Missing Your Smile

Fiction Spotlight–Missing Your Smile

It’s my pleasure to spotlight Jerry Eicher’s newest book, Missing Your Smile. I first met Jerry at an American Christian Fiction Writer’s conference. I didn’t know who he was. I didn’t know this rather big, quiet man standing beside my table wrote Amish fiction!

Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting with Jerry several times. He’s a wonderful guy. Jerry grew up Amish, and he shared with me that he wishes he had a college degree. I told him that he’s taught himself quite well–look what a great author he is! No degree needed in this case. Here’s the blurb for Missing Your Smile:

When Susan Hostetler has a falling out with her boyfriend, Thomas Stoll, she leaves her Amish community and moves to Asbury Park to experiment in English life. There she learns to drive a car, takes her GED test, and falls in love with young and handsome Duane Bower. Back home, her parents are devastated and miss their daughter terribly. But what can they do? Susan has a mind of her own.

Just as Susan is enjoying her new life, her plans are interrupted. She meets Teresa Long, a young, unwed, expectant mother who asks Susan to help her have her baby adopted by an Amish family. As Susan is drawn into the young woman’s life, she also finds herself drawn back to her Amish roots. But can she truly leave her life behind…and Duane?

Sounds like a great book. I have a copy, and I can’t wait to read it myself.

~V

CONTEST NEWS

CONTEST NEWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve held off on my usual Tuesday contests the last few weeks, and it’s been difficult for me to do so. “Why?” you ask. Because we’ve been working on my biggest and best contest yet. Here are some details–

Starts this Friday, March 2nd.

Grand prize winner will receive a Kindle Fire.

We’ll load the Kindle with some great Amish fiction novels (mine and another awesome author’s)!

Contest opens on March 2 at noon on my Facebook page–on a new tab. I’ll post a link here and on my facebook page once the tab goes live.

Sound fun? It’s all to celebrate the release of A Perfect Square. The e-book version is available next Tuesday and the paperback will release later in March. Feel free to share this announcement with your friends. The more folks we have entered the more fun we’ll have. As always, thank you for all you do to encourage me and to support Amish fiction.

~V

 

Friends

Monday Inspiration: Friends

I don’t know what can encourage me more than friends. It’s funny–the letters that I receive. After reading Falling to Pieces, someone recently posted on my blog:

 I wish I lived there & could be friends w/Deborah et al. I felt they were friends that I wanted to come back & visit with. Robyn Carr’s books are the same, in that with every book, you get to revisit old friends & meet new ones. Keep up the great work.

I like to write about friendship, because friends are something we all need in our life. But it’s hard to maintain friendships these days. We’re all busy and pulled in different directions. The picture in this post is myself and two of my closest friends. If you read the acknowledgement in my books you’ll see their names (Donna and Dorsey–Kristy was missing b/c she was at her family’s). I’ve known Kristy all her life. Donna and Dorsey I’ve known for 11 years. Most of those years we’ve lived in different towns–different states! But we make an effort to see each other, to stay in touch, and to pray for each other.

Friends are an important blessing that God gives to us. Send a note to someone you care about today. Or better yet, pick up the phone. You’ll both be very glad you did.

~V

Amish Gardening, part 2

All Things Amish–Gardening, part 2

Are we in the gardening mood yet? I realize many of you still have snow on the ground. My hope is this series will warm you up a little!

I was surprised how large Amish gardens are, but then again they are using them to feed their families. But other things surprised me as well–look at this picture. See anything unusual? There’s an old gas tank in the middle of it! Funny, right? Often there would be unusual things in the middle of gardens. Families would work these items into the landscape of their garden. Why?

Maybe because the item was too big or too heavy to move. Or possibly because they felt the item would benefit the garden. I remember one old-timer telling me that anything with iron in it, would add nutrients to the soil and help your flowers. What do you think? Fact or fable?

I hope you’ve begun envisioning YOUR spring garden–even if it’s only a patio garden like mine. In my Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, Callie begins with a few pots of herbs. Sometimes we begin small. Amish stories remind me of that too.

~V

p.s. – Zondervan will have a major contest announcement on my Facebook page on March 2nd. Stay tuned …

ACFW February Releases, part 2

Fiction Spotlight: ACFW February Releases, part 2 

This is the 2nd half of the list I shared with you last week–February releases by authors associated with American Christian Fiction Writers. More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website. I see some Amish books here, and some friends I know and love. What fun!

Sheltering Love by Elizabeth Goddard — Alexa’s last chance to produce an award-winning documentary draws attention to a canopy biologist hiding in the trees. When their greatest fears collide in the heart of the wilderness, can they each bury the past long enough to nurture love? (Romance from Heartsong Presents (Barbour)).

Promise Me This by Cathy Gohlke– Michael Dunnagan is given a life, a hope and a future through his friend’s sacrifice aboard Titanic. Now he must keep his promise to help Owen’s family in NJ, and bring his sister from England to America. He never expected to fall in love with her, or that she would disappear into the horrors of WWI. Michael risks everything to find the woman he’s grown to love. (Historical from Tyndale House Publishers).

To Love and To Cherish by Kelly S. Irvin– The sudden, tragic death of Emma Shirack’s parents in a buggy accident and the return of a suitor who abandoned her years earlier test Emma’s Amish faith and her ability to forgive. Will a man she thought of as a friend be the one to help her to heal? (Romance from Harvest House).

Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings– She’s Finally Found a Place to Call Home… How Far Will She Go to Save It? (Historical Romance from Bethany House).

Hometown Cinderella by Ruth Axtell Morren — (Historical Romance from Love Inspired).

Falling for the Fireman by Allie Pleiter– When fire marshall Chad Owens suspects that fire victim Jeannie Nelworth’s son may be channeling his emotions in a dangerous manner, will the pretty and but protective widowed mom be strong enough to help him? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired).

Second Chance by Eileen Hinkle Rife– Dareece Jackson, a teen from the projects, wants something in Mave Robertson’s purse…and he’ll stop at nothing to get it. (Contemporary Fiction from OakTara Publishers).

Song of My Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer– Sadie Wagner has always been devoted to her family. So when her stepfather is injured and can’t work, she decides to leave home and accept a position as a clerk at the mercantile in Goldtree, Kansas. Goldtree also offers the opportunity to use her God-given singing talent – though the promised opera house is far different from what she imagined. With her family needing every cent she can provide, Sadie will do anything to keep her job. Thad McKane comes to Goldtree at the request of the town council. The town has been plagued by bootlegging operations, and Thad believes he can find the culprit. (Historical Romance from Bethany House).

A House Full of Hope by Missy Tippens– A widowed mom of four who’s put her life on hold until her kids are grown finds hope of love in the most unlikely of places when the former bad boy who ruined her sister returns to town seeking redemption. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired).

A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh– Campbell Carter has come to Sweethaven in search of answers about her mother’s history. Just before losing a battle with cancer, Suzanne Carter wrote letters to childhood friends from her hometown of Sweethaven, Michigan. Suzanne’s three friends-Lila, Jane, and Meghan-haven’t spoken in years, yet each has pieces of a scrapbook they made together as girls. Suzanne’s letters have lured them all back to the idyllic lakeside town, where they meet Campbell and begin to remember what was so special about their long Sweethaven summers. (Contemporary Fiction from Guideposts Books).

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate– A sweet deal for the sale of lakeside family property in Texas could make Heather’s career, but suddenly the family backs off, Heather rushes back to the site of a previous family tragedy and finds an old high school flame and her brother scheming to — what? (Cozy Mystery from Bethany House).

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms by Cindy Woodsmall– Love between a Mennonite woman and an Amish man threatens the lifelong relationship between two brothers. And two families. Annie is a young Old Order Mennonite woman whose grandfather co-owns a restaurant with the Zooks, an Old Order Amish family. Romance between the Mennonites and Amish is unacceptable. Inappropriate. Forbidden. But it seems that Annie and Aden have denied their feelings for each other for as long as they can tolerate. (Contemporary Romance from Waterbrook Multnomah).

Happy reading! ~V

Bible in 90 Days

Monday Inspiration: Bible in 90 Days

I’m going to be completely honest. I have never been good at DAILY Bible reading. I mean to. I intend to. I realize I should, but … well, life interferes. I have had a lot of Bible study in my life. I was raised Baptist!

When Ted Cooper showed up at my church recently and presented his program to read the Bible (cover to cover) in 90 days, I was intrigued. I think I’ve read MOST of the Bible, but read the entire thing in 90 days?  Hmmm… Then I talked to my husband about it, and he laughed. “You’re leaving something out, if you’re reading it in 90 days!” He was skeptical to say the least.

It’s been 2 weeks … we’ve worked our way through Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus. Whew! That was some reading and yes–there were some surprises. The biggest surprise is what an inspiration God’s word has been. I can’t quite explain how much I’m enjoying this, more so because 80 people from my church are doing the program at once. It’s like the best Reading Circle ever!

You can purchase Ted’s book on Amazon, which is the NIV Bible in large print without footnotes. My husband is using it and loves it. Or you can use your NIV Bible and print the schedule off from this blog - it’s basically 12 pages a day. The best way to begin this program is with others, and Ted offers videos and workbooks which have been marvelous. You can see those here, and I highly recommend them for any church.

The Bible–it is inspirational. I’m sure after these 90 days, I’ll understand why I should have had better reading habits all along. Blessings,

~V

Amish Gardening, part 1

All Things Amish–Gardening, part 1

February might SEEM like an early time to talk about gardening, but I like the idea of planning out my garden. When I look back over the photos of Amish gardens I have visited, it’s easy to see they are well planned. Lots of work and effort went into these vegetable patches–and for good reason. Here are a few things I noticed:

1. The gardens are an important food source. They’re not just recreational–though everyone seemed to enjoy working in them.
2. They are well planned out, not haphazard. Notice the nice rows. : )
3. Flowers are planted alongside vegetables. I can remember my grandmother telling me that some flowers (marigolds) would keep some pests (ants) away from my vegetables. There might be others that work the same way.

Care to share anything you’ve noticed from Amish gardening? We’ll stay with this subject for a few Saturdays. I hope it inspires you to think about YOUR spring garden. In my Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, there is always a lot of gardening and harvesting … I enjoy the connection to the land, and I think it’s one reason we like Amish stories.

~V

p.s. – Zondervan will have a major contest announcement on my Facebook page on March 2nd. Stay tuned …

ACFW February Releases

Fiction Spotlight: ACFW February Releases

I wanted to share with you the following releases by authors associated with American Christian Fiction Writers. This is the 1st half of the list. I’ll post the other half next Wednesday. More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Love Finds You in New Orleans by Christa Allan — (Historical Romance from Summerside Press – Guideposts).

Picture Perfect Family by Renee Andrews — Missionary Daniel Brantley has returned to Claremont, Alabama to raise his orphaned nephew; however, Mandy Carter, the woman whose proposal he refused years before, isn’t about to let him take Kaden away. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired).

Into the Free by Julie Cantrell — A simple girl with anything but a simple story. (Contemporary Fiction from David Cook).

In Too Deep by Mary Connealy– In 1866 Colorado, Ethan Kincaid agrees to a marriage of convenience with the same casual disregard he gives every decision. Audra Gilliland, young mother of two, accepts his proposal because she wants to stop being a burden to her newly married stepdaughter. And suddenly both of them are in far deeper than they’d planned. (Historical Romance from Bethany House).

A Wedding to Remember in Charleston, South Carolina by Annalisa Daughety — Wedding planner Summer Nelson is throwing herself into her work to avoid the pain of her recent marriage separation. Husband Luke knows he made a mistake – but doesn’t know how to fix it. When a hurricane traps them together, the crisis might tear them apart forever. (Contemporary Romance from Barbour Publishing).

Heart’s Safe Passage by Laurie Alice Eakes, — When midwife Phoebe Lee is pressed by her pregnant sister-in-law to help save her husband from an English prison during the War of 1812, they end up aboard a British privateer crossing the Atlantic under the command of a man with a deadly mission. (Historical Romance from Revell).

Highland Crossings by Laurie Alice Eakes, Pamela Griffin, Jennifer Hudson Taylor, Gina Welborn, — Historic North Carolina takes center stage in a new collection of novellas that follows the lives and loves of four women…and the heirloom brooch that connects them through generations. Will Seona, Fiona, Seren, and Brynna find God’s path in a new world far from their Scottish home? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing).

When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason — When Alexia arrives home to find her ex-boyfriend dead in her mother’s basement, she realizes she needs help. Thanks goodness Hunter Graham is more than willing to offer it. (Romantic Suspense from Revell).

Sweeter than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott — A shy young woman must find her courage when she is thrown together on a dangerous errand with a musical genius. (Historical Romance from Thomas Nelson).

Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart — Adriane Darcy stands ready to do whatever she must to keep her father’s newspaper number one in the city including agreeing to marry a man she doesn’t love, the son of a powerful local political figure, but when she meets Blake Garrett, the editor of a competing newspaper, sparks fly that will change both their lives forever. (Historical Romance from Revell).

Before the Scarlet Dawn by Rita Gerlach– In 1775, A young woman longs for acceptance and leaves behind all she has in order to follow her heart and the man she loves into the Maryland wilderness. But will her love and faith protect her from the trial she must face? Will she find the true meaning of companionship? And how will she face the world when she is rejected by those closest to her? (Historical Romance from Abingdon Press).

Happy reading!

~V

Bell County PRCA Rodeo

Monday Inspiration: Bell County PRCA Rodeo

You might find it odd, that I think a rodeo is inspiring, but I do! A few nights ago, hubby and I were sitting on the couch, barely awake, when the local news came on. They led with a story about the local Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association … and on our screen appeared a young girl with only one arm, barrel racing. Suddenly I was awake and listening. She wasn’t talking about the joy of participating–she was talking about how she was going to win … and not only in Belton, but how she planned to be a major contender when she grew up.

Wow! I was inspired. What courage and strength in that little girl–and let me add, she knew her way around a horse.

The event in our area raised $25,000 toward scholarships last year. It also serves to teach schoolchildren who don’t live on a ranch a little Texas culture. Not a bad thing all in all. 

But the image of that little girl cutting around barrels, riding proudly in her saddle? THAT is going to inspire me for quite some time.

Blessings,

V~

WINNERS for Give-away #5

WINNER for Give-away #5

You all are seriously amazing. I appreciate you so much. Thank you for volunteering to read and post a review of A Perfect Square. You’re awesome. I wish I could have shipped everyone a free copy. I’m so excited about this book. My 5 winners are:

• Wendy Newcomb
• Ellen Dix Wycuff
• Barbara Abbott
• Susan Ferrell
• Sandra Stiles

I’ve already sent these folks an email with instructions (if you don’t receive it, email me at VannettaChapman@gmail.com). For everyone else, don’t despair! You know I have more gifts for you, and we have a BIG contest brought to you by Zondervan which will begin on March 2nd.

Hugs and happy Valentines this week,

V~