Soup is Good for the Soul

In The Tale of Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo wrote, “There ain’t no point in making soup unless others eat it. Soup needs another mouth to taste it, another heart to be warmed by it.” I feel the same is true with the stories of our lives. Oftentimes we feel like we are the only ones going …

#Fiction Friday: Mindy Steele

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of meeting author and agency sibling Mindy Steele. We chatted on the telephone about reading, writing, and her debut novel To Catch a Hummingbird that will be released on May 25. Keep your eyes open as she has three additional books coming out in 2021! Author Bio Raised …

Book Covers & Dust Jackets

In the pursuit of publication for my writing, I’ve discovered I’m quite opinionated when it comes to book covers. This is not just the case for me as an author, but the same holds true for me as a reader as well. When a cover has grabbed my attention, I read the back cover copy …

Get Inspired, Get Involved: Project Shine

Want to Make a Difference? Cumulus Media has teamed up with VolunteerMatch to bring us Project Shine in an effort to encourage people to make a positive impact in communities across the nation for the greater good. According to the website, “There are 3.2 million volunteers needed by the non-profits…Over 700,000 of those openings are …

We LOVE Books Giveaway

For a chance to win EIGHT books and an Amazon gift card, enter this giveaway by February 21, 2021! Free to enter. Read more about each book through the non-affiliate links listed below. Ebooks Pockets of Promise by Laurie Stroup Smith. Genre: Amish. The Earl’s Lady Geologist by Alissa Baxter. Genre: Historical Romance (Regency Romance). …

Where Should These Puppies Live?

For the past two months or so, I’ve been writing a new contemporary romance that involves a Coast Guard veteran, a dog trainer, and a litter of adorable lab puppies. I’m five chapters away from finishing the book, but I need a name for the small Ohio town where the story takes place. Please vote …

Free Printable Template: Cardinal Felt Ornament

After unofficially participating in NaNoWriMo this November, I stepped away from my new WIP and took some time this week creating in a different way. A couple of years ago, my sister-in-law made the most beautiful felt ornaments for our family. As we hung those gifts on our tree, I admired her technique and talent. …

In the Name of Research

Right before school started, our daughters and I drove east on Ohio State Route 32 to Adams County. We wound our way through the countryside, crossed an old covered bridge, and soon spotted an 18-wheeler, loaded with wooden pallets, pulling away from a large lumber yard. Later in the week, my agent suggested I write …

#FictionFriday: Amy Willoughby-Burle

I recently had the pleasure to chat with my friend Amy Willoughby-Burle about reading, writing, and her most recent release. In The Year of Thorns and Honey, Amy writes about faith, family, and forgiveness. Her characters discover that “life can be as sticky as it is sweet.” If you enjoy a sweet romance, you’ll want …