It’s early morning on our beach getaway, and I’ve been up for a couple of hours… writing. So I thought I’d offer an account of how a writer—this writer, anyway—takes a “vacation.” The Drive: I don’t know about you, but driving always piques my imagination. On the way to the beach, our last stretch was […]
New Series… and a Gift Card Giveaway
I’m super excited to let you guys know about my new series for Love Inspired. Set in Colorado, the books feature a mountain ranch that’s a haven for struggling veterans and senior dogs. Here are some things I love about the series: Colorado! Although I’m from Ohio, I spent most of my twenties living in […]
Brothers and Sisters
Happy Brothers and Sisters day! Where would we be without our siblings, the people who’ve been there from childhood on, who know the good and the bad about us, who are there to lean on in times of trouble and celebrate with in times of joy? At least, that’s the ideal! Sometimes siblings don’t get […]
Losing My Inspiration
If you’ve read any of my books, you’ve probably realized that I love dogs. From Bear the Goldendoodle in my Arcadia Valley books, to A Dog’s Last Chance Animal Rescue in my Rescue River series, to the ranch for veterans and senior dogs in my upcoming Redemption Ranch series… they’re everywhere. I’ve blogged here before […]
Did you ever have a really bad date?
I have a confession to make: I am a veteran of online dating. When I went through an unexpected divorce seven years ago, my self-image was bruised. I hadn’t dated for almost twenty years, and the game had changed. Match.com, eHarmony, Christian Mingle… according to my friends, that was the way to go. So I […]
Let’s Get Serious… and Do a Giveaway!
Romance novels are lighthearted fluff, right? No chance that you’ll encounter any real issues or frightening problems. They’re simple love stories about happy people. NOT. The two books I have coming out this spring both feature significant, non-fluffy issues. That’s one of the reasons I adore writing Christian romance; I can address much more serious […]
The End of a Series. Giveaway Warning!
Let’s talk about book series! I’m coming to the end of my Rescue River series of inspirational romances from Love Inspired. This series is close to my heart because it’s set in Ohio, where I was born and raised; it’s a diverse and welcoming community with a history connected to the Underground Railroad; and every […]
Surprise Endings… or Guaranteed Happy Ones?
This week, I’ve been reading two books: Jodi Picoult’s LEAVING TIME and Nora Roberts’ MONTANA SKY. Both are for a class I’m teaching, and both are excellent books. But reading them in tandem confirmed to me why I prefer romance. LEAVING TIME is gripping, a page turner. 9/10 of the way through, I didn’t know […]
Real Life, with a Twist… and a Gift Card Giveaway!
There’s a sense in which writers are always “on.” Eavesdropping at a mall food court to get teen dialogue right. Reenacting fight scenes with friends so as to correctly portray body movements. Sneaking a few photos while at the ER with a friend, knowing a hospital scene is coming up in the next book. But […]
Romance… Not Just for the Young
I’m trying something new in my Sacred Bond series, and I’d love to know what you think of it. Hero John Moretti—really, he’s the patriarch of the series—first appears in the pre-prequel novella, Before the Bond, as a man in his early thirties. In that story, we see some mistakes he makes in love, mistakes […]
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