Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Cover Matching Challenge + Autumn Prizes!

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Autumn is my favorite season of the year. After our long, scorching summer here in Texas, Autumn arrives like a blessing and a reprieve. It's now cool enough for me to write outside in the shade and I have high hopes that sweater weather will soon be coming around the corner! In celebration of the season, I've put together a challenge and a prize pack. To enter for a chance to win, correctly … [Read more...]

When Life Throws a Curveball & Giveaway

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I'm not a baseball fan, but sometimes life throws a curveball and you get to decide how to handle it. Last week, I was ready to write the next chapter in the book due December 1st, when and event happened locally that mirrored the plot. Almost exactly. Like too much. The next morning I texted my editor and then spent 20 minutes brainstorming with her what we needed to do. This book will get … [Read more...]

Female Protagonists:

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Do they still have to be young, pretty, and likeable? Hi friends, Happy Wednesday! I always look forward to my time with you. I attended a conference last weekend, and I was the moderator on a very interesting panel on female protagonists. The subtitle was: Do they still have to be young, pretty, and likeable? To be honest, I’d never thought about it. I write about characters in their … [Read more...]

Autumn Leaves

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Hello friends. I hope you are enjoying October so far. I've been head-down busy writing lately but I am taking daily walks to enjoy the beautifully colorful foliage here in the northern US. The leaves are so pretty that I brought some home with me. While I walk, I love to listen to audiobooks. I'm currently listening to a book by debut novelist Sara Brunsvold called The Extraordinary … [Read more...]

Exploring Our Adopted State

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Ken and I have lived in our adopted state of Missouri for more than three years now, but we are still in awe of all this incredible state has to offer. We've been traveling through the state this past week, exploring some of the wonderful state parks in Missouri. Here is just a sampling of what we've discovered so far. We've been to Branson many times, but this was our first time to discover … [Read 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...]

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