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History Matters: Remembering Western Author Stephen Bly

Bob and I live at the base of Mingus Mountain, home to the historic copper mining camp known as Jerome, Arizona. About sixteen years ago, my fellow writers and our friends, Stephen and Janet Bly, along with their son Aaron, came for a visit. Actually, our house served as home base during their research trip for Stephen and Janet’s contemporary …

Real Girls 31 Day

A Devotional Book for Girls

Before I began writing historical novels–The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek–for WaterBrook Press, I was writing children’s books for Zonderkidz. Featuring thirty-one women from both the Old and New Testaments—including Esther, Leah, Rhoda, Mary, Sarah, Ruth, Martha, Anna, and Elizabeth—each devotional centers around the woman’s faith-journey and includes a scripture verse, prayer, suggestions for further reading, and even an item called …

Bob Glen Eyrie

Bob’s Corner: Mining with a Steam Shovel

Howdy, and welcome back to Bob’s Corner! Today, I thought we’d talk about another type of ore removal. Since a gold mine is normally thought of as a below-the-surface operation, we tend to think of mineshafts, elevators, and total darkness. In reality, Cripple Creek District gold is just as likely to be found in surface material. Or, at least material that …

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The Intersection of Reality and Character Experience

Many of my closest friends are liars. Those friends may prefer the title storyteller extraordinaire. Tale-weavers. And whether the literary yarn they spin is set in an actual place or based upon real life events and historical characters, like me, they are authors of fiction. As novelists, we have chosen to write fiction, not fact. But even so, is the …

Kelly

Guest: Kelly Howard, Cover Artist for The Bride Wore Blue and Twice a Bride

You’ve been raving about the covers for The Bride Wore Blue and Twice a Bride, and rightly so. Do I have a fun surprise for you! Today’s guest isn’t an author. But as a Senior Designer at WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, Kelly Howard is a key member of my publishing team. MONA: Kelly, thanks so much for joining us on Hindsight …

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Got Laughter? A Twice a Bride Devotional

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22 KJV “Hattie covered her mouth, but the giggle escaped anyway. Boney Hughes lay under her kitchen sink, his upper body concealed by the cupboard. His legs sprawled over her linoleum flooring. Boney scooted out from under the sink and peered up at her. …

Sinclair-Sisters-Oct2nd

Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek RECIPES

I read fiction for a variety of reasons: compelling characters, fascinating settings, appealing hypotheses, historical information, a sense of community, spiritual nourishment, encouragement, distraction, insight, entertainment. Oh, yes, and the food. My favorite stories often feature teatime or mealtime conversations. It’s no wonder then that my Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek novels include dialogue centered around a supper table or a tray of goodies in a …

Undergarments for the 19th Century Lady

Luxurious fabrics. Stylish necklines and skirts with elegant swish and sway. The extravagant, Victorian ball gowns of the 1800’s. Ever wonder how those Victorian ladies achieved their extraordinary silhouettes? Layers upon layers of uncomfortable undergarments. Bestselling historical romance author Deeanne Gist commissioned professional seamstress Kelly Cochran to make Deeanne a ball gown she could wear to author events. Kelly provided Dee with an informational …