Part of a romance author’s writing process involves getting inside our characters heads and understanding how they think. One of the most important parts of this process is asking, “what is his/her lie?” A”lie” is the false belief they live with that shapes how the he or she reacts to situations and other characters. Overcoming […]
Truth or Fiction?
An author is supposed to write what she knows, right? At least, that’s what I’ve always heard. But, have you ever wondered how much of what an author knows is put into her story? Is the whole story made up of what she knows? Surely not! Otherwise, we wouldn’t have all those fun research stories […]
Life Experiences in Story Form
I’ll be honest. Easter isn’t my favorite time of the year. It’s been over a decade since it happened, but the last Sunday we spent together as a family was Easter Sunday. Our daughter passed away the following Sunday morning. It’s harder for me when Easter comes closer to the anniversary of her death, but […]
When Real Life Sneaks In & #Giveaway
You know what’s funny? After writing more than a dozen books, I sometimes think that I must have mined everything from my own life that I possibly could by now. But then I’m writing along and BOOM—there’s something from my life on the page. Again. Without revealing any spoilers, I thought I’d share a few […]
Love Across the Miles (and Screens) + Giveaway
Last week, my husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. Naturally, a milestone like this has one reminiscing about beginnings. We first “met” back in the late 90s on AOL, but neither were looking for love. I was living in Florida and had recently decided to attend college in North Carolina. I wandered into […]
The Fact in Fiction
If you were to ask me where my ideas come from, I’d probably give you a blank stare and try to change the subject. Not because it’s not a good question—it is—but because it’s so hard to nail down. Sometimes an idea might be sparked by a conversation, by something in the news, or even […]
Seaside Chapel Music (with #Giveaway)
Do you like music? Listen to it a lot? What kind of music do you like to listen to? “Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints” (Psalm 149:1, KJV). I so enjoy church hymns, especially when accompanied by a full live orchestra. I’ve […]
Inspiration Everywhere # Giveaway
I used to write in a corner of the living room. Until two years ago, when our roof started leaking, the air conditioner quit, and the furnace died. Since we had to get a loan for repairs, we decided to go big or go home with a complete remodel and an office addition for me. […]