“Keep an eye on the person in front of you. It’s a sea of humanity out there. If we get separated on the street you’ll have difficulty finding the group again.” The tour guide’s words sent a shiver across my skin. I glanced around the bus filled with middle school students and parents, my gaze stopping … Read More
I’m not much for resolutions, but I love to take the first few days of the year to look behind and look ahead. It’s good to look back and count your blessings. It’s also good to look ahead and dream about what might be in store. So, what happened in 2014? I’m only going to hit … Read More
Thank you so much to all of you who joined us last week for The Christmas Chronicles. What I’ve loved most about the three Chronicles events (Hope Chronicles in 2012, Trust Chronicles in 2013, and Christmas Chronicles in 2014) is the spirit of community that has blossomed each time. The five of us are so blessed by … Read More
The Christmas Chronicles is a blog hop between 5 historical romance authors. Our desire is to bring you joy through these letters, grounded in the true spirit of the season, and written from the fictional viewpoints of each book’s heroine. We’re so glad to have you join the event. Each day this week, a new … Read More
One thing I enjoy most about being a writer is hanging around with other creative individuals–people who understand talking to imaginary friends and who stop to jot down plot ideas in the middle of a conversation. I intend to make “Writer’s Coffee Shop” a regular feature on my blog, and I hope you’ll enjoy meeting some of my writer friends as we … Read More
Anyone who has spent time around me knows I have a passion for both history and photography. When those interests collide, I’m on cloud 9. During my research for the Golden Gate Chronicles, I collected a large number of historic images of San Francisco, especially any of those dealing with the 1906 earthquake. When my … Read More
Over the years I’ve recommended many writing aids–books to assist with plotting, characters, or navigating the publishing world. Today I want to recommend a book for inspiration. Dancing on the Head of a Pen: The Practice of a Writing Life is a wonderful journey into the heart and mind of a writer. Written by Robert Benson, … Read More
Did you know today is the 25th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake? I doubt folks in the Bay area are celebrating with balloons and cake, but I’ve already seen many of my friends posting the “Where were you when this happened?” type of questions on the internet. Having spent years researching the 1906 San Francisco … Read More
The 2014 American Christian Fiction Writers Conference (ACFW) is quickly approaching, and I’m seeing many excited “Who’s going?” posts popping up on Facebook. I hadn’t planned on attending this year, but after one of my dear friends–Marilyn Rhoads–became a finalist in the ACFW Genesis contest, I couldn’t wait to cheer her on at the awards gala. … Read More
I’m curious . . . what makes a historical novel “great” in your eyes? What features draw you into the story? For some it may be the romantic thread, for others it could be a desire to experience a specific time period. Here are four characteristics of great historical fiction that never fail to hook me. … Read More