This summer has been intense in a good way, so when I was offered a copy of What Would Jane Austen Do? to review, I decided to give this new to me author a try. I really enjoyed this rom com that is a sweet exploration. Mandy Shaw adores Jane Austen but her neighbor has no use for romance or …
A trip, beauty, and a Giveaway
This has been a quick week with a trip to North Carolina for a conference/vacation. I’ve had the opportunity to learn and present at a scholarship of teaching and learning conference tied to my day job while also exploring the North Carolina mountains with my family. It’s a last hurrah before life gets insane with the start of school and …
Four reasons you should read to be a better writer
If you want to be a writer there are a few things you need to do. One is obvious: you must write. Others may not be as clear. You need to be willing to stay teachable. You should be willing to push yourself. I also believe you should stay a reader. Many of the best writers I know read all …
Book Talk: Across the Shores Collection Authors
Book Talk: Across the Shores Collection Authors Listen to the episode with the Across the Shores Collection Authors It was so much fun to write a novella in this collection, and it was just as much fun to bring you this episode where we talk about our stories and how they connect. Across the Shores is a novella collection that …
Our Words Matter, Book News & Giveaway
Last week I gave a keynote at a plenary session to approximately 350 court staff from across the state of Indiana on customer service and why they matter. As I left, I thought back to 12-year-old me who sat in a hearing room at the Nebraska Unicameral and was so impacted watching attorneys with a national advocacy organization testify on …
Book Talk: The 100th Episode Celebration
Book Talk: Cara Putman Listen to the episode with Cara Putman and Pepper Basham Y’all, I never thought we’d get here. When I started Book Talk, I didn’t have a vision for a podcast that would become this. Today to mix it up, my good friend Pepper Basham is interviewing me. It was so fun to share some of my …
Book Talk: Toni Shiloh
Book Talk: Toni Shiloh Listen to the episode with Toni Shiloh Life doesn’t always go the way we want it to. If you’ve lived any amount of time, then you know that. What I love about Toni Shiloh‘s novels with Bethany House is that they are spiritual or Hollywood fairy tales. They capture that idea of finding a prince or …
Looking for Something to Read? Reviews and Giveaway
Looking for Something to Read? If you’re like me, then you probably always have at least one, if not two, three or four books that you are reading. Many days that’s one or two audiobooks. One or two novels and one or two nonfiction titles. I’m always reading as well as writing. It’s really like breathing. Then when I find …
Book Talk: DiAnn Mills
Book Talk: DiAnn Mills Listen to the episode with DiAnn Mills It is my absolute delight to introduce you to my writing friend DiAnn Mills. I met DiAnn at my very first ACFW in 2005 when I attended one of the workshops on plotting and brainstorming. I have loved her and her books ever since. In this episode, we talk …
Avoiding the comparison trap?
One of the things I’ve been piloting in my day job is a program for graduating senior women to help them with the transition from college student to first job and the first six months. This week we met for our first Zoom session post graduation. Beyond it being wonderful to see these young women who I’ve invested so much …