion, driver, photographer, and friend, Sara) … [Read more...]

A different kind of cover shoot post

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I've absolutely loved seeing the cover shoot posts that Tammy, Becky, and others have shared recently. I've never gotten to be involved in a shoot for one of my own covers, but since I'm married to a graphic designer who's created many book covers, I've been on the other side of the shoot, toting the tripod, fluffing models' hair, and tilting the reflector just so. Ken wrote and illustrated two … [Read more...]

The Plot Thickens | Carolyne Aarsen

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The authors of Inspired by Life...and Fiction thought our readers might be inspired by the gardens of the novelists who are featured on the blog "The Plot Thickens." Each Sunday, we'll share another novelist's newest book, and the garden spots where they find inspiration. Since selling her first book in 1997, Carolyne Aarsen has had numerous novels published. Her stories reflect a love of … [Read more...]

You Know You’re a Writer On Deadline When….

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Most of the year, my job as a writer requires a manageable amount of my time.  I'm able to accomplish my writing and take care of my family and home. And then there's the time of the year when two things happen simultaneously.  I have a book release (which always comes with lots of marketing efforts).  And I have a book due (which always comes with a deadline). I'm in the thick of that time … [Read more...]

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