Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

The Good and the Bad of Writing Fast

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Like thousands of other writers around the world, I’m participating in National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo). During NaNoWriMo, writers commit to writing 50,000 words of a novel during the month of November. The bottom line for NaNoWriMo is that you have to concentrate and write fast. But I've always wondered if forcing yourself to write fast is helpful. Can any good come from a novel … [Read more...]

Giveaways Galore!

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Every spring and fall a variety of authors join together to host a Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt. That hunt is going on RIGHT NOW! If you’ve never participated in the hunt, then don’t miss out! There are over 30 authors taking part in the hunt (including me on my personal blog), so about 30 blogs to visit. (Don't worry! You don't have to go to all the blogs at once. You can spread out the … [Read more...]

5 Elements Sigh-Worthy Romance Novels Must Have

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Although I write historicals, I see myself as a romance writer at heart. Why? Well first, I love reading romances of any genre. This year some of my favorite romances have included contemporary romances like Robin Lee Hatcher’s Keeper of the Stars and Becky Wade’s Her One and Only. I’ve also enjoyed many young adult romances like Robin McKinley’s Beauty and Renee Ahdieh’s The Wrath and the … [Read more...]

Writing Historicals: Balancing Fact with Fiction

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If you’ve read my novels, you know I particularly like to write about the romances of true couples from history. Over the past couple of years, I’ve branched into writing true historicals (versus more of the “inspired-by” that I did earlier). Last year, I published Luther & Katharina a historical based on the love life of the monk Martin Luther and his bride, a runaway nun named Katharina von … [Read more...]

The Hardest Book I’ve Ever Written (Plus a Giveaway!)

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I’m super excited about the release of my next book, Newton and Polly, which hits shelves Sept. 20, next Tuesday!! This is another historical fiction in the same vein as Luther and Katharina. And this one is about another hero of the faith, the writer of Amazing Grace, John Newton the atheist slave trader, and his beloved bride Polly Catlett. One of the things I really enjoy doing with my … [Read more...]

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