Remember in school when you had to read whatever the teacher told you to? Granted, there were a few good things mixed in with Shakespeare and Moby Dick, but for the most part, being forced into the stories we weren’t interested in made them even harder to get through. Fast forward to after graduation when […]
Anticipation!
What is this little girl anticipating as she looks out of a rain-splashed window? The picture could inspire a story. I believe this time of year is filled with anticipation. As I write this post, I’m anticipating the arrival of my daughter and two granddaughters for Thanksgiving. When you read this, they will be here. […]
The Building of a Man (Sort of)
One of the very first books I wrote – maybe actually the very first – got a review that basically said the female character had a nice character arc but that the male character hadn’t grown at all. Obviously. Because he’d been pretty much perfect to begin with. Which isn’t remotely realistic. And even though […]
To Preorder or Not to Preorder?
Can I confess something to you? After writing over 300 nonfiction children’s books to deadline, I kinda don’t really like deadlines anymore. Don’t get me wrong—I see their usefulness and even their necessity. But that doesn’t mean I have to like them. In fact, since I’ve stopped writing nonfiction and started indie publishing my fiction, […]
Time to “Ketchup” & #Giveaway
A big howdy to y’all from Texas! (Did that feel forced? I think that felt forced… It may take this Midwestern gal a while to get used to speaking like a Southerner.) But we did make the move from Wisconsin to Texas two weeks ago and are getting settled into our new home. In fact, […]
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas
Why am I talking about Christmas in the middle of August? I need your help. I’m writing a book, which takes place between Thanksgiving and New Years, and that includes Christmas. The hero and heroine are working together to give away twelve dogs to deserving children. The dog giveaway is part of a documentary commissioned […]
It’s Christmas in July at Freedom Ridge! (+ #Giveaway)
Have you ever wondered why some folks celebrate Christmas in July? According to a Google search, the tradition came about because for those who live in the southern hemisphere, Christmas is celebrated in their summer season. The month of July is actually the peak month in winter for these residents. That’s the reasoning behind it […]
The Lewis Family
Happy Saturday, Friends! I hope you’re out somewhere soaking in the sunshine, whether that be in the northern or southern hemisphere. I know my American friends are probably gearing up for some 4th of July fun; however, I wanted to talk Christmas in July. I can’t help myself, I have lots of Christmas novellas to […]
A Royal Question + Giveaway by Melanie D. Snitker
I’m sure you can all guess that I enjoy reading contemporary Christian romance books. But I have a confession to make: I am a huge fan of modern Christian royalty stories. A book about a prince or a princess who finds their true love always makes me smile. I’m currently reading Rachel Hauck’s new release, […]
Indie vs. Traditional (+ #Giveaway)
I’ve been pondering lately about indie versus traditionally published books. I realized that prior to becoming an author seven years ago, all the books I read were in the latter category. Which I suppose makes sense because I didn’t even know the self-publishing world existed until I looked into it. And because I’m surrounded by […]