Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

When Fiction Takes On Real Life

By

I often wonder how Captain Roland Ward Jones and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Clouston—real people who lived in the 19th century—would feel knowing that their lives and love letters are the inspiration for a 21st century novel. Captain Roland Jones and Lizzie Clouston are the real life hero and heroine in With This Pledge who met and fell in love at Carnton in Franklin, Tennessee during the Civil War, … [Read more...]

The Final Judges

By

I had the honor and the privilege, recently, to serve as one of the final judges for a prestigious Christian book award. The judging criteria that I was given served as a great reminder to me of the qualities that I hope to include in my own novels. I’m nearing the final stages of my current work-in-progress, and it has been a great exercise for me as I edit my own novel to compare it to these … [Read more...]

Social Media: A Sort of Love/Hate Relationship

By

As a true extrovert with a very solitary occupation as a writer, I truly enjoy social media. Sometimes I tell people I’m not sure I could have survived my 24-year writing career without it! (Of course, there was no such thing as social media the first ten years I was writing, but I did connect with several wonderful groups of writers via e-mail loops and writers organizations.) Now, being able to … [Read more...]

Meeting Jane Austen

By

I met Jane Austen this past weekend! Ok, not really, but I did meet actress Debra Ann Miller who brings to life the beloved novelist in a moving and humorous one-woman performance. I was especially impressed by her excellent script, which is drawn almost entirely from Jane's letters and novels. Ms. Miller has skillfully woven together Austen's own words into an entertaining and informative … [Read more...]

Recent Posts