Part of the fun of writing contemporary romance is creating unique, fun, or interesting ways for the hero and heroine to meet. Over the years I’ve used real-life things to inspire cute meets in my books. Like the time back when my husband was a youth director. We took a busload of teens to a […]
The Cliche Scene That Will Never Get Old
Dance. Even the word sounds romantic. So it only makes sense that my favorite scenes to read and write are the ones involving this age-old act. Some may call them cliché. I’ve even chided myself for included a dance in every story I write. Robbie and Keira swing-danced around a hotel room. Shane and Ryann […]
Let’s Go to Church
I’m in the process of worldbuilding for my next contemporary Christian romance series. As I worked on fleshing out the small Norwegian town where my characters live, work, and fall in love, I began thinking about their church. It will probably be an important part of the story since it has a big role in […]
All About that Cake & #Giveaway
Is there anything better than a cupcake? Are you addicted to those baking competition shows on television like I am? If the answers are yes and all of the above, I have a big treat for you! Because my dear friend Heather Greer’s new book, Cake That released today. I’m in love with this story, […]
Vacation Inspiration #Giveaway
Since I started writing, whenever we go on vacation, a book begins to percolate. I often plan our trips around a jaunt I need to make for a book I’m writing. Back when I began my rodeo series, we visited the Fort Worth Stockyards and Aubrey, Texas. Both featured prominently in the series. Since we […]
Daddies are Special #Giveaway
In 2007, I received word that I’d finaled in the Touched By Love writing contest and the winners would be announced at the Faith, Hope, & Love Conference in Dallas in July. I’d already paid and planned to attend the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in September, also in Dallas that year. My husband […]
5 Romances Set Where The BlackTop Ends
Something extraordinary happens when you step onto a modern-day dirt road, doesn’t it? Like you are instantly transported to a time of simple living, where love is unencumbered by technology and city (or even suburban) life. The stories have the feel of historicals while remaining relatable to our present circumstances because it’s easy to believe […]
Awkward Proposals
Was your proposal PERFECT? You know. Flowers, starlight, candles, down-on-one-knee perfect? Straight-out-of-a-romance-novel perfect? Well, mine wasn’t. Are you confused? I was, too. You see, my then-boyfriend and I had been dating for over two years. He was getting ready to graduate in a month, and everything was up in the air. I was stressed out […]
Character Hometowns: Jasper Alabama #giveaway
Characters all need a hometown plus a life history, and it can become challenging to give them each a unique place to come from. An author needs to have some basic knowledge of that setting, so I mostly write about places I know. In Tackling the Fields, I went back to my mother’s roots to […]
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 […]