KINDLE and FACEBOOK PARTY!

Don't forget - today is the last day to enter to win a Latest Generation KINDLE in the Simple Wisdom Giveaway. I'll be announcing the winner tomorrow, Wednesday September 1st during the Facebook Wrap-up Party starting at 5:00 PM Pacific!

 

Join the fun!

Some Pix from a Recent Trip to Lancaster County

What a Week!

This is one of those weeks in which my life will change. Forevermore!

My daughter's baby is due this week! Thursday or Friday...not that babies pay attention to calendars. But I do! I'm sleeping with the cell phone on the nightstand next to me.

My daughter and her husband live in Rhode Island, so when the baby arrives, I'll be heading east!

Such a wonder to think that a little person is going to arrive very soon, and will be a part of our lives forevermore. Someday...(though not for a while, I hope)...that little guy will be pushing my wheelchair to the Bingo games at Shady Acres!

I'm gathering recipes and things to take to my daughter's to help out--thought I'd bring her baby book along, too. This is our first grandbaby so I'm open to suggestions! What was particularly helpful for you--either as a new mom or as a new grandmother?

And if you're a praying person, please add my daughter and her husband and their soon-to-be-born baby to your prayers. Safe, smooth, easy delivery of a healthy baby. Happy moments as they become a new family.

Stay tuned for the big news! I promise I'll post when that long-awaited baby makes his appearance! :) 

Author Spotlight: Ann Shorey

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We'll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest books. FUN.

The winner from last week's Author Spotlight with Susan May Warren is Pattie R. My assistant will be in touch for your mailing address.

This week we welcome Ann Shorey. To win a copy of Ann's latest release, The Promise of Morning, leave a comment on this post!


Share a little bit about yourself. Married with kids? Empty nester? Do you work full-time and write when you can squeeze it in? 

My husband and I are empty nesters. We live on a country property in southwestern Oregon. We’re surrounded by wildlife—deer, quail, turkeys, pheasants, squirrels, and the occasional bobcat and coyote. Although we don’t raise livestock, our neighbor runs cattle on his acreage, so we get to watch calves in the spring. Our dog loves to run up to the fence and bark at them. (Not sure how much our neighbor loves that, though!)

And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest… 

My genre is historical fiction, and not surprisingly, that’s my area of interest as well.

How did you get started writing? Did you have a dream of being a published author?  

I started by writing articles, then in the late 1990’s wrote a narrative family history drawn from ancestors’ memoirs dating back as far as the 1680’s. Reading those memoirs spurred me to write historical fiction, inspired by my female ancestors’ lives.

After you started writing seriously--how long was it before you were published? 

I was published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul and Adams Media Cup of Comfort series, but it took seven years of working and learning before my At Home in Beldon Grove novel series was published by Revell.

Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your “brain cylinders” firing so you can write well? Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write? How many hours a day do you spend writing? 

Coffee is my main brain fuel—if any of your “bleaders” have suggestions for something else to add to that, I’d love to hear about it. I write in my home office, surrounded by shelves and stacks of reference books. Usually I try to spend three to four hours a day writing. The big challenge is keeping the email turned off.

What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication? Writers’ conferences? Writing groups? Your mom as your first draft reader? 

I’m a big promoter of writers’ conferences. I met my editor at a conference in 2007, and have met many wonderful fellow writers who have become friends and mentors. Additionally, conferences offer a wide range of workshops and continuing education sessions, all of which taught (and continue to teach) me much about the craft.

Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be? 

I’ve been surprised by how much time I need to spend on the marketing end of writing. It goes way beyond book signings. An author in a recent issue of a writer’s magazine said something to the effect that every word written in a blog is one less word written in your novel. I find that to be true.

What are your biggest distractions?

E-mail, by far! Then things that need cleaning around the house, watering the yard, and my husband popping in and out of the house during the day. Oh, wait. It’s his home, too. Forget that last part.

What was one of the best moments in your career and what was one of the worst? 

The best moment had to be hearing that Revell was offering me a three-book contract for the At Home in Beldon Grove series.

One of the worst was receiving a one-star review on Amazon for my newest release, The Promise of Morning, right after the book came out. Talk about demoralizing. Fortunately, the good reviews eventually buried the unkind comments.

What is the role and importance of an agent? 

My agent serves as the go-between with my publisher and myself. It’s a blessing to be able to ask her questions about the business so I don’t look like a dummy in my publisher’s eyes. She also been a prayer partner when difficult things have come up in my life.

In today’s market, an agent is most important, since many of the biggest publishers no longer want to see unagented material (except at conferences!).

What’s on the book horizon for you? 

I’m currently in the process of readying Book 3, The Dawn of a Dream, for its release in April of 2011. Additionally, I’m working on an idea for another series, this one to be set in Missouri immediately following the Civil War.

Last question, how can readers find you and your books? 

Readers can visit my website at www.annshorey.com. By clicking on a link on the Novels tab, they can order my books through Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, or several other online book stores. The books are also available through major brick and mortar book retailers as well as your local Christian book store.

Thank you for sharing your writing life with my bleaders! (blog + readers = bleaders)

Thank you for inviting me. It’s been a pleasure.

Today on Amish Wisdom: Pastor Joel Kime

Join me today for Amish Wisdom - in June I had the privilege of interviewing Pastor Joel Kime and his parents. Joel shared an amazing story about God's grace and forgiveness.

I shared his story in my book, Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World.

On a typical autumn Sunday afternoon, seventeen-year-old Joel Kime was driving to a local school for an afternoon game of football. "I saw an Amish buggy about a hundred yards in front of us in our lane, heading the same direction as us," Joel remembered. "I said to everyone in the car something like, 'I'm going to blow by these guys.'"

As Joel overtook the buggy, he didn't see the buggy's left turn signal. The car smashed into the buggy, killing a young woman--a bride on her honeymoon.

Listen to Joel's powerful story as he describes the authentic forgiveness offered to him by the young woman's family--and the freedom and healing that followed.

This is a story that will change your life.

Thursday on Amish Wisdom: Joel Kime and powerful story of forgiveness!

Tune in on Thursday at 4:00 pm Central! To listen in - go here and just click on the player in the top right corner.

Join me for Amish Wisdom -  in June I had the privilege of interviewing Pastor Joel Kime and his parents. Joel shared an amazing story about God's grace and forgiveness. I shared his story in my book, Amish Peace.

On a typical autumn Sunday afternoon, seventeen-year-old Joel Kime was driving to a local school for an afternoon game of football. "I saw an Amish buggy about a hundred yards in front of us in our lane, heading the same direction as us," Joel remembered. "I said to everyone in the car something like, 'I'm going to blow by these guys.'"

As Joel overtook the buggy, he didn't see the buggy's left turn signal. The car smashed into the buggy, killing a young woman--a bride on her honeymoon.

Listen to Joel's powerful story as he describes the authentic forgiveness offered to him by the young woman's family--and the freedom and healing that followed.

This is a story that will change your life. 
In Joel's words: It is a story familiar to us; perhaps too familiar.  All of us can share probably numerous personal illustrations of broken relationships, bitterness, and grudges.  We wonder when we'll ever experience the full life that Jesus promised he came to give us.  Jesus skillfully used this parable to illustrate that full life should never include grudges or bitterness toward people for anything they do to us.  Symbolically, and certainly in reality, forgiveness frees us.  We see in the parable the joy of the first servant, who, if he had not received forgiveness from the king, would have remained locked in a prison, despairing for his lost wife and family and everything he had.  Sadly, like us, he returned to that prison as a result of his inability to receive forgiveness and show it to others.  I know from firsthand experience that this parable is true-to-life.  I am that first servant.

More about Joel and his family: Michelle and I are beginning our ninth year of ministry at Faith Church, but third as Pastor. I graduated from Lancaster Bible College with a Bachelor of Science in Bible and Missions. I have been on the “eternity” plan at Evangelical Theological Seminary, and it felt so good to graduate with an MDiv in May 2010. Prior to coming to Faith Church as Youth/Associate Pastor, we served as church-planting missionaries in Kingston, Jamaica, with the Island Missionary Society. We are the parents of four children. If you catch me in a free moment, I’ll probably be reading a book, listening to U2 or REM, playing sports or Legos with my kids, enjoying a movie with Michelle or rooting for the Phillies or Redskins! More likely you’ll find Michelle and I talking about God’s heart for the oppressed and how we Americans can live the Gospel. We are so excited about how Faith Church is becoming a church that beats after God’s heart, removing the chains of injustice, freeing the captives, preaching the good news, feeding the poor, discipling the believers, praying for the world.

The Final Chapter of Charlie the Crow

An Amish woman in Indiana found out that crows are very smart birds, even though they seem so ordinary, often annoying. One October afternoon in 2006, this woman's sons found a crow’s nest and brought home a baby crow. The boys clipped the crow’s wings so he couldn’t fly too far and planned to raise it as a pet, maybe even teach it a few words. They named the baby crow “Charlie.” It wasn’t long, though, before Charlie was running the household ragged, especially the poor dog. This is the Amish woman's story of “Charlie the Crow,” written over nine months, in her scribe letters to The Budget--published with her permission:


Our taxi driver loves to drive in and throw a shiny penny out—that quick Charlie catches it and struts around with it in his beak. If you ignore Charlie and just observe, he’ll usually drop it and you can get it…if you are quick enough.



Charlie carries his pencils and clothes pins in his beak sticking straight out. He doesn’t put them in crosswise. He takes my clothes pins and jabs them into the ground hard enough that they stick in the ground and stand there sticking up real straight. It usually takes a good pull to get it out of the ground, especially if the ground is wet.



Periodically, Charlie comes strutting in from the barn with a freshly killed mouse in his beak. And yes, he eats it, on our front porch! Yuck! He also ate other little birds, saving the claws and carrying them around for days from one place to the other.



The era of Charlie the crow is now history. He was on his perch on the porch as usual about 10 pm one night and the next morning at 5:15 he was nowhere around which was unusual. We have a feeling an owl or hawk got him. Even though we miss his jabbering it’s nice to take the clothes pins out to the clothes line and leave them there with no worry of having them carried off. He loved to go to the garden with us and I had already imagined him pecking the tomatoes once they turned red because of his attraction to bright colors.


A-h-h. One less thing to be concerned about.

Still More on Charlie the Crow

An Amish woman in Indiana found out that crows are very smart birds, even though they seem so ordinary, often annoying. One October afternoon in 2006, this woman's sons found a crow’s nest and brought home a baby crow. The boys clipped the crow’s wings so he couldn’t fly too far and planned to raise it as a pet, maybe even teach it a few words. They named the baby crow “Charlie.” It wasn’t long, though, before Charlie was running the household ragged, especially the poor dog. This is the Amish woman's story of “Charlie the Crow,” written over nine months, in her scribe letters to The Budget--published with her permission:

Charlie, our crow, is still alive and on the loose again. He picked off four of my rose buds before we penned him up for a few days. Now that he’s loose again he hasn’t bothered them, so just maybe he learned his lesson. At least that’s what we are hoping.



Our pet crow “Charlie” is very curious. Anything bright or different gets his attention right away. I sat at the picnic table writing a letter the other night. Of course, he was right beside me and as soon as I laid my pen down he grabbed it and started hoping around. I ignored him and he finally dropped it. His latest tactic he’s using to aggravate the dog is coming up behind him and pulling his tail. So far he’s gotten the best of the dog every time.



Charlie notices anything that you set outside that isn’t normally there. We had some shingles blown off our barn from a windstorm so the boys repaired the roof patching in shingles where needed. Naturally they couldn’t match them exactly. When they came in to eat dinner, Charlie was on the barn roof checking out these slightly different colored shingles. Walking from one patch to the other, cocking his head sideways and giving the patches a good peck once in a while.

More on Charlie the Crow

An Amish woman in Indiana found out that crows are very smart birds, even though they seem so ordinary, often annoying. One October afternoon in 2006, this woman's sons found a crow’s nest and brought home a baby crow. The boys clipped the crow’s wings so he couldn’t fly too far and planned to raise it as a pet, maybe even teach it a few words. They named the baby crow “Charlie.” It wasn’t long, though, before Charlie was running the household ragged, especially the poor dog. This is the Amish woman's story of “Charlie the Crow,” written over nine months, in her scribe letters to The Budget--published with her permission:



Charlie the Crow is very fond of dog food so one of our drivers brings some along for the dog and the crow. Every morning when he drives in they are both right there waiting for him to toss some out for them. The crow can snatch it up before the dog has a chance to get it and so far he still intimidates and gets the best of the dog. He also loves to sit on your arm and eat dog food out of your hand.



Our pet crow is still alive and well. Too well, sometimes! He jabbers around and sometimes when he’s carrying on it actually sounds like children talking in a distance. He spent the last two days in a case as his punishment for dumping out small pots of flowers that we got to put in an old milk can. I came home from town, set my flowers outside and quick as a wink he had emptied a 3” pot and took off across the yard with the empty pot in his beak. We retrieved the pot and put the plant in again. After doing it three or four times there was hardly any dirt left on the plant. He doesn’t seem to bother them after they are in baskets so we planted them last night and let him loose. We shall see what happens.



I was sitting on the porch swing last night reading our local paper and had laid some advertisements beside me on the swing. He sneaked up behind me, pulled the ads through the crack between the seat and the back of the swing, then took off running. He didn’t fare too well when he tried to fly up over the porch railing with this big paper flapping in his beak. He dropped it so I quick grabbed it. He then had a big pity party out in the yard. He put his head down on the grass and jabbered away. I didn’t understand a word but I’m still wondering what he was trying to say. We have one member in the family that thinks he would make a good target to try out her shotgun on, but so far no one else agrees.

Charlie the Crow

 An Amish woman in Indiana found out that crows are very smart birds, even though they seem so ordinary, often annoying. One October afternoon in 2006, this woman's sons found a crow’s nest and brought home a baby crow. The boys clipped the crow’s wings so he couldn’t fly too far and planned to raise it as a pet, maybe even teach it a few words. They named the baby crow “Charlie.” It wasn’t long, though, before Charlie was running the household ragged, especially the poor dog. This is the Amish woman's story of “Charlie the Crow,” written over nine months, in her scribe letters to The Budget--published with her permission:

I’ve had an occupant on my porch swing for the last few weeks. He appears around dusk, sleeps there all night, and what a mess he has created by the next morning. He’s always awake as soon as it’s daylight and is soon asking for his breakfast. His caw-caw-caw can be quite annoying. He follows us around the yard and is a unique pet as of now. The boys have hopes of getting him to say a few words, but we’ll see. Our dog isn’t too sure about this blackbird that wants to be his friend. The crow walks up to him and puts his beak against his nose as if to say, “I’m your friend.” The dog quickly leaves and finds another spot to take his nap, only to be followed again and again. Just this morning I saw him tugging at the vines hanging down from my hanging pots on the porch. Our unique pet might end up being a unique pest! 

Our pet crow, Charlie, has indeed proven to be quite a pest. We can’t understand anything he says but he sure does a lot of jabbering, making noises I never knew a crow could make. He is a real pack rat. Anything shiny or brightly colored attracts him immediately.

Charlie quickly grabs it up and takes it to his favorite hiding place in the window wells of the basement or a hole in the concrete blocks of our outside basement steps. Clothes pins have always attracted him and I have to cover my clothes pin pail at all times when I hang up clothes or he carries them off just as fast as he can, one right after the other. Recently he started going in the window shop if the doors are open and carries pens and pencils off.

The other day I heard Charlie making a fuss on the porch so I went to investigate. He had a white screw in his beak that they use on the windows. You might as well forget about chasing him to get it because he really has fun if you do that. We have found the best way to get it is ignore him and watch where he drops it. If you don’t chase him he eventually gets tired of carrying it around.

Charlie’s latest prank is to chase the grandchildren and peck them once he catches up with them. If they don’t start running he won’t do anything, but several of the grandchildren start running and screaming if he comes within 50 feet of them and he loves that.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more about Charlie the Crow...

Author Spotlight! Susan May Warren

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We'll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest books. FUN.

The winner from last week's Author Spotlight with Beth Wiseman was Hannah! (Hannah, you didn't leave your email. Please email my assistant amy@litfusegroup.com with your mailing address!)

This week we welcome Susan May Warren. To win a copy of Susan's latest release, Licensed for Trouble, leave a comment on this post!

Share a little bit about yourself. Married with kids? Empty nester? Do you work full-time and write when you can squeeze it in?

I am married (21 years) with four amazing children; the oldest of whom is in college.  We were missionaries for many years in Russia, until God called us back to America.  Around that time, I had my first book published and have been writing full time ever since.  I am usually at my computer by 9am, and work until 6pm.

And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest…

I am an anomaly – I love all kinds of fiction from romance to suspense to fantasy.   However, I also love adventure – so in all of those books, some element of adventure is key.  I try and write about people I’d like to know, or places I’d like to visit, and things I’d like to do…after all, fiction is an escape into another world, right? 

How did you get started writing? Did you have a dream of being a published author?

I love reading – I think all authors should love to read, and I read constantly when I lived overseas, in Russia, while my husband and I served as missionaries.  I soon ran out of books.  However, without knowing it, I had begun to absorb the elements of a good book.  I had also cultivated a desire to write my own stories.

So, one snowy day, I sat down with a story in my head and began to write.  I really had no idea what I was doing, but I knew in my heart what I HOPED to write, and I just followed my heart. After I finished my story – with was about 150K, I had a James Michener epic, way too long that would be only be used as a highchair for my toddler.  However, I HAD finished a book.  And in that, I was a success. 

From there, I submitted the book to agents and publishers and got good feedback – one agent suggested I write a much smaller book and see if I could publish that first.  So I wrote a Heartsong, a story about my grandparents.  And after they looked it over a few times, they published it.  In the meantime, I kept writing, attending online classes, reading books and keeping a journal.  I wrote a novella about an experience I had being trapped in an elevator in Russia, and submitted it to Tyndale.  They bought (much to my great surprise) and then asked me what else I had.  Thankfully, I had a number of other projects…

After you started writing seriously--how long was it before you were published?

Four years.  Four books.

Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your “brain cylinders” firing so you can write well? Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write? How many hours a day do you spend writing?

I spend every morning in the Word of God, journaling, thinking about my day, life, my stories.  I also spend time in prayer, and I try to exercise (that is a great way to get the brain going!)  Then, to get my story going, I read through the passage I wrote from the day before, correcting and deepening elements (although not editing – that’s a different phase of writing).  Then, I start writing. I  usually write hard for about 4-6 hours/day. 

What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication? Writers’ conferences? Writing groups? Your mom as your first draft reader?

ACFW was a huge help to me – even when I lived overseas.  Having a writing group that assisted me in my journey, helping me learn the basics and encouraging me kept me going.  Which is why I started My Book Therapy as a way to help writers get started and write amazing books.

Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be? 

No.  It’s harder.  First, every book you write has to be better than the last one.  And, you bring a lot of your personal journey to the page, so it is also very vulnerable. Finally, I’ve had to step out of my comfort zone and do things I am not great at – from television appearances to presenting awards (yes, I can speak in front of thousands, but get me to present or accept an award and I’m a mess).
  
The key  is, however, to remember that God hasn’t called you to do anything He isn’t also going to equip you to do.  That’s been a big faith builder for me in this process.

What are your biggest distractions?

Internet Shopping. :)

What was one of the best moments in your career and what was one of the worst?

Best – when I won the RITA and my best friend/writing partner Rachel Hauck accepted for me. Also, going to dinner with Tyndale my first year as an author and sitting next to Francine Rivers.  Cool! 

Worst – The rude awakening that not every one of my books would be a best-seller.  Grr.

What do you least like about being a writer? Most like?

I don’t love revisions because it makes me work hard.  :)

I love watching a story come to life on the page!

What is the role and importance of an agent?

An agent is an encourager, an advisor and person who has your back in the publishing world.  I love my agent.

What advice would you give to new writers?

A true writer keeps writing, regardless of the challenges. Write the book you would want to read – and others will too.

Pretend I’m a customer at a bookstore looking for a good book. Give me a one or two sentence promo to convince me to buy your book.

PJ Sugar has just inherited a mansion.  Her troubles are over, right? But the gift contains secrets to her past…and could destroy her future.  Just how much trouble is too much?

What’s on the book horizon for you?

My next contemporary comes out in time for a great beach read next summer – My Foolish Heart.  It’s a story about a talk show host to the lovelorn who has never had a date…until the “perfect” man moves in next door.  But will she be able to recognize him?  My next historical is called Nightingale – it comes out in November and is the story of a Red Cross nurse who falls in love via letters with a POW…until she discovers a secret about him that might just destroy them both.

Last question, how can readers find you and your books?

Go to:  www.susanmaywarren.com Oh and be sure to check out the PJ Sugar's "Sweet" KINDLE giveaway going on right now!

Thank you for sharing your writing life with my bleaders! (blog + readers = bleaders)

Thank you for having me!

Thursday on Amish Wisdom: Guest Host Judy Christie and Columnist & TV Personality Lee Ann Miller

Tune in on Thursday at 4:00 pm Central! To listen in - go here and just click on the player in the top right corner.

While I'm away this week escorting my son to college (sniff, sniff) Judy Christie (you may remember her interview a few weeks ago.) has graciously agreed to fill in for me as the host extraordinaire of Amish Wisdom. This week she'll be interviewing TV personality and columnist Lee Ann Miller.

About Lee Ann: Lee Ann Miller lives in Ohio’s Amish Country on 22 acres near the village of Walnut Creek. Lee Ann’s husband, Daryl was raised Amish and they have two sons. The Millers, along with family, own and operate The Miller Haus Bed and Breakfast. While enjoying country living, Lee Ann loves to write about faith and everyday life for a regional newspaper. She appears as a regular guest on FOX8 and abc9 in Ohio, sharing popular area recipes.  For more about Lee Ann, please visit her website.

Also, be sure to check out her Recipe Page! YUM.

So be sure to tune in at 4:00 PM Central on Thursday!

My Trip to Lancaster: Amish Farms

Life on an Amish farm is pretty sweet for a dairy cow.

An Amish farm.

An open wagon for hauling.

An Amish schoolhouse.

Notice the cart getting pulled.

Above: Amish barn. Below...all in a day's work. Laundry! Every day but Sunday.

The Amish...In Their Own Words

These are excerpts taken from Amish scribes' letters in The Budget...in their own words. Enjoy!



Recently Luke came in the house, flopped himself on the loveseat and said, “Mom, I want a whiskey.” “A what?!” I asked. “A whiskey,” he repeated. Keeping a straight face I said, “Are you sure you know what you are asking for?” “Yes,” he said, “It’s one of those things that you throw (giving his arm a fling) and it sails through the air.” “Oh,” I said with relief and much laughter. “Maybe you mean a Frisbee.” “Yes, that’s it,” he said.



And then there was this little neighbor boy under school age who went to borrow an age from the neighbors so they could make a cake. The neighbor lady told him they need not return the egg. His remark was, “No, we can’t. We need this egg!”



A woman was brave enough to try to protect her family from a yearling bear that walked up onto their patio and pressed its nose against the window and looked into the dining room. Before that, one of the children had come running into the house, all excited, and said that there’s a bear in the yard. This mother got the shotgun and some light shells and went outside as the children in the house cheered her on. The bear ran up a tree and sat there looking at her. She waited until it finally came down and then peppered it in the rear, but it just climbed up another tree. Finally it came down and lumbered off into the woods. Later mamma bear came along, examined the slop pile, then continued sniffing the scent of her cub, and eventually disappeared into the woods behind their house. This morning a middle-sized bear feasted on the ripe peaches in the yard. All this makes it a little scary for the children to play in the yard!



Our neighbors said in the early 1950s he sold 10 butcher hogs—which paid a new pickup truck for him. Today it would take about 200 hogs to pay for a new pickup truck. Back then pigs were called mortgage lifters and today they are called mortgage makers.



Source: The Budget, PO Box 249, Sugarcreek, Ohio 44681

Today Starts the BIG "Amish Proverbs" Launch!

Starting today, August 14th through August 31st, the big blog tour for Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life kicks off!

Revell and Litfuse Group have teamed up for a big launch party on September 1st, with prizes offered...including a grand prize of an Amazon Kindle!

Here's how to be a part of the giveaway:

Go to this link:
Suzanne Woods Fisher, public figure

Join the page if you haven't already, and click on Events for party info! 

Hope to see you there!

The Simple Wisdom KINDLE Giveaway!

Amish Proverbs just hit the shelves. To celebrate I'm giving away a KINDLE and throwing a party! Let the fun begin. See below for info and links.

Find out more about the book, Suzanne and the blog tour here.

One Grand Prize winner will receive a Kindle preloaded with Suzanne Woods Fisher titles. The Prize Pack (valued at over $205.00) includes:

* A brand new KINDLE, Free 3G, 6", Latest Generation

* Amish Peace by Suzanne Woods Fisher

* The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest.

Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on September 1st.

 

Join me for a Wrap-up Party on September 1st!

Come one, come all! ’ll be announcing the winner of the Simple Wisdom KINDLE Giveaway, chatting with readers, and giving away copies of Amish Proverbs and The Choice! Be sure to join us on Wednesday , September 1st at 8PM EST at Suzanne’s Author Page

Be sure to check out the blog tour here or purchase a copy of Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life!

Author Spotlight: Beth Wiseman

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We'll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest books. FUN.

This week we welcome Beth Wiseman. To win a copy of Beth's latest release, Plain Paradise, leave a comment on this post!

Share a little bit about yourself. Married with kids? Empty nester? Do you work full-time and write when you can squeeze it in?
 I’m married to a wonderful man, and we are empty nesters—unless you count our two dogs, two cats, two pot bellied pigs, pygmy goat, hen, and rooster. I left my job as a newspaper reporter in early 2008 and write novels full time.

And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest…
I’m contracted with Thomas Nelson Publishers for 14 Amish novels and novellas.

How did you get started writing? Did you have a dream of being a published author? 
I wrote my first story to my grandparents when I was five years old—On a dark stormy night kind of thing. I’ve written in some capacity most of my life—freelance articles, newspaper reporter, and tons of manuscripts that I should probably burn so no one finds them after I’m dead.

After you started writing seriously--how long was it before you were published? 
Hmm…that’s a tough question. When my children were young, I would write a manuscript, send it off, file the rejection notice, then get back to raising children. A few years later, I’d go through the same drill. But in 2006, I realized that writing a good story wasn’t going to be enough, and I began to really study the craft.

Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your “brain cylinders” firing so you can write well? Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write? How many hours a day do you spend writing? 
Most of my first drafts are done in a recliner. Serious revisions are done locked up in my bedroom. Line edits are done at my kitchen table. When a deadline is on top of me and I need to power write, I leave home and go to my favorite cabin in the woods and hibernate for days until I’m done. Hours per day depends on everything else going on in my life at the time, but at deadline time, I’ll write about 10 hours per day. Normally, I probably average about 5 hours, working around other things my editor or publicist might need and media commitments.

What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication? Writers’ conferences? Writing groups? Your mom as your first draft reader? 
I’ve never been in a writer’s group, and I don’t have a critique partner, but my first responders…those who read the first drafts…make sure I don’t go ‘off’ somewhere I don’t need to. Writers conferences such as ACFW and RWA have been a tremendous help.

Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be? 
It is nothing like I thought it would be! I had this silly idea that you wrote a book, turned it in, then went on to the next one! Ha ha ha! SO many other steps involved in the entire process. Only thing that is like I thought it would be is that I have the freedom to write in my jammies all day if I choose to.

What are your biggest distractions? 
Internet, laundry, food, barking dogs, inability to say ‘no’ to social events, phone calls, and an ongoing ‘to do’ list that begs for items to be checked off.

What was one of the best moments in your career and what was one of the worst? 
Best moment—call from agent that Thomas Nelson bought the Daughters of the Promise series, on Friday, Dec. 18, 2007 at 4:18 p.m. I haven’t had a bad moment since.

What do you least like about being a writer? Most like? 
There really isn’t anything I don’t like about being a writer, but the most challenging thing for me is balance. My relationships with my family and friends are important, and those relationships must be nurtured, but my deadlines are tight, so I constantly work on balancing everything. As for what I like most—did I mention about writing in my jammies? Seriously, my favorite thing about writing are the letters and emails I receive from readers, especially the ones who say my books have brought them closer to God.

What is the role and importance of an agent? 
A good agent knows the publishing business and what is selling at a certain time. He or she will also have good relationships with editors and know how to negotiate a contract. I’m fortunate to have an agent whom I also consider a dear friend.

What advice would you give to new writers? 
Don’t just write the book. Study the craft. I believe that anyone can get published if you have thick enough skin to file away the rejection notices and keep going.

Pretend I’m a customer at a bookstore looking for a good book. Give me a one or two sentence promo to convince me to buy your books. 
All of my books include a romance, but there is always much more going on—multiple plots that will appeal to readers of all ages, men and women. I have a deep affection for the Amish and their simpler way of living, but I stay focused on authenticity, and members of the Amish community read each book prior to publication.

What’s on the book horizon for you? 

I’m currently finishing up book #5 in the 'Daughters of the Promise' series, Plain Proposal. Next, I’ll write a novella for An Amish Wedding, co-authored with Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Long. After that, I’ll write book #2 in the 'Land of Canaan' series, not yet titled. Following that, I’ll start to work on my third series. I’m super excited about the first 'Land of Canaan' book—Seek Me With All Your Heart—to release in October 2010. This book follows some of my characters from the 'Daughters of the Promise' series to Colorado.

For more info about my books, please visit my website at www.bethwiseman.net.

Thank you for sharing your writing life with my bleaders, Beth! (blog + readers = bleaders)

TOMORROW on Amish Wisdom: authors Barbara Cameron, Beth Wiseman, Kathy Fuller and Kelly Long

Tune in on Thursday at 4:00 pm Central! To listen in - go here and just click on the player in the top right corner.
 

This week I'll be interviewing four authors. At the same time. (I'm sure I can do that, right?) Barbara Cameron, Beth Wiseman, Kathy Fuller and Kelly Long have all contributed to An Amish Christmas (expanded edition). The book is a celebration of Christmas through four Amish romances.

About the book: Spend the holidays in Lancaster County! Seth once broke Miriam's heart. Should she give him a second chance? As widow Lydia mourns, her old flame reappears---her husband's brother. Midwife Anna calls on Asa Lapp to help her as a blizzard rages. And a child changes everything for two couples on a snowy Christmas eve. 500 pages, hardcover from Nelson.

A bit more about each author's story:
“A Choice to Forgive” by Beth Wiseman

After Daniel disappeared that long-ago Christmas Eve, Lydia built a life with his brother. But now she's a widow and Daniel has reappeared, asking for forgiveness. Can she go back to her normal life with her long-lost love as her neighbor?

“A Miracle for Miriam” by Kathleen Fuller

Seth is no longer the arrogant young man who shattered Miriam's confidence and broke her heart. Will he be able to show "plain" Miriam that she is truly beautiful to him?

“One Child” by Barbara Cameron

The birth of one child forever changed the world two thousand years ago. On a snowy Christmas night in Lancaster County, another child changes the world for two very different couples. 

"Christmas Cradles" by Kelly Long

When Anna Stolis takes over for her aunt, the local midwife, Christmas night heats up with multiple deliveries, three strangers' quilts, and unexpected help from the handsome and brooding Asa Lapp.

About the authors:

Barbara Cameron: I’ve sold more than two dozen books (fiction and non-fiction) as well as three movies to HBO/Cinemax. Currently I’m finishing a three book series for Abingdon Books (Quilts of Lancaster County). The first book, A Time to Love, will be out in September. Then I’ll be following up that series with another three book Amish series. Just won the second and third place in the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, and Love chapter’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for my two novellas (they’re One Child in bestselling An Amish Christmas and When Winter Comes in An Amish Gathering).  Am finalist  for the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) novella category for both novellas. Have been on the CBA, CBD, and ECPA bestseller lists. I’m a former newspaper reporter who currently writes and also teaches part-time at the college level. For more info abotu Barbara please visit her website at www.barbaracameron.com

Win a copy of Barbara's A Time to Love - leave a comment on this post and one winner will be chosen at random. Please be sure to include your email address.

About A Time To Love: War correspondent Jenny King thinks she's just a temporary guest in her grandmother's Amish community while she recuperates from the devastating injuries sustained in a car bomb attack that changed her world.  But when she meets Matthew Bontrager, the man she had a crush on as a teenager, she wonders if God has a new plan for her.

Beth Wiseman: Beth is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series -- Plain Perfect, Plain Pursuit, and Plain Promise.  She is contracted with Thomas Nelson Publishing for ten Amish novels and three novellas - releasing into 2013.  
    
As she puts it, her writing has been "all over the place."  As a former newspaper reporter, she was honored by her peers with eleven journalism awards, including first place news writing for The Texas Press Association.
    
She has been a humor columnist for The 1960 Sun in Houston and published articles in various publications.  Those articles included a wide array of topics - an article on premature birth, an article about performance boating, and an article about her mother--a whitewater canoeing enthusiast who still paddles the rivers at the age of 75.  However, writing novels is where her heart is.  She left her job as a journalist in 2008 to write novels fulltime. For more about Beth, visit her website at www.bethwiseman.net.

Win a copy of Beth's Plain Paradise - leave a comment on this post and one winner will be chosen at random. Please be sure to include your email address.

About Plain Paradise: Josephine Dronberger was a scared young girl when she gave up her baby for adoption seventeen years ago.  But now, Josie longs to reconnect with the daughter she left in the permanent care of an Old Order Amish couple.

Linda—as the couple named the child—is promised to Stephen Ebersol, a boy in her community, and they plan to marry in the fall.

Will Linda be drawn into the world of the Englisch by a mother she’s never known?

And will Josephine discover far more than she bargained for as her world collides with that of the Plain People in Lancaster County? 


Kathy Fuller: I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, and now make my home in beautiful Geneva, Ohio. I’ve been married to James for 15 wonderful years (really, they have been wonderful!)  We have three terrific children, three dogs, and an overwhelmed cat. We have also raised cattle, pigs, and chickens at various times over the years. We would have gone into the goat business, but I had to draw the line somewhere. I started writing in 2000, and published my first short story a year later. Since then I have authored several short stories, novellas, novels, and have done a lot of freelance non-fiction work. I have also worked as an editor. I have a Masters degree in Special Education, emphasis on teaching the blind and visually impaired, and a Bachelors in Early Childhood/Elementary Education. I have taught all age groups ranging from age 4 to age 18. A few of my favorite things: my relationship with Christ, chocolate (of course!), autumn, a satisfying book, good friends, a sense of humor, people who don’t take themselves seriously, haunting melodies, NFL football, and did I mention chocolate? For more about Kathleen, visit her website at www.kathleenfuller.com.

Kelly Long: Kelly Long is the author of Sarah’s Garden, the first in the Patch of Heaven Series, Lilly’s Wedding Quilt, Christmas Cradles from the Expanded Edition of Christmas in Lancaster County and A Marriage of the Heart from An Amish Love. She focuses Amish fiction to represent the Amish culture of North Central Pennsylvania and the Allegheny Mountains, where she was born and raised. She previously taught both English and Latin at the high school level and holds degrees from both Penn State University and The University of New Hampshire.

Win a copy of Kelly's Sarah's Garden - leave a comment on this post and one winner will be chosen at random. Please be sure to include your email address.

About Sarah's Garden: When Sarah realizes that she has fallen in love with an Englisch doctor, she must choose between loving a man and losing her family.

Deep in the heart of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains, shy Sarah King is happiest when working in her vibrant Amish kitchen garden, but new family responsibilities lead her into the confusing world of the Englisch.

Sarah finds her life turned around when she encounters the community's new Englisch veterinarian, Grant Williams. His blue-gold eyes and his obvious concern for her people attract her immediately. Sarah seeks solace and direction from the Lord as she creates a quilt pattern which details her struggle between two worlds.

The Lord is guiding Sarah to follow His will, but will she listen?

A Hint of What's Going on in My House!

In Their Own Words

These are excerpts from Amish scribes' letters in The Budget...in their own words. Enjoy!

The hotter the sun shines, the colder the ice cream is. That’s what Walter M. would be able to say. He has two solar panels mounted on the roof of his mountain home and Tim has it wired into an inverter and a battery bank. So now Walter has electric to run power tools, lights, and even a refrigerator with freezer. He doesn’t even need to run his generator, it’s all powered by the sun. Walter and Betty don’t need to plant flowers either, they have hillsides of wildflowers growing around them. And, of course, when the flowers pass their season, they still have the majestic tree-covered mountains to look at.

~~

Talking about older folks, it was kind of interesting the other day at school. The kids were discussing how old Kathy is. They had all different ages and they finally narrowed it down to 43-years-old, which was correct. One of older girls remarked, “How can you still run like you do?” She said it’s hard to believe that being that old she could still run that fast. It’s always interesting to hear the remarks from these young kids.

~~

Back in the 1940s at the old brick public school then on this site is where I got my limited education, on two occasions aided by the teacher’s use of what was then known and feared as ‘the strap.’ Some 24 years before that, at the same location, my left-handed father was taught to write with his right hand. This was very successfully taught with the teacher’s ever present heavy wooden ruler rapped across his knuckles when he was caught with a pencil in his left hand. In everything except writing he was left handed all his life. And so the strap and the ruler and a piece of chalk thrown with deadly aim from the teacher’s desk were for many years ‘special education tools.’ They did leave a lifelong impression on we ‘old timers,’ hopefully to our betterment, sometimes perhaps not so.

Source: The Budget, PO Box 249, Sugarcreek, Ohio 44681

Author Spotlight! Amy Clipston

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We'll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest books. FUN.

Last week's guest was Jill Eileen Smith and the winner of Jill's book is Karen K! Congrats Karen - my assistant Amy will contact you for your mailing address.

This week we welcome Amy Clipston. To win a copy of Amy's latest release, A Promise of Hope, leave a comment on this post!

Share a little bit about yourself. Married with kids? Empty nester? Do you work full-time and write when you can squeeze it in?

I live with my husband, two sons, mom, and three spoiled-rotten cats. Our house is often total chaos with loud TVs blaring cartoons, guitar riffs shaking the walls in my older son’s room, tools whirling my husband’s garage, and cats squealing and hissing while fighting.  However, I wouldn’t want it any other way!

Since my husband is on dialysis and awaiting a second kidney transplant, I work full-time as Human Resources and Benefits Specialist during the day and stay up late at night clicking the keys on my Macbook while writing Christian fiction for Zondervan. 

And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest…

I currently have the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series available with Zondervan and it is about an Amish family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Book #1, A Gift of Grace, debuted in 2009, and A Promise of Hope, Book #2, came out in May 2010. Two more books will be out this year, and more in the future. I also have a non-Amish young adult book coming out next year. I’m fascinated with the Amish culture and enjoy researching it and writing books about Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

How did you get started writing? Did you have a dream of being a published author? 

As a child and young adult, I wrote for fun. I remember penning my first story in elementary school. Writing was something I did as a way to cope with stress and also escape to my own little world. However, I didn’t consider becoming an author or pursuing a writing career until I accidentally found Chesapeake Romance Writers, a Romance Writers of America chapter, in 2001. After going to a meeting, I realized that writing was a passion I wanted to pursue as a possible career.  Thanks to my friends at CRW, I learned how to polish my work and find an agent.

After you started writing seriously--how long was it before you were published?

I signed with my agent in 2005, and I sold my first Amish books in December of 2007.

Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your “brain cylinders” firing so you can write well? Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write? How many hours a day do you spend writing?

I like to curl up on my bed or on the sofa in the den to write. I’m not a coffee drinker, but I’m addicted to Diet Coke, which I drink often, especially while writing.  I often crave popcorn along with the Diet Coke when I’m really in the writing “zone.” I also have this odd habit of tuning the television on one of my favorite channels without the sound. While the noise of the TV would distract me, the picture keeps me company.  Strange, I know!

I can’t give you a daily count of how many hours I write; it depends on the project and how close I am to my deadline. Some weeknights I’ll write from 8 p.m. until approximately midnight. On weekends, I sneak in as many hours as I can, sometimes writing all day long and into the night. 

What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication? Writers’ conferences? Writing groups? Your mom as your first draft reader?

My friends at CRW steered me toward the path to publication.  I learned so much from generous writers who took the time to critique for me.  Currently, have two amazing critique partners who let me bounce ideas off them, and they read my drafts.  My mom also reads my drafts and gives me ideas when I’m plotting my stories.  I owe a huge amount of my success to my family, especially my mom and my hubby, who have cheered me along the way and kicked me in the butt when I wanted to give up my dream of being a published author.

Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be?

That’s a tough question. I always imagined that being a writer would be chaotic, but I don’t think I knew quite how crazy busy it would be. At times, balancing my day time job, family, writing deadlines, and promotion obligations is very challenging. However, I’m very, very thankful to my mother who helps me keep up the house and care for the boys when I’m drowning in deadlines.  Since my husband is ill, I would have a difficult time managing the demands of my two jobs without her. My family is very thankful for all she does for us.

What are your biggest distractions?

I’m easily distracted by the television and the Internet.  Sometimes I get sidelined by a good chick flick or Facebook!

What was one of the best moments in your career and what was one of the worst?

I can’t say I’ve had any bad moments since I’ve been published.  The best have been holding my novels in my hands, speaking to my sons’ schools, and having my boys tell me that the books are “cool.”

What do you least like about being a writer? Most like?

The best part of being a writer is having a reader email me and tell me that my books have touched his/her heart. A very special person shared that she is reading my books to an ill relative, and the books have comforted her relative. Her story brought tears to my eyes and reminded me that God has given me a very important task of sharing His Word through my writing. I often pray that He’ll use me to bring others closer to Him.

What is the role and importance of an agent?

An agent has a very important role in a writer’s career.  Agents are responsible for finding a suitable publisher for a writer’s work. A good agent knows the publishing market, meaning he/she knows what books are selling and what certain publishing houses are seeking. Agents can identify good writing and provide guidance on what an author needs to fix in a book before it can be sent out to publishing houses.  Agents give authors credibility by sending books out to publisher with his/her endorsement. By having an agent, your chances are much greater of getting through the proverbial publishing “slush pile” and having your book read by an editor.

Agents also give their guidance on contracts, royalties, and all of the legal elements of publishing.  By having an agent, an author can concentrate on writing the best book possible while the agent can worry about selling the book.

What advice would you give to new writers?

I would tell new writers to join a writers group, whether it is affiliated with your local library, a national organization (such as Romance Writers of America or American Christian Fiction Writers), or an informal group of friends. Join a critique group and get some honest feedback on what your strengths are and also how you can improve your writing.

Keep writing and keep reading your favorite books. You’ll continue to learn and grow as a writer by studying the craft and revising your work.

No matter what, believe in yourself and believe in your dream of holding your book in your hand! If you’ve been rejected by an agent or editor, don’t even give up. I received plenty of rejection letters and I wanted to give up many times. I’m thankful for my family and my friends who told me to stop whining and keep trying.

Pretend I’m a customer at a bookstore looking for a good book. Give me a one or two sentence promo to convince me to buy your book.

A Gift of Grace (Book #1):

When Rebecca Kauffman’s older sister, who left the Amish community when she was a teenager, dies in an automobile accident, Rebecca is left custody of her two modern non-Amish teenage nieces, Jessica and Lindsay. Will she be able to reconcile the two worlds in her home—or will the clash of cultures tear her world, including her marriage, apart?

A Promise of Hope (Book #2):

In the second book in the Kauffman Amish Bakery series, a widow discovers her deceased husband had disturbing secrets. As she tries to come to grips with the past, she considers a loveless marriage to ensure stability for her young family--with her faith in God hanging in the balance.

A Plain & Simple Christmas:

When Anna Mae McDonough left her Amish community four years ago to marry David, an Englisher, her family shunned her. Now eight months pregnant with their first child, she longs to return home for Christmas. But when she arrives, she doesn't receive the welcome she expects.

What’s on the book horizon for you?

More books are coming with my Kauffman Amish Bakery Series. A Plain & Simple Christmas will be out in September, followed by A Place of Peace (Book #3) in December.  Another Christmas book and Book #4 will be out in 2011. A non-Amish young adult book will also be available in 2011.

Last question, how can readers find you and your books?

You can find me on the web at www.amyclipston.com or on Facebook. My books are available through both mainstream and Christian bookstores, either on-line or in the store.

Thank you for having me on your blog!
Sincerely,
Amy

Thank you for sharing your writing life with my bleaders, Amy! (blog + readers = bleaders)

TODAY on Amish Wisdom: Blogger Mary Ann Kinsinger

Tune in on Thursday at 4:00 pm Central! To listen in - go here and just click on the player in the top right corner.

This week's guest is sure to be fun. Mary Ann is the voice behind the wildly popular, A Joyful Chaos blog. Today is Mary Ann's very first radio interview! Tune in at 4pm CST to "Amish Wisdom." And if you miss it, you can always click and listen, or download the interview as a podcast, free on Itunes.

Mary Ann Kinsinger lives with her husband and three children in the beautiful Appalachian mountains in southwestern PA only a few miles from the house where she grew up in an Amish family.

Mary Ann has enjoyed writing from a very young age and has had some of her work published in magazines. She is a busy mother who homeschools her children and enjoys spending time with her family, reading, crafts, cooking, and for the past year blogging... where she is chronicling her journey from a happy little Amish girl to where she is today.