VC Update

I thought I’d take the time this week to give you a bit of an update on where my books are at in the publishing process! I personally find that process fascinating and a bit mind-boggling at the same time, and every week I receive several emails asking “WHEN?” so I thought I’d address those here.

A Simple Amish Christmas is scheduled to hit bookshelves in stores on October 1. That’s exactly two months from now. However there’s a possibility that things will move a bit more quickly, and we could make mid-September. Also, you can now see the book trailer on Youtube – so if you know anyone who likes Amish books, please pass along the link!

As the release date gets closer, we’ll have more interviews and reviews. I’ll post those under the JOIN ME tab at the top, but I’ll also highlight them here. This week, you can read my first interview at Christian Book.

The second thing I wanted to announce is that I now have the publication date for the first book in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series—September, 2011.  I KNOW it sounds like a long time away, but it will be here before we blink. I turned in the manuscript this week, and let me say it is a fun, fun book. I hope to have a cover for you soon. The best part is that book 2 will be released 6 months later (March, 2012) and book 3 will be released 6 months after that (September, 2012).

So we’ll be busy writing and reading, getting to know one another. I appreciate your stopping by today, and if you have any questions or comments at all, please leave them below.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

RWA and the RITAs

By the time you’re reading this I’m leaving TX and  on my way to sunny Florida. I’ve been to Orlando a few times, but this trip will be different for me in a few ways.

First, I’m leaving from CENTRAL Texas–we’re talking small town. Instead of driving to Austin or Dallas, I’m going to try flying out of a regional airport. I’ll let you know how that goes. Actually I’ve flown in a puddle-jumper before, and thought it was a hoot. Anything to stay off the freeways.

Secondly, my focus this trip will be different. Many people go to a conference to pitch a manuscript. In the past, I suppose that was my reason. I not only wanted to meet important people, I needed to meet them. This time though, I have my contracts and instead I’m going to meet in person the people who have guided and helped me through the last year.

I’m looking forward to that. It’s one thing to send an email thanking someone. It’s another thing altogether to shake a hand, share a meal, or give a hug.

A lot of people I admire and respect will be there, including my agent, my Abingdon editor, and some writers who have helped me along the way (waving madly to Amy and the FHL bunch). Other writers that I have watched from afar, but have also been instrumental in guiding me will be there–women like Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, and Cindy Woodsmall.

I’d love to hear the most important thing you’ve ever taken away from a workshop or conference. Leave a comment if you have a chance. And I’ll still see you on Saturday to discuss Amish things, Christmas, and mysteries.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Amish Friends

I’ve enjoyed sharing what I learned on my trip to Shipshewana, Indiana. When my editor, the wonderful Sue Brower, picked Shipshe for the setting of our cozy Amish series, I had never heard of it. I went on-line and did my research. I googled. I even posted to my writing groups and asked questions. That was when I received my first indication that we were on to something special.

I have received a flood of email from people who have either lived near, lived in, or often visited Shipshewana. But maybe the same is true for everywhere. You know what they say about 3 degrees of separation. I believe we are all connected if we search for that connection.

THAT response is what convinced me to actually travel to Shipshe. With so many people who had been there, I knew they’d “catch me” if I had the details wrong in my writing. What I received from my trip was more than information about Amish FARMS, CLOTHING, CHILDREN, and SENIORS (see previous posts). What I received was friendship.

I think my writing will be richer, from having stayed in Shipshe a week. I was able to hear the clip-clop of the horses, eat at the Blue Gate, walk through the Courtyard of Arts, and marvel at the variety of things in the market. But I know my life is richer from the friends I made.

Isn’t life always that way? Whether we’re home or away, it’s the people who God brings us in contact with that make the difference.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

1 week until the RITAs

This is my last week to highlight RITA nominees in the inspirational category. Both of these final two ladies are from Texas, and I’M from Texas. What are the odds?

I’ve enjoyed doing this. Not only have I learned a lot, but now I have goals – – big goals!

DiAnn Mills writes it all–historical fiction, contemporary fiction and nonfiction. When you arrive at her webpage it says “Expect an Adventure” and she’s not kidding. I have to admit, Breach of Trust sounds like my kind of book. I’m into the CIA thing. You know I’m going to be downloading this to my kindle, or ordering the REAL copy on Amazon. However I have to do it.

Also on DiAnn’s “About” page she talks about finding the courage to follow your passions–something worth reading for all of us, whether  you’re a writer or not.

Kathleen Y’Barbo is being nominated for her book, The Confidential Life.  Kathleen’s a sweet gal, I can tell you that from personal experience. She also claims to be a 10th generation Texan. Now I’ve never been good with math, but that could mean she and I share ancestors, and I’m talking Choctaw. I’m going to have to ask Kathleen about that when I see her next week.

Kathleen also has a wide variety to choose from on her BOOKS page. These writers are busy people; aren’t they?

I wish these two ladies, and all our other RITA nominees the best of luck. Mostly I hope you’ll check out their writing if you haven’t already.

Saturday I’ll be wrapping up my Shipshewana posts. Be sure and click back.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Reviews

 

I’m so EXCITED. I’m as excited as this little buck who lives in our yard. He could NOT figure out why I was taking his picture. So WHY am I excited?

The first review is in for A SIMPLE AMISH CHRISTMAS. I’m not excited about only that–reviews in general will start coming in over the next few weeks. So I created a REVIEW tab at the top of the blog. Handy, right? I’m just a little techno-nut.

I also have a few Advanced Reader Copies on the way to me, or so my favorite person in marketing promised today. And I think I should give them away. So stay tuned. Details will follow soon.

In the mean time, check out that REVIEW tab at the top. I think Jennifer outdid herself.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Amish Farms

I’ll wrap up this series next weekend. It’s been a pleasure to share photos with you from my trip to Shipshewana, Indiana. Today we’re going to focus on FARMING, and I’m sure I will get much of the terminology wrong. Although I now live in the country, I was born in LA. It will, no doubt, show. So let’s get to it!

The farms stretch out in every direction around Shipshewana. It is a sight to behold. I expected to see a man standing behind a plough with a horse or two in front. That wasn’t exactly how it went. The horses they use for farm work are different from what they use for buggies–they’re much BIGGER. The woman who took us out to this farm (who was not Amish, but was a good friend of this family), gave a wonderful example–the size of their shoes!

Small horses for buggies. Large horses for farm work. Got it. But that wasn’t all that was different. Somehow I expected someone to be milking those cows by hand. Not so. Especially not so when you have over 400 cows to milk.

No, everything was done by machines, and there was more than one shift of workers to milk them – which meant that they hired people to come in and help for one of the shifts. Also (and I’m proving how little I know about dairy cattle–we’ve only had a little beef cattle on our place), they take the babies (err, calves) away after birth.

Look at this guy. #290. He’s taken away from his mama as soon as he’s born, and then he’s bottle fed. Then the mother’s milk is what, well that’s what gives us milk! Do I have this right? I think so. It’s all very technical, and very efficiently done. Sounds like ANY dairy farm, right? Only there are differences in the way the Amish work.

For instance, though they have electricity to their barn, they draw the line on how much technology they will use. They don’t have computers. I saw a paper wheel chart, and the owner came in and explained to me how he used it. It was like a wheel on top of a wheel on top of a wheel – and he could turn it and figure out which bull he was to breed with which cow next. It was pretty amazing, and let me tell you he had excellent record-keeping, all with no “advanced technology.”

Also, they adjust to requirements by the health regulators. For example, they were told they had to process certain parts of their milk differently. They didn’t want to meet those requirements, because it would force them to add more technology to their entire facility, so instead they decided to use that milk to make cheese, which did not need the additional requirements.

This farm also had pigs, chickens and of course crops. I don’t begin to understand the ins and outs of farming, but I was fascinated by all that I saw. I’d love to go back and spend a week or a month pestering these fine people and asking questions.

Mainly what I saw was people committed to their beliefs, and determined to earn a living the way they always had. That’s something you have to admire.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

2 weeks until the RITA

I’m LATE! Sorry folks. I was working on a deadline, and I should have posted this yesterday. Enough with the excuses – – –

Our RITA focus this week is on two lovely ladies. I hope if you haven’t read their books, that you will check them out.

Irene Hannon is up for a RITA for her book, An Eye For an Eye. It’s not often I’m astounded, but I was astounded when I clicked on Irene’s BOOKS tab and saw all the books she’s published.  My-oh-my. Irene has been busy! There’s a nice feature at the bottom of her BOOKS page where you can even print her book list. I might need to add that to my page – when I have more than two books that is. : )

Our second RITA nominee for this week is Julie Klassen. Julie writes historical romances, and she has a very interesting RESEARCH page on her site–complete with pictures. Check it out!

I hope you’re enjoying these peeks into our RITA nominees. These ladies really are the top writers in inspirational fiction. It’s amazing to me all that they’ve been able to accomplish.

Be sure and check back Saturday where we’ll talk a little more about the Amish and Shipshewana.

~V

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Amish Clothing

I wanted to recap a little more of my visit to Shipshewana, Indiana where I was researching my upcoming series, Shipshewana Amish Mystery (Zondervan 2011).

It’s possible that Amish clothing is part of what draws us into the story. We are a bit fascinated with this simpler style of dress. It would be nice to not have to worry about what size jeans I’m wearing. Sound shallow? Perhaps not. One of the things I admire about the Amish is that they don’t focus so much on external things.

So what was it like in Shipshewana? Well, it was a little like I expected, and a little different.

The women did wear traditional style dresses, but they were in prettier colors than I’d imagined or read about.  And no aprons. Where are the aprons?

They still wore the prayer kapps, of course. Though my editor immediately pointed out that they’re different from the kapps Amish wear in Pennsylvania. Miriam, the woman who worked in our B&B, explained that kapps are different from district to district. Also notice their shoes are not the big, clunky black shoes I’ve read about. In fact, nearly every woman I saw wore flip-flops. Well, who can blame them. It’s summer, after all.

One of the most curious things I saw was the little boys wearing wool caps. This did seem odd in the middle of summer. When I asked why, they said, “Well, our fathers wore them.” Seems like a good enough reason. In Texas, girls wear boots with their skirts – in the middle of summer. Tradition is valued, no matter where you live.

The boys do wear the hat we’re more accustomed to seeing to church. In fact, this gentleman who drove a buggy to the dinner we went to was dressed in what I think of as the “traditional Amish clothing.” He was such a nice, young man and stayed to have dinner with us at this home.

I suppose clothing isn’t that important. It’s just what we WEAR, not who we are. But I’ve noticed when I’m away from our little country town in central Texas, I begin to miss things like seeing my neighbors in cowboy hats, the sound of western boots walking across the floor, blue jeans and dress shirts and belt buckles. It’s how we dress. It means I’m home.

Amish dress differs from state to state and district to district, but it indicates much about their faith. You can learn more about it by visiting some of their historical sites like the Menno-hof, or you can read a good book on the Amish.

Next time you see someone dressed differently than you, I hope you smile, nod, and realize they just come from a different place (geographically or spiritually). Makes for an interesting world.

~V

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

3 Weeks until the RITA

That’s correct. We’re 3 weeks away from the RITA awards, and this week I wanted to spotlight Carla Capshaw and Judy Duarte.

The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw is a Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical release. (Am I the only one who pictures Russell Crow at the word gladiator?) Carla’s book is actually a DOUBLE finalist – and how cool is that! She’s up for Best First Book and Best Inspirational.

Carla began writing at the same time I did – 2000. She’s also a double Golden Heart winner. If you haven’t read any of her books, you can check them all out on her webpage.

Judy Duarte is up for an award for Entertaining Angels. This is not the first book in a series, so you’ll have fun catching up and reading previous works by Judy if you’re new to her novels–then get a copy of Entertaining Angels.

One fascinating thing about Judy is that she’s published books with some big name ladies–Debbie Macomber, Fern Michaels, and  JoAnn Ross. Judy has a lot of books out, so check her website to see what’s available.

 

On Saturday I’ll continue with part 4 of 5 in my Shipshewana posts, and next Wednesday we’ll have another RITA spotlight. Thanks for stopping by today!

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Amish Children

I’m continuing with a recap of my visit to Shipshewana, Indiana where I was researching my upcoming series, Shipshewana Amish Mystery (Zondervan 2011).

The Amish children I saw and met while in Shipshewana last month were definitely a bit different from what I had imagined.

Of course I realized that the Amish tend to give their kids responsibility at a younger age, but when I saw this group of youngsters driving a cart (it wasn’t really a buggy) down the road outside our B&B, I was surprised. I tried to imagine letting my child do so at the same age, and of course I couldn’t. Then I realized that these kids weren’t given responsibility all at once, they’d been taught it gradually. If you look at the picture closely, you’ll also see an older sister behind them on a bicycle, and the parents were not far behind this on their own bicycles.

Another example of this is the little boy we saw two houses down who was mowing the yard. Look at this guy-he’s barely as tall as the mower.   When we stopped to snap the picture though (and yes, it is okay to snap from a distance), we noticed an older brother standing in the driveway to the right, laughing a bit, and ready to take over when needed.

Which brings me to my last point. I do find that often we speak and write of the Amish in a very serious tone. I found them to be a fun group with a strong sense of humor. One look at this vehicle will explain what I mean. We had the good fortune of walking through an Amish farm, and as we were going through the large barn area where this gentleman kept all his buggies (I believe I counted 7) and bicycles (over 20), there was this. Isn’t it fun? Of course it belonged to the teenagers.

NOT what we would expect among the Amish, but then neither was the small fishing boat we saw pulled by a tractor as we were driving down the road. The teens waved at us as they headed to the lake. Everyone needs down time during the summer, I suppose.

Speaking of down time, I loved this trampoline outside the home we visited. You know, it speaks of good clean fun, and I think that’s one of the things we all admire about the Amish. It’s true they have no electricity in their homes, but in many ways their children are like our children. Who doesn’t like bouncing on a trampoline in the summer?

See anything here that surprises you? Or perhaps you have a few stories of your own. I’d love to hear them.

~V

VannettaChapman@gmail.com