Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

For the Love of an English Garden

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Springtime seems to finally be making its presence known in Minnesota, where winter likes to hold on with icy talons for as long as possible. Despite its best efforts and a lingering chance of snow, my crocuses have pushed forth their heads and the grass is beginning to green. I find myself perusing seed catalogs, visiting greenhouses, and waiting anxiously for the return of hummingbirds. One … [Read more...]

A Nest of Sparrows (and a free e-book!)

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My novel A Nest of Sparrows is free today in ebook format. Of the forty-plus books I've written, this one is my favorite of all time. I don't think I could say that about any of my books until I'd written at least a dozen or so. And interestingly enough, A Nest of Sparrows is the hardest book I've ever written, mostly because of the research involved—and the fact that I turned the book in at a … [Read more...]

Write a Romantic Story in 6 Words!

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I use a lot of words when writing my romantic stories. Of my novels only one, My Stubborn Heart, is shorter than one hundred thousand words. And some (Turn to Me and Her One and Only) are over one hundred and twenty thousand. But can a romantic story be written in just a handful of words? I gave the readers in my Cheer Squad Facebook group this challenge.... Here are some of their … [Read more...]

An Excuse to Smile

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I love to laugh. It's such a great stress-reliever. Sharing laughter bonds people and creates lasting memories. Laughing minimizes pain and brings sunshine into dark corners. It's one of the reasons I incorporate humor in my stories. I want to give others a reason to smile, to lighten their burdens, and encourage their spirits. One of my life verses is Proverbs 17:22. So, with the hope of … [Read more...]

A Writing Retreat

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Way back in March of 2020 (which seems a hundred years ago, not two!), my long-time critique partners/friends and I planned to take a writing retreat. Then you-know-what sent us scurrying back to our homes, unsure what, exactly, was happening.  A couple of weeks ago, we finally made a trip happen.  With a family condo in Branson at our disposal, we jumped in the car and made the 7 … [Read more...]

One of my new favorite things

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I recently received a gift, and while I knew it was a Bible, I had no idea what kind of Bible it was—and how addictive it was going to be! Have you ever heard of the Filament Bible? As the website describes, the Filament Bible combines the simple elegance of a premium Bible with the powerful capabilities of your mobile device. You get the best reading experience a print Bible … [Read more...]

Theological Dig

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When I write historical fiction, whether based on biblical characters or not, I take great pains to get the history right. That can be especially challenging when writing about ancient times, but the challenge is often fun! The following is an old email conversation between me and one of my like-minded writer friends (this is what we do when we should be writing). The subject: How long was … [Read more...]

What I’ve Learned From Writers Who Enter Contests

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Over the past couple of months, I’ve had the privilege of reading numerous writing samples from unpublished writers. The samples were from those who entered Sunrise Publishing’s audition for a chance to co-write with me as I publish three more books in my Bride Ship series. First of all, I want to thank ALL the many writers who entered the competition for Season 7, Bride Ships: New Voyages. It … [Read more...]

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