Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in? Like you didn’t belong? It’s a lonely place to be, isn’t it? And loneliness… Well, let’s just say that loneliness isn’t fun. We might feel lonely at school, on the job, or even at church. Sometimes we feel lonely within our own families or even in […]
Doin’ It Right by Mary Manners
“If you’re going to do something, then do it right.” Those words, spoken by my father, came to me the winter of my thirteenth year as I delivered newspapers along my route on the streets of Elmwood Park, a suburb of Chicago. It was the winter of 1976 and we were in the clutch of […]
My Second Chance at Romance
There was a time when I quit writing romance. Ten years ago, I sold my debut novel, Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho, then my husband left me. Being that I’d sold the book on proposal alone, I had to write a love story as my own marriage fell apart. I didn’t believe in […]
Backstory
By: Staci Stallings Many, many moons ago on a writing loop I was on at the time, there was a massive discussion about backstory. For those who don’t know, “backstory” refers to a character’s story that happened before the current story starts. Basically, where did this person come from and how did they get here? […]
Food in Romantic Fiction
Ah, food. One of my favorite subjects. If you follow me on Pinterest, you’ll get a taste for just how much I love food in all its forms. Cooking, baking, eating, sharing, and even reading about it. It’s our fuel for life. We fuel our bodies, our spirits, and our relationships over food. Today, I’d […]
When the Book Won’t Write #giveaway
Confession: I’ve been pedaling as fast as I can on a stationary bike for a long time now. Barely keeping my head above water with a multitude of life tasks, a family health scare, and raising a teenage boy. Last spring, our son went to Junior prom with his lovely girlfriend, which means this year, […]
National Resurrect Romance Week
Did you know the second week in August is National Resurrect Romance Week? I like to look for quirky holidays to blog about. When I found this one, I knew it was perfect for a blog that features romance books. Why the second week in August? The answer: It is six months after Valentine’s Day. […]
Inspy Romance Across the USA + #giveaway
According to AAA, they estimate four out of ten Americans will travel for a family vacation this summer. Although we don’t have a specific vacation this year as opposed to our Branson destination last year, we’ve certainly added miles on our vehicles visiting family and enjoying summer outings. I started thinking as the Arduini family […]
When Life is Normal + a #Giveaway
Not every day can be an adventure. We don’t often get to live the fairy tale Sunday through Saturday, daily getting swept off our feet by Prince Charming. Granted, we may have our own personal Prince Charming, but chances are, he’s not always charming. Just like anyone else, he has good days and bad days, […]
I Can’t Help Falling in Love
Shannon here: Today, I’ve invited my book sharing buddy, Tina Radcliffe to be my guest here at Inspy. So take it away Tina: There is nothing more satisfying than falling in love with love as you read an inspirational romance. These novels provide a romance arc that is a fluid journey from hello to I […]