I guess it’s no surprise when I look back over all the books I’ve released in the past seven years to see some familiar themes. All of my books can be considered overtly Christian. (All except one co-written rom-com, Daring Mr Darcy, which sits as more clean than Christian, and doesn’t contain any real faith […]
When the Cover is Made Before the Book
The person who said “a picture is worth a thousand words” had clearly not met an author who buys pre-made book covers. In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, a pre-made book cover is one that a designer has made without being commissioned by an author or a publishing house. It’s a cover that’s waiting […]
Promoted: From Supporting Role to Main Character
Once in a while, a supporting character steals the show. They don’t mean to, but they can’t help themselves. A dynamic personality, hysterical dialogue, or a memorable backstory can grab onto a reader and make them crave more. After receiving lots of comments from readers about one such character, I knew she had to be […]
Using AI Prompts for Inspiration
Have you ever seen a writer’s mood board? Some authors create a smorgasbord of photos featuring main characters, locales, special phrases, and animals to inspire them as they write. Back in the day, we could cut out pictures from magazines or print photos of models or actors from the internet, then paste them onto a […]
Of Books and Babies
Books and babies have a lot in common. Many strong emotions surround the impending arrival of a baby. Hope. Excitement. Very hard labour. Panic! Tears. And, finally, sweet, sweet relief. And more tears. It’s the same with how a book comes into the world. The process of bringing it forth can be messy and tough. […]
What’s in a Character?
Every time we open a novel, we’re not just diving into a story; we’re stepping into a world crafted with characters who show us both the struggles and joys of faith and love. These characters are more than mere fictional creations; they are reflections of deeper truths, resonating with our own experiences and beliefs. Today, […]
What’s in a Name?
Recently, I was perusing Facebook and came across a post by our amazing InspyRomance author, Angela Ruth Strong, in her Strong Readers group. She was talking about her name (I won’t spoil it for you…if you aren’t already a part of Angela’s group, you should be!), and it got me thinking about the origins of […]
The Cowboy Craze
Have you ever started a book and then it ends up changing directions in the middle or ends different from what you expected? I have this habit of trying to predict what I think will happen in a book, and it’s fun when the author proves me wrong. There are so many things that can […]
The Baddest Blind Date
Have you ever been on a blind date? I have not. I also haven’t had a bad date, since I married the only guy I ever dated. Yes, we were high school sweethearts! But my story is not much fun as a foundation for romance novels, although we did have our own mini-crisis or “black […]
Will you? Or I do…
In my opinion, one of the most wonderful reasons to read (and write!) inspirational romances is the promise that no matter how deep the conflicts, how black the plot may become, there will be happiness and joy at the end. Because who doesn’t love a happy ending? (Well, other than my grandson and maybe Shakespeare, […]