I met author, Kari Trumbo, when I gave her book a "meh" review four or five years ago, but more about that in the episode. Since then, we've been in several collections together and now an epic series--The Independence Islands series. With her first island book releasing on September 29th, I Continue Reading
Because Fiction Podcast
What Makes Fiction Christian and Is That Good?
One of the highlights of my year was spending a couple of hours talking to David Rawlings last May. He was on the show (Episode 12) to talk about his upcoming (now released) novel. After we finished an interview about his writing and his upcoming release, Where the Road Bends, he stayed online to Continue Reading
What Is So Great about Listening to Audiobooks?
I blame my friend Cathe Swanson for my first entry into the wonderful world of audiobooks. While I'd bought them for my children (and enjoyed Narnia, and the Melendy Series on audio), I never had listened myself. However, after hearing her rave about Barbara Rosenblat... hold the phone. Must tell a Continue Reading
5 Delightful Reasons You’ll Love These Books
“Read Laura Hile’s ‘mercy books,’” she said. “You’ll love them,” she said. “She was right,” I say. That was about ten years ago and my introduction to today’s guest! What a delightful writer! What hilarious books! Add to those more about those characters we love so well, and what isn’t Continue Reading
Crazy Things Historical Authors Have to Research
Most readers have a good idea that historical fiction requires heaps and heaps of research. It's obvious that you have to find out what happened when and similar details, but what other sorts of things do authors uncover, and do those things ever spark new ideas? Cultural norms, seemingly Continue Reading
Ready for the Great Stories from This Exciting Contest?
This week is the final episode in our three-part series on classic retellings, continuing stories, and mashups with Sandy Barela from Celebrate Lit Publishing. Before we get to the brainstorming session (the last part of a nearly two-hour recording that I broke up), I gave a short, mini-gush about Continue Reading
How One Simple Comment Inspired This Episode
So, we were supposed to be going over the final story mashups and retellings with Sandy Barela, but then something happened today that changed all that. For the past four weeks, I've been putting my bestselling series, Past Forward, free. This serial novel comprises six volumes and over half a Continue Reading
What’s Better Than a Great Novel? How about THIS?
Here’s the deal. I get emails requesting to be on the show, and I’m always eager to make it happen if I can. So when I got the opportunity to have Joiya Morrison Efemini on the podcast, I jumped at it. Did I know anything about her? Nope. Had I ever read anything by her? Nuh-uh. Did I panic when Continue Reading
Some of the Best Christmas Reads Coming in 2020
After several failed attempts to get this episode out all month, it's here... some of my favorite Christmas books, the books others recommended to me, and some of the exciting new and best Christmas reads coming this fall! From older books I rarely see people mention, to some Continue Reading
Why I LOVE Barbara Cornthwaite & Think You Will Too
I met Barbara Cornthwaite almost twenty years ago on a message board. As an American, married to an Irishman, living in England with her adopted children (from several countries), her mere existence fascinated me. Her kindness and humor drew me in, but… I know, I know. It’s self-serving and Continue Reading
Why Split-Time Fiction Is the BEST
Trends come and go in all areas of life, and fiction is no exception. However, one popular trend in the past decade or so is one that I think (and hope) is here to stay. Whether you call it dual timeline, time slip, or split-time (my favorite), novels with multiple timelines that while originally Continue Reading
3 Top Reasons I Absolutely Loved The Green Dress
A few weeks ago on the Because Fiction Podcast, I discussed the True Colors Crime Series from Barbour Publishing. If you want to listen to what I had to say about it on there, I embeded the player below, and it starts at about 25:48. The blog post is HERE. Note: links may be affiliate links Continue Reading
