These are the questions that drive writers through their days and nights. What if? Any time I’m reading a magazine or newspaper, in the back of my mind I’m wondering what could happen or how I could mix it up. Then when I’m ready to hunt for new ideas, I’ll review links and ideas I’ve collected over time. Maybe the …
A Trip to My Publisher
This week I’ve been in Nashville with several of my author friends at an author summit at our publisher, Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins Christian Publishing. This has been a great week to connect with my buddies, editors, and marketing team. I have been geeking out on the big picture and learning so much. What do @ColleenCoble @CarrieParks @Rachkmc and @Cara_Putman have in …
The Best Email an Author Can Receive
This may sound crazy, but I got the best email ever at the end of last week. It was my edit letter on my next book. Delayed Justice will release later in 2018, and I’ve been on pins and needles since I sent the book in to my publisher and new editor in November. The holidays and life has the …
A tour of my writing inspirations
This new book I’m writing has been a bit of a bear. It’s a book that will require me to dive deep into places I don’t want to necessarily go, and it’s also being written in a season of chaos in our life. Join @cara_putman for a tour of her #writing desk. #amwriting #inspiration Click To Tweet I’ve learned the …
What’s it like to write collaboratively
Tricia Goyer and I are co-authors in a new Guidepost cozy mystery series. We’re both head down writing our first book in the series, and it’s a fun time of exploration. When you write on a Guidepost series, it’s a little different from writing a book for yourself. I thought today I’d take you behind the scenes and show you …
Writing in Community
You may have noticed that I’m all about community. Community with you. Community with each other. Life can be pretty dull without other people. As I’ve seen the posts from my friends who had a brainstorming retreat a couple weekends ago, I had to smile. They were living in the community they created years ago, and we are all the beneficiaries …
Celebrating The End: What’s a Writer to Do?
On Friday night, I typed words that are magic to every author: The End.
They are glorious words, because they mean that an author has reached the end of a journey.
Tools that Help Me Remember Book Details
One of my authorly quirks is that I like to keep my chapters approximately the same length, and I like to see the word count grow. Here’s a quick snapshot of my word count spreadsheet. In this one I also track the day that each chapter occurs.
What Writing Has Taught Me About God
I’m neck deep in edits and writing on a book that’s due in April, and the process is really reminding me why I love writing. Why I feel it is more than a job…it’s a calling more than a job or drudgery. Do any of these reasons resonate with you? 1) Writing has been a journey that has pushed me …
5 Ways Christian Fiction Builds Faith
Every once in awhile you’ll see articles that talk about how terrible Christian fiction is. As an avid reader (I read over 75 books a year) and writer (I’ve seen 20 books + 3 repackages in print in ten years) I avidly disagree. Christian fiction can fill a gaping hole in our world and communicate messages we desperately need. Can Christian fiction …