Am I the only one who wishes there were more romance novels that start after the couple says their vows? Yes, it is absolutely fun to witness the meet cute, to watch two strangers discover each other, get to know each other, fall helplessly in love, and commit to a life together. But isn’t it […]
Love Somebody Like … a Cowboy?
My latest book, Love Somebody Like You, released last week – woohoo! This is the fifth book in the Trinity Lakes Romance series, a multi-author Christian contemporary series that has been several years in the making. A number of years ago I discussed with fellow Aussie author Narelle Atkins about how we could create a […]
That Eureka Moment
Have you ever wondered where authors get their story ideas? When does that strike of genius hit an author? Is it like a light bulb coming on? Does the whole plot form before our eyes as a scroll rolling open? Do the clouds part, and a shining light transcends upon us with grand inspiration? I […]
Making Trouble… And Loving It
I’m outlining my next book right now, following the process that I’ve used for all my stories. That means I’m busy concocting problems for my lead character. I want her to have at least one deep, heart-level problem that’s sabotaging her life and stopping her from becoming the person God wants her to be. And, […]
Love, Faith, and Food: The Irresistible Recipe in Christian Romance Books
Hello, dear readers! Food often takes center stage in Christian romance novels, adding depth and flavor to the narrative. It isn’t just sustenance, but a symbol of love, community, and faith. Consider Francine Rivers’ “Redeeming Love.” Here, Angel’s love for cooking and the meals she prepares for Michael Hosea reflect her transformation and growing love. […]
Getting Well Soon … and Writing about It
A month ago, I had parathyroid surgery after several years of dealing with tough symptoms. (In case you’re wondering, the parathyroid has nothing to do with thyroid—different issue.) Unfortunately, my specialist was no help at all—she ended up dismissing my symptoms and concerns and then abandoning me. In the end, I consulted with a surgeon […]
The Problem With Pets
I’ve got a problem with pets. It’s not that I don’t like them—I love animals, and we’ve had pets in the past. But all my memories of pets are linked to the pain of loss. It began when I was four. Following a major family crisis, my mother, siblings, and I were staying with my […]
Backup Plans & Love Pacts
One of the things I’ve been trying to be more intentional about when doing the meager amount of planning I do for my books is to think about tropes ahead of time. If you’re paying attention (and it’s totally fair if you haven’t been), you’ve seen my titles shift from more obscure phrases like Wisdom to […]
Sunshine Yellow
Several years ago, friends from church brought me a pepperoni pizza. My then-eleven-year-old son had told them that was the only kind of pizza I liked. Reality? I like a few veggies – and even the occasional fruit – on my pizza with those meat toppings. Plain pepperoni was his favorite kind of pizza. Then […]
Montana Memories
From age four to ten, my family lived in Billings, Montana. My two youngest brothers were born while we lived there. My love for storytelling started there. After a big snowstorm, my oldest brother and I went under the back porch and picked up the lint from the dryer vent that lay on the snow. […]