Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

A Bookish Writing Space

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I admit it. I have office envy. When I see the writing spaces that some author's share, I turn a little green. Beautiful spaces filled with items to spark the creativity, soothing color palettes to promote serenity, and fun personal touches to add warmth and personality. Yes, Deb Raney, I'm talking about you. Ha! For the majority of my writing career, I have written while sitting on my bed … [Read more...]

Prince Edward Island

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We love traveling to literary places. Way back in the spring, before we knew all the challenges we would face this year, Jeff scheduled our vacation to Prince Edward Island. He picked it for two reasons: First, it would be cooler temperatures than Texas, and second, he knew how much I've wanted to go there, for I love all things L.M. Montgomery. What we didn’t realize was that it would be the … [Read more...]

Readers, Recipes, and Releases

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I recently received this lovely note from Ruthi, a reader friend... Our Divine Divas Book Club read A Beauty So Rare and we met to discuss it last evening. We all loved it so much and we had a great discussion. We also made Eleanor's Quiche and Buttermilk pie. Both were a success!" Don't you love the name Divine Divas! Getting reader notes like this is always such a JOY! First, … [Read more...]

Being Angry

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Because I've been writing my heart out this week, I drew a blank when I sat down to write this blog post. So I visited the archives--this post is from 2012. Be sure to read the postscript so you can see how it all turned out. :-) "Be angry, and sin not." Ephesians 4:26. I don't know if you ever watched "Hard Core Pawn" when it used to be on TV--it was a reality show about a pawn shop in … [Read more...]

The Story Behind the Story, What I’m Reading, and Giveaway

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Here in Indiana the leaves are beginning to turn signaling fall is on the way, but if you've been to a bookstore lately, you may have noticed the Christmas collections are releasing. Last week my novella Beauty Bright in the We Three Kings Christmas novella collection released. It's been so fun to read early reactions to this collection. I shared the Story Behind the Story on Book Talk with Cara. … [Read more...]

The Hard Sting of Adversity

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Hi friends and happy Wednesday!  Today I’m writing on a hard topic. Well, at least it’s a hard one for me. Adversity comes in so many areas of life. At times, it feels non-stop. Not just in my own life, but in that of some dear friends and fellow authors. Those I know well and others I’ve only met a few times, but my heart aches for their losses. For the adversity they face.  I looked … [Read more...]

Why I Write What I Write . . . .

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On one of the questions I am most often asked is, "Why do you write books set in England?" And considering I am from the midwestern U.S., it is an understandable question! I truly think what we read as young people has a profound and lifelong effect. When I am asked, "Why is a midwestern girl writing about England?" the answer comes back to the books I read at a young age: The Secret Garden … [Read more...]

The Dream of a Lifetime

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Ken and I have been living out the dream of a lifetime these past two weeks—our first time to travel overseas! We spent three glorious days in Paris, then traveled through the United Kingdom—England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. It has been everything I could have ever hoped for—made all the more fun because we are traveling with Ken's brothers and sister and their spouses. (I'll share more about … [Read more...]

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