A few weeks ago I asked for help coming up with names for my hamster. Not a real hamster, mind you. I haven't had one of those since high school (and that's just fine with my husband). This name was for a hamster who will appear (star?) in my novella releasing next Valentine's season in the collection called Pet's Amore!
My story is set in a kindergarten class on Valentine's day. The hamster is brought by a student who was sick the day of show-and-tell, so he decides it's okay to bring him the first day he's back instead. The kindergarten teacher isn't so sure it's okay, but the animal is already there. Let the chaos ensue!

For the last few years, most of my reading has been done on my kindle. It's so convenient. I can carry literally thousands of books with me at a time, the screen lights up a little so I can read in the dark, and a lot of the books are where I can borrow them from my library without having to leave home.
Also, it fits conveniently in my purse. It can be read with one hand, even with turning the pages. And it has a very nice feature where I can hover over a word and find the definition if I need it.
I love my kindle. Seriously, LOVE my kindle.

I've always been told to write what you know. And I do, to a point. Obviously, every now and then I have to write from research or from someone else's knowledge, because I can only know so much.
However, have you ever heard "live what you write?" I haven't. But it seems to be the way my life has been going in some ways the last few weeks.
What do I mean?
Well, as I've said before, I have a book releasing in just over a month. For Better or For Granted is set in a high school, with my MCs the principal and the school nurse. The principal, aka Scott, is also the former basketball coach. So, we have some fun school setting/co-worker romance/sports/etc going on. Well, I don't know how much you remember about high school, but I used some of my own memories and then I incorporated some things from school experiences my husband has had over his years of teaching, and then I made some stuff up. But I'm not telling which parts are which. ;)

I love shining a spotlight on other authors and other books too. Today, we're showcasing Jenny Carlisle's newest release (one of my editing babies). Love Never Fails is the third in her series (fourth if you count the novella in A Gift For All Time, which I do). Y'all, this series is so sweet, and I just love the fictional town and all its people. But this story also deals with some heavy stuff. See what Jenny has to say about it.

​“It’s over. He’ll never be able to do anything.” My husband’s boss expressed hopelessness as we stepped outside the hospital waiting room. His brother and business partner was being treated for a severe spinal injury. The doctors were preparing the family for the possibility of paralysis.
“We don’t know that yet.” I said. “The doctors will tell him about the next steps. There are so many possibilities for a normal life.” Even as I spoke these words, I knew the road ahead would be rough. In a way, the concerned brother was right. Nothing would be the same ever again.

I discovered Janet Ferguson's books years ago and have followed her for several years since. She writes beautiful stories of love and hope, set in gorgeous places. If you haven't checked her out before now, you can try out one of her stories for free. Grab The Art of Rivers as her gift along with her newsletter.
Here's the link https://dl.bookfunnel.com/yt91p8u5qo
​And be sure to check out this fun interview to learn more about Janet and her stories.

​Janet, I've read most of your stories, and they're gorgeous. Where do you come up with your ideas?
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Thank you so much for the kind words. I know without God, there’s no way I could write a novel. To Him be the glory.
My ideas usually just drop in on my mind. Again, I believe it’s a God thing. Someone might say something, or I’m in a certain setting (like the beach), and an idea pops up.
 
I know you have stories set in Mississippi where you're from, but also Georgia (loved visiting St. Simon's again through your book), and now Wyoming. How do you choose the best place to set a story?
 
Other than the first series that was set in Oxford, Mississippi, which I have been to many times, I was actually in the setting when the ideas came. I love to travel. I see God so clearly in nature away from my everyday busy life. In that quiet, the ideas have room to grow.

I'm working on a Valentine's novella to release in 2025, and it includes a Kindergarten teacher, a little boy and his cute uncle, and a hamster. Sounds like the perfect combination for chaos, right?
Especially when they all come together the day of the Valentine's day party. Yep. This one is going to be fun.
Right now, my characters' names are Ms. Kimberly, Uncle Miles, and Jacob. But I can't come up with a super cute name for the hamster. And since he's sort of one of the stars of the show, I want a good one.
​Want to help?