Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Tulip Time

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If you live in Michigan—as I do—you just can’t miss “Tulip Time” in Holland. Tulips and klompen (wooden shoes) are everywhere, as you can see from this sign posted in the public library. This year I watched the parades and Dutch dancers for the very first time—and what fun! The young people seem to really enjoy dressing up in traditional Dutch costumes and putting on a show. The Holland High … [Read more...]

The Plot Thickens|Donita K. Paul

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Each Sunday "Inspired by Life...and Fiction" shares a Christian novelist's newest book and the garden spots where they find inspiration. Donita K. Paul is a mother of two (and grandmother of two) who retired early from teaching school, but soon got bored! The result: a determination to start a new career. Now she is an award-winning novelist writing Christian Romance and Fantasy. Her … [Read more...]

Confessions of a Book Addict

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I have a confession to make.  I am a book addict. There is absolutely nothing recovering about it. I adore the feel of books, the smell of books, bookshelves overloaded with books. I LOVE BOOKS. In many ways, it's why I became an author. My favorite authors as a teen (no offense, Janette Oke, Michael Phillips, Bodie Thoene, and Frank Peretti) simply could not keep up with my voracious, … [Read more...]

Before you advance, it’s good to RETREAT…

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The first weekend in May a group of twenty writers from Minnesota (along with a few Wisconsin neighbors) got together for a weekend writers retreat. No teacher, no speaker, no agenda. Just time to write, recharge, and spend time with other writers in a beautiful setting--lake-side Camp Lebanon.   Some of us went up early on Friday to start our weekend with a tour of three historic sites … [Read more...]

Follow Your Nose!

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"Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains." ~Diane Ackerman Research has shown that the sense of smell is more closely linked with memory than any of the other senses. It’s also a sense linked with emotion. If you close your eyes and think about your childhood home, likely it will … [Read more...]

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