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 […]
What About Setting? #Giveaway
I write in layers. That means, my first draft is mainly dialogue, character thought, and emotion. Once I complete the book, I go back in and add setting, description, movement, body language, and timeline. I used to weave my setting and timeline in as I wrote the first draft. Until my editor asked if I […]
My Regards to Elvis
My Regards to Elvis Sometimes an author will add an element to book one in a series and then decide to carry the theme through to the end of the series. For example, Vivian Emerson in Irresistibly Yours liked to collect seashells and make stuff with them which she sold in The Clever Mermaid. Both […]
CHRISTMAS TREE EPIC FAIL by Deb Kastner
#Because2020 continued from the last time I wrote a blog here on Inspy Romance. On Thanksgiving Day, we took out our artificial Christmas tree, hoping to get it set up so our Youngest (Katie, Boo’s mom) could help with the decorations. No such luck. When we pulled out the bottom portion, we discovered the branches […]
Adding More Love to a Christmas Romance
I’m the first to admit that I read to escape. I want happy, comforting books that let me leave the cares of the day behind. To me, Christian romance is perfect. Make it a Christian Christmas romance and it’s even better. Though there may be big obstacles to overcome, I know that in the end, […]
Contemporary Romance of Christmases Past
For the past several years I have spent all of December reading nothing but Christmas stories. Here it is already halfway through December and with the exception of the ones my critique partners wrote, I’ve read nothing! Between my husband’s health issues and a kitchen remodel there has been no time. I looked back over […]
Have Yourself a Merry Reading Christmas (with a Gift Card #Giveaway)
Ah, it’s December again. The air feels festive, and Christmas Day is just around the corner. All my decorations are up. What about you? My family and I try to keep the decorations simple because the simpler they are, the faster it will be to put them away come January. Besides decorating for Christmas, what […]
A Month of Christmas Books! + Giveaway
I have a thing for calendars. There, I’ve admitted it. I love them. I remember buying my grandmother one for Christmas every year, taking care to choose one with pictures sure to put a smile on her face (usually filled with lots of cats). As an adult, I buy a wide-box calendar for my fridge […]
The Power of Friendship
A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 A friend I’ve had since high school called me yesterday afternoon to let me know that she would be providing supper for me and my husband. You have no idea what a blessing […]
The Fruits of Faith and Peace
I’ve been a Christian so long that, at times, it’s been easy to take my faith for granted. Dry seasons, wandering seasons, passionately in love with Him seasons. Every frustrating dry season when I long to hear His voice but for some reason can’t inevitably ends up with a hard self-examination and facing my need […]