Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Meet My Team!

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My next book, Rocky Road, releases on Valentine's Day! As I think back over the process of writing this novel, I'm especially grateful to the talented people who helped me bring this book to the cusp of publication. They are.... Charlene was one of the editors I had the pleasure of working with at Bethany House Publishers. She went freelance many years ago. Because I had a history with … [Read more...]

Celebration Time!

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Hi friends and happy Wednesday!  My thirteenth novel, One Wrong Move, is getting ready to release on February 6th. In celebration and anticipation of One Wrong Move's release...I am doing a Welcome to Jeopardy Falls Giveaway! This giveaway will introduce you to the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, where the fictional town of Jeopardy Falls is located!  You have the chance to … [Read more...]

The History of the Handsome Peacoat

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My husband and I watched and enjoyed the Scottish crime series, Shetland (warning: some violence and language). Early on in the series, the likeable hero, DI Jimmy Perez (played by Douglas Henshall, shown here), begins wearing a distinctive wool coat, or peacoat, which was later sold at auction and raised more than £2,700 for a school in Glasgow. I really liked the character and the coat, so my … [Read 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...]

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