Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Right Where They Belong (and a Giveaway!)

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[THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. AND THE WINNER IS… Amy M.!! Congrats, Amy! Please send me an email with your snail mail address to debraney@mac.com and I'll pop your books in the mail to you! Thanks so much for all the nice comments. I loved Amy's "going Dutch" comment. :) ] Gather 'round, friends! I want to share a fun story today that begins back in 2016. Actually, longer ago than that... Maybe … [Read more...]

New Directions

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I was sorry to see Jody step back from blogging after so many years with us on Inspired by Life...and Fiction. But I am delighted that the timing was right for me to return to a regular blogging schedule. And so here I am, your first and third Friday author. The year 2022 had a big change in store for me at the very start. In January I made the decision, for a number of reasons, not to … [Read more...]

Cover Reveal!

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Covers are vital when it comes to making a first impression on a reader. They need to capture the reader's attention; communicate the story's genre, mood, and setting; and most of all, entice the reader to learn more. A good cover can make a huge difference in how a book performs in the market. As a traditionally published author, I don't get as much say in the cover design process as indie … [Read more...]

The Joy of Learning New Things

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Do you remember the joy of finally leaning to ride a bike without training wheels? Or swimming across the pool for the first time? Or learning to read and finding a whole new world of books?  We get to experience the joy of learning new things when we are young. But the older we get, the fewer things there are that drive us to master them.  Of course we often hear the call to “never … [Read more...]

Covid and the high school reunion

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My husband’s 45th high school reunion was the weekend of October 8 & 9 in Searcy, Arkansas where Joe was raised. He not only went to Harding University (where his mom was my girl’s club sponsor—and how we eventually met after I’d graduated), but he attended Harding Academy too. Here’s the returning class picture we snapped that evening . . . (Joe is back row, first on the left—Steve … [Read more...]

The Four Stages of Competence

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People who are really good at what they do make it look easy--but usually, it's not. Becoming truly expert at something, or even good, takes years of practice. Wasn't it Malcolm Gladwell who wrote that to become expert in ANYTHING requires at least 10,000 hours of purposeful practice? That's more than one full year of doing NOTHING else--no sleeping, eating, or stretching one's legs. And of … [Read 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...]

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