Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Visiting Bridges (and a book deal!)

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One of the first stops Ken and I made in our recent six-weeks-long trip was Winterset, Iowa, home of the covered bridges of Madison County and the setting for my newest novel, Bridges. (KEEP READING FOR A DEAL ON BRIDGES TODAY ONLY!) We'd visited Winterset several times during the years our youngest son attended college in Iowa. And the charming town that inspired the bestselling novel The … [Read more...]

Researching?

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If you’re going to write historical fiction, it helps to enjoy doing research, which I really do! This past weekend, I set out on a fun trip with my husband, not intending for it to be a research trip. But since I can’t seem to stop looking for insights and tidbits to add to my stories, it ended up being a little bit of a research trip after all. My husband Ken has been a car buff for as long … [Read more...]

A Few Reasons Why I Gave Self-Publishing a Try

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Recently, I got an email from Allyson, young, aspiring writer. She had a great question that I thought I’d answer here on the blog today. Her question was this: “I can’t decide whether I want to self-publish or traditional publish . . . I know you've done both, and I've been curious why you self-publish your YA books?” To self-publish or go with a traditional publisher, that is the question … [Read more...]

Fall Writing Retreat

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I have just returned from a writers' retreat a few hours from my home at the beautiful Blue Belle Inn in St. Ansgar, Iowa. Sadly, a few friends (Erica Vetsch, Gabrielle Meyer, and Lorna Seilstad) had to stay home due to C*vid in their families or being sick themselves. Disappointing, for sure. But the rest of us regrouped to share rooms and have a fun, productive retreat. The attendees … [Read more...]

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