Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

My Social Media Ad Purchases — Hits and Misses

By

Do you ever fall victim to the ads that infiltrate your social media feed? I scroll right past most of them, but every once in awhile, an ad will catch my eye. I'll click over to the product's web site, read about it, look at pictures and reviews. Ponder. Then, if I'm in a shopping type of mood and sufficiently hopeful that I'll love the product, I'll hit "buy". Here's a wrap-up of my … [Read more...]

Finding Hope in the Waiting

By

This week I'm in St. Louis for the ACFW conference and board meetings...It's been three years since we've been able to meet face to face and this is so fun. It's so good to be in the same space as my writing friends and able to meet so many new ones. There is an energy and power that comes from sharing space with other creatives. I love what I do in my day job, but it's different from hanging with … [Read more...]

Hurry Up and Wait

By

Once I make a decision to do something, I’m ready to get it done. As in ASAP. Which is near realistic, of course. Especially in our post-pandemic world where things seem to be constantly behind. So I’m in “hurry up and wait” mode on several projects at the moment and it’s driving me crazy! Our new ceiling fan. Our ceiling fan in the living room randomly turns off and on. At one point, we … [Read more...]

Another novel finished and in

By

Since 2005, I've had this story inside me—and now it's finally on the page. Yep, finally! ; ) The stories that have lived inside me the longest are often the most difficult to write, and A Million Little Pieces was certainly that. Not only because of the subject matter—marriage and infidelity—but because these characters are all so real to me and the settings so tangible, that "first … [Read more...]

Time Machine

By

The other night I came into the bedroom, dropped onto the bed, and started clicking the TV remote, looking for something to watch while I rested. I don't even remember what channel I clicked, but suddenly there was the Lawrence Welk show, and the familiar walls of my bedroom seemed to melt. I felt as though I was being swept into a time machine and transported back to 1960 or so, when life was so … [Read more...]

The Beauty of Weddings

By

As many of you know, this was a busy summer for our family with our first wedding among our children. One of my daughters got married in July, and we celebrated with a lovely wedding with friends and family in central Ohio (where my daughter went to school, where she met the love of her life, and where his family lives). Though the weather was rainy (and by rainy I mean down-pouring with … [Read more...]

Books from My Childhood

By

Do you need a guaranteed smile today? Just think back to your favorite children's books. There is something about remembering the utter delight of being a child diving into a favorite picture book that never fails to lighten my heart. Even at the ripe old age of 51 (Yikes! How did I get to be so old?), I can still vividly recall some of the picture books I fell in love with as a child. Not … [Read more...]

Monthly Archives

Blog Categories

Recent Posts

Disclosure

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the pages on this site may be "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, someone will receive an affiliate commission. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."