There are so many periods of dress that shine and the Edwardian era is at the forefront. This lovely wedding ensemble from the House of Paquin is crafted from silk, cotton, and beads. Downton Abby fans rejoice! This creation is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was gifted to them by a private donor in 1969. …
Books, chocolate, snow and a few of my favorite things
Only 5 more Tuesdays till A BOUND HEART releases! Cover art is like chocolate to me and so this image makes me smile. Add in snow, one of my favorite things, and I felt prompted to start a Tuesday countdown till release day. This 10th novel has a cover that even my agent called ‘sumptuous.’ It’s so true of the …
Kentucky Sugar Cookies
*After years of trying many sugar cookie recipes, we believe these are the best. I get to make them more than once during the holiday season and they’re wonderful to give as gifts. COOKIES Cream together: 1 cup butter and 2/3 cup sugar Beat in: 1 egg Add: 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2-1/2 cups sifted flour Mix …
The History of the Christy Award
Since 1999, The Christy Awards™ have honored Christian novels of excellence, imagination, and creativity. The Christy Award™ is designed to nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres. The Award is named for Catherine Marshall’s enduring bestselling novel, Christy, published in 1967. When I …
Nashville Reader~Writer Breakfast!
Excited to be in Nashville for THE ART OF WRITING CONFERENCE and CHRISTY AWARD GALA. To kick off that memorable Wednesday, we’re having a reader writer breakfast! Author Becky Wade says it best: Join me, Laura Frantz, Jolina Petersheim, Bethany Turner (and hopefully a few other Christian fiction authors) for breakfast and/or coffee! I’ll be traveling to Nashville in early …
Works that will outlast us…
If you’re looking to add to your reading list, have a look at the Christy finalists for 2018. This award is associated with Catherine Marshall and her classic Christy set in my beloved Appalachian mountains. This particular novel inspired me and my writing in ways I can’t name as well as her other nonfiction books on faith. I was a …
Best Banana Bread
I don’t know about you but of all the delicious quick breads out there, banana is still my favorite. Here’s a whole grain winner of a recipe that has an interesting twist over traditional banana bread – cinnamon. Hope you enjoy it on those crisp fall mornings when you savor a slice with a cup of coffee or tea! BATTER …
Fashion Fridays
If you’ve read my novels you know how much I enjoy dressing those heroines! But my interest and admiration with fashion extends beyond the 18th-century. I’d love to have you join me each Friday as I post images of gowns from various centuries in private & museum collections around the world. Exquisite history, indeed! Fashion Friday
A Most Romantic Verse
I love a good love story. And the Bible has some beautiful ones. Recently I stumbled across this verse and don’t ever recall reading it before, at least not in the current version I’m attached to. The Amplified Bible is so rich and layered. Being a word lover, the more words the better. Being a romance writer, the more romantic …
A Company of Heroes
Everybody loves a hero, be it in books, films, or real life. America was built on the bones of great heroes like Boone and Washington, Lee and Lincoln, to name just a few. Historical authors have a wealth of inspiration to draw from and I’m so grateful! Readers often ask about the inspiration behind my heroes. How I find names. …