Some of my favorite posts here on Inspired by Life...and Fiction have been those telling how our book covers came to be. I've loved seeing the photo shoots, the model makeovers, dressmaking, settings...the whole thing! Seeing a final book cover has to be one of the most exciting moments in the life process of any book. I got a peek at the new cover for the Dutch edition of my second Chicory Inn … [Read more...]

Jennifer Parker, the graphic designer who has designed all four of the covers for my Bethany House novels, is a very gracious person.  I may have a bit of a frustrated graphic designer within me because I always ask Jennifer inquisitive questions about my covers.  She always answers them with great patience.  She sends me 'behind the scenes scoop' on the creation of my covers.  And I send her … [Read more...]

I crashed a book club last week, and oh what fun it was! I was supposed to Skype with this group of sweet gals at 7PM but since the hostess didn't live that far from me, I decided to surprise them instead. So I parked down the street and called in at 7PM as planned—as I was walking up the sidewalk to the house. The husband answered the door, and I put my hand over the phone and asked him … [Read more...]

I just drove down to the post office to mail an old, worn-out pair of shoelaces to a cat! It had to be one of the weirdest packages I’ve ever sent. But Dexter, who is my “grand-cat,” was lost without those shoelaces and overjoyed to have them back. Before you think I’ve gone off the deep end, here’s the story. I’ve written about Dexter before—how he was a homeless, rescue cat that no one wanted. … [Read more...]