Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

And How Do I Really Feel About Deadlines?

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Let's just say that deadlines keep me writing, but I also think they might kill me before I reach the end. My work in progress (an April 2017 release) is due to my editor in a couple of days and I've got lots of writing left to do. So you know what that means. It means you are getting a very quick, very short post, focusing on a couple of my books I want you to know about. If you loved … [Read more...]

The Husband Maneuver

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Earlier this month, my Dead-Eye Dan novella, The Husband Maneuver, released as an e-single. I've written four novellas to date (one yet to be released), and I think Dan and Marietta's story is my favorite. I just had far too much fun writing the dime novel scenes. For those of you who might not have read A Worthy Pursuit, the novel that introduced Dan and Marietta as secondary characters, … [Read more...]

Lessons Learned on Igniting Passion

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Yesterday, Purdue University had a massive fundraising event. It was only the third year, but this event (Purdue Day of Giving) raised more than $18 million from close to 13,000 gifts. As you'll see from the photos, I kind of had fun with it. [Tweet "What can authors learn from #PurdueDayofGiving? @Cara_Putman shares. #amreading"] Through out the day there were different competitions. I … [Read more...]

Can Covers Make or Break a Book?

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“The book was GREAT, but the cover and title were...well....wrong--they cheapened the great story.” That’s a line from a recent message I received from a reader about my debut book, The Preacher’s Bride. I remember my reaction the very first time my publisher showed me the cover. “She’s wearing a bonnet,” I squeaked in mortification. “People will think the book is Amish.” Since that … [Read more...]

How to support a writer on deadline

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I'm literally in the last hours of a race toward deadline on my next book. God willing and the creek don't rise, I'll turn it in tomorrow. If you're on Facebook or Instagram, you'll occasionally see posts from authors about going dark, so that got me thinking...how can readers encourage writers in those drudgery days of little sleep, blocked creativity, and panic-induced, wild-eyed mania?[Tweet … [Read more...]

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