We moved recently from a downsized townhome to a one level house. This meant we needed some new furniture. We've filled up the den and turned a little den off the back of the house into a combination sunroom/library. We had enough to decorate one guest room in a beach theme but the other one sat empty for a while. Since it's located across from our offices (My husband took another bedroom for his … [Read more...]
Why I truly with-all-my-heart adore audiobooks (plus a giveaway!)
If you haven’t guessed by now, I LOVE audiobooks. I’ve talked about them before, and I just can’t help talking about them again today (and giving some away!). Audiobooks have been a lifesaver for me. And in recent years, Audible in particular has been my go-to. Why are audiobooks a lifesaver? I love reading and I love books. But because of the busy nature of my life, I rarely have time to sit … [Read more...]
How Far Will You Read Before Giving Up on a Book?
One of my twin daughters got a new book in the mail and squealed with excitement as she opened it. Sadly, once she started reading the new squeal-worthy book, it fell into the book graveyard. It had a gorgeous, captivating cover. A catchy title. An interesting blurb. And it promised to be a fun, light read. So why did it die and get buried? After she read the first chapter, I asked her … [Read more...]
Is saying “I’m too busy” just an excuse?
Often when I talk about being an author, people say, "With your busy life, I can't believe you find time to write." And when I start talking about how I love to read, people will invariably say something like, "I don't have time for reading. I'm just too busy." Both statements stem from a similar presupposition–that it's nearly impossible to find time to write or read amidst the crazy chaos of … [Read more...]
Author Confession: A Strange Reading Quirk
A popular question I’m asked in interviews and when I go to speaking engagement is: What do you like to read? (Or who are your favorite authors?) As a matter of fact, I recently had the chance to meet with a book group who’d chosen to read my Luther and Katharina book (waves at all the lovely ladies!), and they asked me that very question. “As a historical writer, do you read a lot of other … [Read more...]