Book Talk: Rachel McDaniel Y’all I had so much fun getting to know Rachel McDaniel better in this episode. I had red her novels The Red Canary and Above the Fold. We’d also connected a couple times, but this half hour was filled with so much joy! And if you follow her online at all you know she has a …
Book Talk: Bethany Turner
Book Talk: Bethany Turner Welcome to the inaugural Book Talk. It is so fun that Bethany Turner is my guest. She writes Christian romantic comedies — she’s one of those effortlessly funny gals. Her tagline says it all: tackling the thorny issues of life with humor and insight. Her books are laugh out loud funny with all the emotions. In …
The Story Behind the Story: Flight Risk
What’s the first part of the book you read? Is it the back cover? The first chapter? Maybe it’s the back of the book so you can learn why the author chose to write a book that involved whatever issue they did? Finding truth in a fake news world? That’s the ? in Flight Risk by @cara_putman + #giveaway Click …
Headshots and Deep Thoughts
One of the joys of the writing life is getting headshots. Really. I mean who doesn’t love getting their photo snapped, over and over, and over and over. I really don’t mind, but I was surprised to realize it had been four and a half years since my last headshots were taken. My time flies when you’re stuck at home! …
The Story Behind the Story: Delayed Justice
If you’ve followed along with my writing for any length of time, you know I love writing. It’s also one of the hardest things I do. Writing is hard work plain and simple. To give reader’s an emotional experience I have to dig deep. I need to cry. I’ll want to chortle. For any emotion to resonate, I have to …
The Story Behind the Story: Imperfect Justice
When I envisioned the Hidden Justice series, I knew that each of the women in the cohort of four would get their own story, but I didn’t know exactly what those stories would be. Hayden’s Beyond Justice became based on juvenile immigration issues. Then I turned to Emilie, Hayden’s roommate and started thinking about issues I’m passionate about and would resonate …
The Story Behind Beyond Justice
When I started writing years ago, I thought because I was an attorney publishers would want me to write legal suspense. At the time, they were interested in other books from me, so I spent several years writing World War II novels and a host of others. Then the tide changed. Child Immigration is back in the headlines. See how …
Spring, Daffodils, and Recommended Books
Spring has arrived in Indiana, and I am loving it! Spring has always been my favorite season, and this year I’m delighting in discovering flowers and their simple beauty as I walk on campus or in our neighborhood. Maybe spring is my favorite because it starts days before my birthday. Daffodils were my birthday flower, so it is delightful to …
Fiction Friday: Indentured Earl by Erica Vetsch
There’s something about a book that will pull me back in time that I’ve loved more than ever this last year. As a reader, I tend to split my time between historicals and suspense (I know! Quite a blend, but there you have it.) The Indebted Earl was an enjoyable Regency with a wonderful heroine and interesting hero. Captain Charles …
When the What If Remains + Giveaway
One thing that I learned early in my writing process is that I have to find an idea I can fall in love with for two years. Yep, you read that right. Two years. It takes roughly two years to go from building the proposal to writing and editing the book then through marketing the book as it releases. I …










