Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

ZIP-a-dee-doo-dah

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I've always enjoyed a good adventure. Several years ago, my hubby surprised me with a zip-lining experience in Georgia as part of a waterfall / hiking trip. We had a blast! So when he was scheming on what to do during our Durango trip for our 30th anniversary, I wasn't too surprised when he found another zip-line excursion--on the longest course in the country! The day started with a train … [Read more...]

Scotland Trip Recap: Week 1

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We are home from Scotland! I know many of you were following along on Facebook or Instagram, but what I posted each day was just a snippet! Today I’ll run through the highlights of the first week. Two weeks from today I’ll tell you about our second week there. In between, I’ll be posting other tidbits and photos on my own website. Don’t want to miss a post? Then be sure you are subscribed to my … [Read more...]

Dog lovers—and release day!

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The Alexanders are dog lovers. You likely already know that Joe and I have two dogs—Murphy and Bailey (who has a treat in her mouth but stopped briefly to pose)... Kurt and Kellie, our son and daughter-in-law, also (as of this weekend) have two dogs. You may have already met Malcolm, a Double Doodle (a multiple hybrid mixed breed containing elements of Golden Retriever, Labrador, and Standard … [Read more...]

Pictures and Patterns

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I have often heard that the gospel of Jesus is in every book of the Old Testament, but I never realized how true that was until recently. I learned to see Him when I worked on my doctorate in theology, but it wasn’t until I began to read books by Messianic Jews that I began to see the pictures. The Bible is filled with picture patterns that illustrate God’s truths. For instance, consider … [Read more...]

COVER REVEAL!

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After the overwhelming enthusiasm for more books in my time-crossing series, Waters of Time, I’m excited to announce TWO more books are slated for release!! Book 3, STAY WITH ME, releases Dec. 6, 2022, and Book 4, WAIT FOR ME, releases May 9, 2023. STAY WITH ME continues the adventures with the miraculous holy water and gives Sybil Huxham and Nicholas Worth their happily-ever-after! I’m … [Read more...]

How’s Your Reading Year?

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2022 is almost half over, so I thought it was time for a reading update. This is my tenth year to participate in the Goodreads Reading Challenge (2013 was my first year). Tracking my reading in Goodreads has not only helped me read more books, but I am better about reviewing them, too. As a bonus, reviewing helps me remember what I liked or disliked about a book. Last Saturday, I … [Read more...]

Lots of Words, Lots of Fun!

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Last week I met author-friends Michelle Griep (Missouri) and Erica Vetsch (Minnesota) for a writing retreat in Pella, Iowa. We stayed in an Airbnb for a few days and wrote together, ate together, and laughed together. Pella is a charming town, settled by immigrants from the Netherlands in the 1840s who had fled religious persecution in their own country. They called their new home Pella, … [Read more...]

Collecting Stuff

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I loved Jody's post a few weeks ago about the things she collects (especially since there were a lot of cat things and I love cats.) So I thought I'd be a copycat and share a few things I collect with you this week. As a kid, I remember collecting pretty paper napkins, the kind used for special birthday parties, wedding showers, or holidays. By the time I left for college, I had a large apple box … [Read more...]

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