80s Hits Turn Sweet Dreams into Sweet Reads (& a Giveaway!)
I love hosting a group of Dallas/Fort Worth writers in my home! We meet monthly during the school year to share a meal, then I give a “mini-lesson” on the…
Assorted & Sundry
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An Unexpected Blessing (though my cats might disagree)
Hi friends, Happy Wednesday! Thanks for popping by the blog and spending a little of your time with me. Most people associate us as “dog people.” We’ve had dogs, actually…
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The Story Behind the Story: Connecting with Lynne Tolley…and Jack Daniel’s Favorite Novel
I had one of those moments recently that I’ll remember for a long time. I was in Lynchburg, Tennessee, speaking at the Moore County Historical Society—a town that, if you’ve…
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An Interview with Julie Klassen | Guest Post by Ellis van Iersel
In June, I – a Dutch reader – had the privilege to travel with Julie Klassen – an American author – to England with a bunch of Americans (and two…
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Writing, writing, and more writing . . .
For the past four weeks, ever since returning from a whirlwind spring with two conferences and a writers retreat, I have had my nose to the grindstone, hunkered down at…
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Going Back to My Roots (Plus a Giveaway)!
I’m so pleased that Author Laura Thomas is guest-blogging for me today! Please give her a warm welcome + enter the giveaway she’s offering of her new novel. We’re delighted…
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What Matters
Hi friends, Happy Wednesday! I hope you’re having a good day, and I so appreciate you spending part of it with me! This last week turned into an unexpected vacation….
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Behind the Scenes at ALA 2026: Promoting In These Hills in Chicago
Friday in Chicago Last weekend I traveled to Chicago for the American Library Association’s Annual Conference (ALA), helping introduce librarians and teachers to my upcoming novel In These Hills—and I’m…
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My Current Phase & a giveaway!
I thought I’d take this post to re-introduce myself to those of you who’ve been a part of this community for some time and introduce myself to the rest of…
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We Don’t Just Give Our Characters Conflict
As authors, we’re taught to give our characters conflict. Outer conflict in the form of physical obstacles and trials, where they must overcome everything hurled at them, such as an…
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A Bucket List Item Checked Off . . . and a Giveaway!
[THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED, AND THE WINNER IS ANGIE Q! CONGRATS, ANGIE!] Please send your mailing address to me at debraney@mac.com and I’ll get your package in the mail ASAP!]…
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My Travel Essentials–and a giveaway!
If you’ve been around here a bit, you know my husband and I travel a lot. It’s mostly work trips, though we do sometimes go just to visit family. Or…