More RITA Nominees

This week I want to continue my spotlight on the RITA nominees by taking a look at Margaret Brownley and her novel, A Lady Like Sarah.

Set in my home state of Texas, you know I’m going to love this book.  I challenge you to go read her author page on her website – it gave me a good laugh.

I’d also like to note that last weekend, the Christy Awards were handed out. You might see some familiar names there. If you see any new ones or any books you’ve missed, by all means check them out! TitleTrak is another place you can find a nice listing of the winners along with book covers if you’d rather view it that way.

Have a wonderful week, and check back here on Saturday morning for another blog highlighting my Amish research trip earlier this summer.

~V

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Amish Seniors

Over the next few blogs I wanted to share some of the people I met and things I learned while visiting/researching in the small Amish community of Shipshewana, Indiana last week (where my 3 book cozy series for Zondervan will be set).

If you’re familiar with the Amish, you may know that the oldest members remain an active and important part of the family and community.

One of the persons I enjoyed meeting was Shirley. She’s an 81-year-old quilter, and she still works in the store she owns with her daughter, Rebecca. Shirley was able to tell me quite a bit of the history of the surrounding area, and I would love to go back and interview her more extensively.

This older Amish gentleman was a parking lot attendant for the Shipshewana outdoor market. The market is one of the things which makes Shipshe unique. The town’s population is typically 600, but on market days it swells to 25-30,000.  Many Amish people work at the market as well as shop at it. This gentleman was there directing cars when we arrived, and he was still there working when we left to go back to our room and take a nap!

The last evening in Shipshe, we had dinner in an Amish home. There were over twenty “guests” there. Our host and her husband had bumped tables together through the kitchen and into the living room. It was tight, but we fit! This sweet, older woman cooked all the food herself, and let me tell you the dishes were piling high. I’ve been raised in the south, and it was difficult for me to sit there and eat while they “served” us, passing around chicken, ham, vegetables, and strawberry pie (yes, she grew the strawberries).

All made with no electricity. They talked to us freely, and I just wanted to stay and visit with them for a week! She was quite proud of her 40 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. When we asked her how she managed to do so much work, she simply shrugged and smiled at her husband.

The Amish seem to enjoy leading productive lives. The elderly are respected, important parts of the community, and I was deeply touched by the time I spent with them.

If you have any questions or insights, I’d love to hear from you.

~V

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

The RITA

On Wednesdays for the next 5 weeks, I’d like to pause and recognize this year’s RITA nominees.

What is the RITA?  You can read all about it on the RWA website. Suffice to say, that it’s the top award by our largest organization . . . and the authors who have been nominated represent amazing talent. There are several different categories, and you can view them all at the above link, but I’m going to focus on the inspirational finalists.

Tamera Alexander is up for a RITA for her book, The Inheritance. I especially like Tamera’s tag line, “ordinary lives, extraordinary journeys.” That says a lot; doesn’t it? Most of us have ordinary lives, but God gives us extraordinary journeys at different points in our lives.

I encourage you to visit Tamera’s site. She has a lot of information there, including TRAILERS at the bottom of the main page (short videos which tell you about the book). You can read an excerpt for The Inheritance under the BOOK tab. 

I’m wishing Tamera much luck in the awards ceremony, but she’s already achieved the top award whether she wins or not. She’s influenced many lives with her books . . . and that makes her story — in my opinion — extraordinary.

~V

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Shipshewana

I had the pleasure of visiting Shipshewana, Indiana this past week. Shipshewana is the setting for my 3 book Amish cozy mystery series, and although the stories themselves will be fictional I thought it was important to walk the streets, meet the people, sit in the coffee shop – get a feel for the town.

I was right! Shipshe was nothing like I imagined, and it was exactly as I imagined. Crazy, right? Some things were as I expected – the smallness of the town (only 600 residents), the size of the outdoor market (it’s huge), and the friendliness of the people.

But I wasn’t prepared for the sound of the clippety-clop of horse hooves in the darkness of the night, or the image of young children guiding buggies down the road. I didn’t expect the Amish woman, Miriam, who worked at our B&B to be so outgoing. After all the reading I’d done, I was still stunned when we walked around their farms, saw the amount of work entailed in their lifestyle, and being invited to sit and share a meal in their home was an evening I won’t forget.

I’ll share many of those experiences and pictures over the next few Saturdays. I hope you’ll click back and join me. Rest assured, much of it will find its way into my stories.

For today, I’d like to send a big shout-out to all my new friends in Shipshewana. You certainly made one Texas gal and her husband feel right at home.

~V

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Live at the ACFW Conference

Two years ago, I joined Faith, Hope and Love-The Inspirational Outreach Chapter of RWA.

One year ago, I joined ACFW.

Six months ago, I received a call from Barbara Scott of Abingdon Press, requesting my book A Simple Amish Christmas. Less than two weeks later, I received a call from Sue Brower asking me to write a series we titled Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series.

Now I have a chance to meet all of these people-the members of FHL who encouraged me to keep writing, the authors in ACFW who answered so many questions from a newbie, both of my new editors who have been fantastic to work with, and even my agent (who I’ve only met in person once).

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m looking forward to the workshops, the speakers, the food and fun, even seeing the great city of Indianapolis (I chose the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse Tour for Monday morning). What I’m really excited about though . . . is hugging the friends who have prayed for me, thanking the mentors who have helped me, and shaking hands with my new bosses.

ACFW Conference. Why would you want to miss that?

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Join me

 

If you have a moment, join me at the Giveaway Lady’s blog.

She was kind enough to interview me about my upcoming book, A Simple Amish Christmas. Stop by and you’ll have a chance to win an Advanced Reader’s Copy.

I hope to see you there!

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Summer and Simple Things

Summer has arrived in central Texas. Has it arrived in your part of the world?

I hope this post finds you resting and enjoying some time with your family. When I think of summer, I think of lazy days reading books, playing the piano, hanging around in the summer heat. We didn’t have a/c growing up, so much of the summer was spent finding ways to stay cool. Ever take turns sticking your head in a sink full of water to see who could stay under the longest?  Ahh, those were the days.

It is the SIMPLE THINGS that bring us the most joy though. I believe that. I think that’s why we’re drawn to good stories, why they stay with us long after we’ve read them (or listened to them, or watched them).

And as soon as I thought the words SIMPLE THINGS, I thought of Jim Brickman. Since I’m a pianist, I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time. I probably have every CD he’s ever put out, and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him in person a few times. The song SIMPLE THINGS is one of my favorites (vocals by Rebecca Lynn Howard). If you’re feeling tired or hot or just a little out of sorts, I hope you’ll take the time to click on this VIDEO LINK. It just might lift your spirits. Then go out and find a way to keep cool. I’ve heard a sink full of water can do the trick.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Graduation

If you’ve read about the Amish, you know they’re a supportive, close-knit community. In my experience though, that’s something we can all be. From the suburbs of L.A. to the DFW metroplex to a small rural town in central Texas, I’ve had the privilege of living in neighborhoods that are close-knit, with neighbors that care, and people who look after one another. I’ve seen this in times of crisis and in times of celebration.

I definitely see it during high school graduations. Tonight will be my second graduation in a small town. I graduated in Irving, and our commencement took place in Texas Stadium because that was the only place large enough to hold all of the parents. (The picture above is the new stadium, but of course I graduated in the old stadium–which was recently imploded.) Folks turned out. Families packed the stands.

In my town it’s held at the local football stadium–much smaller, but the stands are still full. Parking will extend for blocks, and older folks who can’t navigate the stadium seating will sit in chairs along the fence. Some are even positioned in their wheelchairs on the sidelines. Then the commencement begins.

I realize the Amish only attend school through 8th grade. I understand they don’t lavish gifts on their children like we Englisch tend to. But it’s not really about that, is it? It’s about the way we show up for our kids, and I think that happens in both worlds. We support our children, express our love, celebrate. That happens no matter where you live. It’s just one more thing we have in common.