The hero moves closer. The heroine tentatively reaches out. Cue the inviting head tilts and gazes wandering to lips. But then! The phone rings or in walks the roommate/best friend/coworker. Suddenly, the kiss that was just a breath away must wait, probably for a few chapters as the hero and heroine ruminate on a million […]
Cover Story: Now or Never
Should a writer dare to create their own covers? You be the judge! In my post last month, I shared about the process of working with a cover designer for the Rhythms of Redemption Romances. I love those covers, and I hope each of my future covers inspires the same kind of excited wonder I […]
Cover Story: How the Rhythms of Redemption Romances got those pretty covers
One of the “rules” of indie publishing is that writers shouldn’t make their own covers. I imagine some writers who have done just that to great success are shaking their heads right now. The reason I put “rules” in quotes above is that really it’s just a suggestion (albeit, a strongly worded one, sometimes). Indies […]
A Modern Spin on Abigail (And a cinnamon apple coffee syrup recipe!)
Ever think about how biblical stories might play out in the modern world? Since I borrowed bits of inspiration for the Rhythms of Redemption Romances from the people and events of King David’s life, this is a question I’ve gotten to play with. For To Believe in You—which just released Monday!—little bits of inspiration came […]
Excuse Me While I Fangirl
I spotted her from, oh, maybe thirty feet away as she browsed the selection at the bookstore. I’d never met her before, but I knew who she was, and introvert though I may be, I just had to cross the distance and connect with her. With uncharacteristic boldness and excitement, I stopped beside her and […]
When Opposites Attract: Author/Character Edition
Opposites might attract in both fiction and real life, but when the opposites are an author and one of her characters, things get tricky. After all, how is an author to dream up ideas that are the opposite of her own? How does an author write about experiences she’s never had? In To Believe In […]
Quiz: What Kind of Reader Are You?
What kind of reader are you? With different demands on our time and energy, not to mention different tastes, we all vary in how we choose books to read and how we tell others about books we’ve loved. Are you a loyal reader or an adventurous one? A word-of-mouth, grassroots cultivator, or a megaphone enthusiast? […]
Book Club Tips and Tricks Cheat Sheet
My home church started a book club a few years ago, and I love attending. Book people are my people! I’m in my element talking about Christian fiction, yet I’ve learned the hard way that I still need to prepare in order to have or lead a productive discussion. For example, I’ve been known to […]
How You Can Help Other Readers
Imagine you found an intriguing book online (not much of a stretch, right?) but you’ve never read this author’s work before. Your finger hovers over the “Buy Now” button, but you ultimately scroll down instead until reviews fill your screen. As you skim, some brim with enthusiastic praise while others are more critical, a mix […]
Is This For Real? How fact and fiction overlap in a novel
Have you ever wondered how much of that novel you’re reading is based on the author’s real-life experiences? I consider it a compliment whenever someone asks me if an element of my stories is grounded in reality, because it means that element of the tale rang true. The amount of reality an author includes varies […]
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