Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Saying Farewell

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Today is a bittersweet day for me, as I’m saying good-bye here on Inspired by Life and Fiction. I’ve been a part of the blog for many years, contributing twice a month, sharing the joys and difficulties of the writing and reading life with all of you. But after adding some new writing endeavors to my schedule this year, I realized my plate had become too full and that I needed to examine … [Read more...]

Monarch Migration

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One of my favorite things about fall is the butterfly migration that passes through Texas on its way to Mexico for the winter. I love butterflies. They are so delicate and colorful. They make me think of fairy tales. In fact, my next book release features a Texas reimagining of Snow White and has a scene that incorporates migrating monarchs. I can remember years past when we had to slow our … [Read more...]

Where do your ideas come from?

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This is a common question for writers. I often have this question myself when reading a historical novel, especially ones by author Elizabeth Camden, who tends to find the most unique historical backdrops for her stories! But I’ve been thinking about it in terms of my own work again as I stand at the beginning of a new project. And so as I look back to see where my stories have come from, I … [Read more...]

Celebrating Baby Leo!

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People keep telling me I have no idea how wonderful it's going to be to become a grandmother. And while I think I have a fairly good imagination, I know they're right! Because when I was pregnant with our first child, I had no idea how deep and wide and all encompassing my love for my children would be. This past weekend we had a baby shower for our son Kurt & daughter-in-law Kellie—and … [Read more...]

Power Supply

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As I write this, we have just come through (or been passed over by) Hurricane Ian. We were fortunate, with damage limited to scattered fallen branches and a wee bit of rain, but others weren't so lucky. We continue to pray for the devastated communities near Fort Myers, Florida. But even though we suffered very little, much of our area is still without power. My daughter's family was at … [Read more...]

Reading Challenges and Audiobooks

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In 2013, I participated in my first Goodreads Reading Challenge. I set a goal of 30 books and I read 36. That was my first time to actually track the books I read in a single year. Off and on through the years, I'd tried keeping a notebook by my bed and writing down the books I read and maybe rating them. The habit never took. I kept forgetting the notebook was there. But Goodreads has made it … [Read more...]

Mentorship

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Hi friends, I’ve had a lot of people ask me about mentorship in the writing community, so I thought I’d share here. Let’s start off by the definition of mentorship. When I started out writing with the hopes of publication someday, I knew I had a big learning curve ahead of me. I wasn’t in a hurry. I had lots of reading, writing, and studying to do. Much like a pianist first learns … [Read more...]

At Long Last…

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In my novel, Shadows of Swanford Abbey (December 2021), the Swanford Abbey Hotel is an ancient monastery turned grand hotel. I wrote that mystery during lockdowns and was unable to visit in person. Swanford Abbey is a fictional place, inspired by past visits to the historic Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire, England, as well as photos and floor plans of the Stanbrook Abbey Hotel in … [Read more...]

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