First Sign of Spring

I live in Minnesota which is known for its cold and snowy winters. This winter has been rather mild–most of the storms have tracked south of the Twin Cities, and we’ve had very few days below zero. Right now our temperature is 30 degrees Fahrenheit, that’s practically balmy for a Minnesota February. And–people think I’m nuts–but I much prefer below …

Talking With Gina Holmes

*** Giving away one copy of Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes. See contest rules below *** I’m very excited to welcome Gina Holmes, one of my favorite authors, to my blog today! My favorite novels are those that deal with complex relationships and emotional topics; that’s exactly what Gina writes. And she writes with a smooth, melodic voice that …

Fiction for the Lenten Season

The other day I searched for Easter fiction, novels that would add depth to the Lenten season. I was surprised at how few I found for adults, barely a handful (although there are many for children). Now, if I’d performed a search for Christmas novels, the results would have been entirely different. I wonder why that is. I suppose the argument could …

Favorite Romance Novels

Book Giveaway – The Air We Breathe by Christa Parrish – see rules below *** While I typically don’t read straight romance, I do enjoy a romantic undercurrent in novels. Last night I finished The Air We Breathe by Christa Parrish (a heart-breaking, heart-reviving story–Highly recommended). While it wasn’t about romance, the potential for romance gave the reader hope in …

The Joy of Retreat

Oftentimes, there’s nothing better for our mental health than getting away from it all: our work, volunteering, classes, family. I’m blessed to have a bucolic place I can escape to. About once a year, usually in January or February, I head off to Christmas Mountain Village in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin for three to four days. It’s a cozy resort nestled …

The Perfect Scene

I’m blogging today at Inkspirational Messages, talking about Perfecting Your Scenes within a novel. Come on over and say “Hi!” https://inkspirationalmessages.com/2013/02/perfecting-your-scenes/