It’s always been hard to explain the difference between sympathy and empathy. It’s even harder to describe being an empath versus feeling empathy, but the best I’ve been able to come up with is this: empaths are highly absorbent emotional sponges in human form. Unlike sympathy, which is essentially identifying someone’s emotional state and reacting […]
When God Calls the Unequipped & Giveaway
Have you ever had God ask you to do something you thought you were totally unequipped for? That’s how I felt when He called me to write. I’m an avid reader from way back, but I never aspired to write, never even kept a journal. But I am a dreamer. I could spin a story […]
It’s Complicated… (interesting characters usually are) + cover reveal
If you’ve been on social media at any point in the last decade, you’ve probably noticed at least one of your “friends” with the relationship status It’s Complicated. The phrase has filtered its way into our culture in all sorts of ways—movie titles, song lyrics, book themes, mindsets. It’s complicated isn’t always a response we’d […]
The Eyes Have It # Giveaway
When I try to imagine a handsome man, I come up with dark hair and green eyes every time. Like my husband and almost every other man I’ve thought was attractive. Blue eyes will do in a pinch, but only with brunette hair. I love the combo of inky brows and light eyes. I also […]
Plotting & Pantsing Explained + giveaway
Spend any time on social media with your favorite authors these days, and you’ll come across a number of terms the average reader doesn’t understand. Like any field, there’s a bit of lingo involved that can confuse a person on the outside looking in. Always a reader first, I enjoy sharing some of that insider […]
What Qualities Do You Look For in an Author’s Voice? + #Giveaway
Have you ever wondered what your favorite author’s voice sounds like? Even if you’ve never had the blessing of meeting him or her in person, you probably already have an idea. In case you were wondering, I’m not referring to an author’s actual voice, but to the literary one. According to literarydevices.net, “A voice in […]
Marathons, Manuscripts, and Motherhood by Mary Manners
What do the three M’s…Marathons, Manuscripts and Motherhood have in common? Well, as a former marathon runner, I’m convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the countless hours of running and training during my marathon days prepared me for the other two. Marathon running is an endeavor that requires dedication, commitment, follow-through and sacrifice. […]
Putting Christmas in a Book # Giveaway
Hey y’all. As I mentioned in my last post, I’m all about Christmas. But what happens when your editor asks if you can move your story from Spring to Christmas when you’re doing her editorial revisions in Sept? You do it. But I’ll be honest, it was hard to get in the Christmas mood when […]
10 Reasons Why Authors are Thankful for Their Readers
Even with the busyness and stress of the holiday season, there’s one thing I can always rejoice in: the countless blessings God has given me. This year I am especially aware of this blessing—the power and influence of my readers. Yup, you read that right! I said power and influence. You, dear reader, play an […]
Planning a Wedding
One of the things I find most fun when writing Christian romance is planning a beautiful wedding at the end of a book. Of the five books out so far in my Abundance series, three of them end in weddings, including the most recent books I’ve written, Love and Roses and Love, Lies, and Homemade […]