What’s Wrong With These Boots?

, by

Author Yvonne Ortega blesses us with today’s Fascinating Friday post! Ouch! What’s going on? These boots are supposed to be my comfortable ones. The rain is attacking me vertically and horizontally. I need to get the trash can to the curb for pickup. Gremlins must have put nails in my knee-high rain boots.  They were buried in the back of the hall closet. Only gremlins could get in there.  I looked down at those shiny black boots. My other shoes fit. My snow boots fit, and the company that made them made the rain boots in the same size.  Forget…

Read More

My Notorious Mind Game

, by

Today’s Fascinating Friday post comes from Joan C. Benson. Thank you, Joan! The quirks of this writer are about to be laid bare before the world. Oh, no! What will they think? After years of self-analysis, I reached an “Ah ha!” moment not long ago. My trick may amuse you, or even better, might help you in your creative endeavors. I hope my revelation will at least be fascinating since this is a “Fascinating Friday” post. Have you known people who set their clocks ahead so they won’t be late? I used to laugh at this ploy. I was sure my brain…

Read More

On Reading

, by

Reading—and the love for it—is not a genetic trait. Parents who read wish it was. However, reading is developed as a love, a passion, or it is shunned just like any other activity. Find me a person who loves to read, and I can find that person’s antithesis who would rather wait for the movie or TV show to come out. Or just play video games instead. (Maybe “evil twin” is a more apropos term for this character…Just kidding!) Case in point. I’m a writer. I have three daughters. Two of them like to read. One hates it and does…

Read More

Mining For Gold

, by

We think of gold primarily as either bullion or jewelry, but the precious metal has many other uses. In the old days, it was used for tooth fillings and even the odd false tooth. Nowadays, uses range from industrial to medical, to agricultural. For instance, gold is used to treat pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It is liquefied, injected into muscle tissue, and reportedly helpful in 70 percent of cases.  Writing historical fiction doesn’t only mean researching the time period of the book’s setting. For my newest release, Miss Wetherham’s Wedding, my heroine owns the controlling number of shares in…

Read More

Mistaken Identity, Grateful Heart

, by

Thank you to CAN member and contributor Michelle Medlock Adams for today’s edition of Fascinating Fridays! I had just finished signing my latest children’s book at the Guideposts Booth at the largest Christian Book Show. To celebrate my signing, my mom and my sister took me to lunch at a beautiful restaurant in downtown Atlanta. As we studied the menu, I couldn’t help but notice a group of women sitting at a nearby table. You know why I noticed them? Because they were all staring at me. I tried to ignore them, but their staring turned to pointing and whispering….

Read More

Finding Inspiration in Unlikely Places

, by

People often ask me where I get the inspiration for my stories. The truth is, I never know! Sometimes, it comes from anarticle in a magazine. Other times, it may be an interesting photo, a visit to a museum, or a treasure scooped up at a garage sale. I once got the idea for a historical romance while touring an abandoned silver mine in Calico, California! But one thing I can say for certain—the best ideas have always come from personal experience. That includes the inspiration for my latest mystery, Dairy Disaster, part of the Mysteries of Lancaster County series…

Read More

The Story Behind the Story of. . . A Pink Lady Thanksgiving

, by

It’s 1879, and the Oregon Trail is still ferrying emigrants west to California, Oregon, and Washington. Hundreds of covered wagon trains with thousands of people every year, all searching for something better than they left behind. The first book, Kate, is a tale of adventure and love filled with secrets, threats, and narrow escapes as Kate and Tom head for Oregon City. Now, they’ve safely put their past behind them. Or have they? Kate realizes her dream of working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and her first assignment is to find a local missing woman. When she begins investigating, however,…

Read More

An A-Muse-ing 2021 Wall Calendar Available Now!

, by

An A-Muse-ing 2021 Calendar Series: A-Muse-ings, Calendar/Book 1 Author: Angela Breidenbach ISBN: 978-0-9980847-1-8 Publisher: Gems Books Calendar/Cat/breeds/Humor & Comic Calendars Description: An A-Muse-ing 2021 Wall Calendar by Angela Breidenbach features the wry wit and humor between Muse and Writer. Sure to delight your entire family creating smiles and laughter all year long.  Each month Muse matches wits with Writer in full-color wall calendar showcasing a candid, beautiful image of Muse and his highly expressive fe-lion personality that came from fun social media posts like this one: Writer: Weren’t you on the other side of the sofa? Muse: Just checking out…

Read More

An A-Muse-ing 2021 Calendar — cat comedy

, by

Eye-catching cat comedy shines in this new release of An A-Muse-ing 2021 Calendar based on the witty humor of Muse and Writer on social media. Get your autographed (by both Muse and Writer) copy at AngelaBreidenbach.com An A-Muse-ing 2021 Wall Calendar by Angela Breidenbach features the wry wit and humor between Muse and Writer.  Each month Muse matches wits with Writer in full-color wall calendar showcasing a candid, beautiful image of Muse and his highly expressive fe-lion personality: For you, it includes: 12-month calendar Space to add reminders Opens to 11 inches x 17 inches Includes widely celebrated holidays (including…

Read More

The Write to Expire

, by

The first day of the writer’s conference, my daughters and I crowded onto the elevator with several other conferees making their way to the morning keynote session. Fifteen-year-old Holly and 17-year-old Leilani were the only teen attendees that year. “I just love to see expiring new writers,” spoke up an elderly lady. She nodded and smiled at my daughters. Of course, she meant to say aspiring. Not expiring. I think. Quick-witted Holly didn’t miss a beat. “You must mean my mom.” During the process of writing 29 of my own books and many titles for clients in addition to countless…

Read More