One Thousand Gifts

Wednesday’s Spotlight:  One Thousand Gifts

Usually my Wednesday blog is on a fiction book, but today I wanted to talk to you about Ann Voskamp’s nonfiction book, One Thousand Gifts. What an amazing book!

Ann is a home-schooling mom of six, and apparently she wrote this book on a dare. : ) Since it’s release less than a year ago, it has sold a quarter of a million copies! I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised. God wants us to have an attitude of gratitude, and He is using this book in a mighty way.

You can read more about Ann here. What a sweet testimony she has. You can order her book from Amazon here. And you can read about Zondervan’s free mobile app which has been offered in response to the growing readership for this book here.

One Thousand gifts … everyday blessings.  Ann Voskamp was definitely listening to the soft sweet voice of God.

V~

Shipshewana’s Mayfest

Shipshewana: Mayfest, May 6 & 7

I realize I’m a week early with this post, but I wanted to give you time to adjust your weekend plans. : )

While polling my FB friends about favorite activities during festivals, I learned that my friend Lynn–owner of Morton Street Coffee Shop in Shipshe–loves Mayfest best of all. So of course I had to check it out!

I found the schedule of events includes donkey basketball, which we have here in Texas. It also includes musicians, puppets, a 1 mile fun run, and buggy races. It was the buggy races that Lynn was excited about.

“There is a parade and right after the parade we are having buggy races: 2 people pull the buggy down Morton St. (There are 2 people in the Amish Buggy.) And when they get to the end the riders and pullers switch places and race back–gut fun! HaHa!”

This I’d really like to see. That’s not all they’re having either.

“We go to the Entertainment and Food Tent for Pork Burgers and homemade treats and listen to the evening entertainment and catch up with our neighbors. This year they are having an Auctioneering Contest and lots of local entertainment–Gospel and Bluegrass groups.”

I hope Lynn is on their tourism committee. If not, she should be, because I’m sold! In fact, I think I’ll go check the cost of a flight ticket right now.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

ps – My September release, Falling to Pieces, is set in the town of Shipshewana. It’s the first in a 3 book Amish murder mystery series, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Angel Sister

Wednesday’s Spotlight: Angel Sister

Today I want to highlight a new author for me: Ann Gabhart. Visit Ann’s website, and you’ll learn that Angel Sister has a bit of family inspiration to it. I always find that intriguing in a story. This book draws me in with its cover, and yes – I realize we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover!

A short blurb on Angel Sister is as follows — It is 1936 and Kate Merritt, the middle child of Victor and Nadine Merritt, works hard to keep her family together during the Great Depression. Who could imagine that a dirty, abandoned little girl named Lorena Birdsong would be just what the Merritts need?

Sounds like a fun read, and I know Ann has been receiving wonderful reviews. You might have heard of Ann’s Shaker books: The Seeker, The Believer or The Outsider. All have been well received. If you haven’t tried one of Ann’s novels, try one today. I have a feeling, you won’t be sorry you did.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Immanuel’s Veins

Wednesday’s Spotlight: Immanuel’s Veins

Twice I have highlighted Ted Dekker’s books and here I am again. : ) What can I say? I’m on a Dekker run. For Christmas, I purchased “Immanuel’s Veins,” and it did not disappoint!

This book is different from Dekker’s Circle Trilogy … it doesn’t time walk back and forth. But it’s similar in that the main character is one that you start pulling for immediately. And there is DEFINITELY a surprise ending. If I say anything else, I’ll ruin it. So I’ll stop.

Oh, but wait. I don’t think it hurts to give you the last 4 lines of the novel, which just happen to be the words of one of my favorite hymns–or a version of it.

There is a fountain filled with blood,

Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,

And any plunged beneath that flood

Will be purged of all that is bane.

 Ted Dekker–give him a try.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday: January’s Mail

I’m a bit surprised that mail continues to come in for A Simple Amish Christmas, but as long as it comes in–I’ll continue to share!

•   Just read “A Simple Amish Christmas” loved it and could not put it down! Will there be a second book? ~Jamie (2.02.11)
•  Just finished “A Simple Amish Christmas” & loved it. I look forward to your future books. Please add me to your newsletter. ~Elaine (2.01.11)
•  I just wanted to say that I am enjoying your book.  I borrowed the copy that my mother-in-law got at the local authors event a couple of weeks ago.  I plan to let some of my cousins know about you – they live in Tennessee and enjoy Christian fiction and especially anything that has to do with the Amish people. Thanks for writing ~Linda (1.26.11)
• I just finished reading your book that Vicki got for me. Of course, I couldn’t put it down once I started. Wonderbar!! Can’t wait to read more of your books!! ~Carolyn (1.29.11)

Here’s hoping everyone is beginning to thaw out from last week’s snowfalls. We even had a tiny bit in central Texas, just enough to allow me to stay home on Friday and finish book 2 in the Shipshewana Amish murder series (scheduled for release in March of 2012).  Soon I’ll be able to start sharing details about book 1, Falling to Pieces (releasing in September 2011).

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Prayer

The Amish View:  Prayer

The Amish consider prayer an essential part of their faith. I suppose all Christians do. Some may view the Amish as a group of believers un-aware of the suffering in the world around them, but I haven’t found that to be true at all. Yes, they believe their calling is to be missionaries by example. They also give and give graciously. They participate in disaster relief programs. The Beachy Amish have active mission and service programs in a dozen countries. Organized fellowships of Mennonites and related groups exited in nearly 60 countries around the world. And they pray–

As Egypt struggles during this time of turmoil, I’d ask that we join hands with our Amish friends, join hands with all Christians and those of other faiths as well. I’d ask that we all pray. Though most of the people in Egypt have been cut off from the outside world, the following person managed to send out a text message. Noticed he asked for only one thing–

PC World even reported that an accounts manager for an IT company in Amman, Jordan, received a text message from a contact in Egypt that was sent through Etisalat, a carrier based in the United Arab Emirates. The message read, “We r at war here pray4 us”

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

A Place of Peace

Wednesday’s Spotlight: A Place of Peace

I’m proud to highlight Amy Clipston’s December release, A Place of Peace. This is the 3rd book in her Kauffman Amish Bakery Series. If you’re familiar with Amish books, I’m sure you’ve read them. Set in Bird-in-Hand, Amy says this is her favorite book in the series, so don’t miss it!

I’d just like to add here that Amy encouraged me to give inspirational novel writing a try back when I was hobbling around writing Christian magazine articles. She’s been a wonderful friend and mentor to me since. I’m also excited about her new young adult release, Roadside Assistance, which will be available in April.

If you haven’t been by her webpage lately, it’s had a re-do and is looking snazzy! So give her a click and say hello.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

What’s In a Meal?

The Amish View:  What’s In a Meal?

I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a food snob. There’s two reasons for that. 1) I’m a picky eater–stop snickering if you know me personally. 2) My father had cardio-vascular disease, so I take all that cholesterol talk seriously. Imagine my horror when I sat down at my first Amish meal!

HOWEVER, I realize that the Amish embrace a very active lifestyle, and many of them live to a ripe old age–and arrive there quite healthy. So who am I to judge? Perhaps the lesson is that your diet should match your lifestyle.  One thing I think we can agree on–the closer your food is to natural, the better. An apple straight from a tree is a better choice than an apple cinnamon fruit crisp snack bar. And those apple raisin cookies I like from the local coffee shop? I should say no.

Natural is better. The meal I had with my Amish friends included cheeses, sausages and desserts that were very natural. I doubt they’d ever seen the inside of a factory, and you could taste it. The Amish view of food is a bit different than mine, but I believe there’s a bit I could learn from my week in northern Indiana. I might not be able to make my own cheese, but I can plant my own small garden in the spring. In fact, I think I’ll go plan it right now.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

The Circle Trilogy

Wednesday’s Spotlight: The Circle Trilogy

A few weeks back I highlighted Ted Dekker’s book, Black, which is book one of The Circle Trilogy. I quickly finished the entire trilogy–Black, Red and White. It did not disappoint! The series is fantastic. The best way I know to describe it, is to compare it to other things I’ve read … parts reminded me of The Hobbit and The Chronicles of Narnia. Other parts reminded me of contemporary fiction–apocalyptic type thrillers like those written by secular writers Stephen King and Dean Koontz.

I’m glad I discovered Ted Dekker, and I’ll definitely be reading more of him in the future.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com

Voices

Wednesday’s Spotlight: Voices

New years. Do you love them or hate them? I love them. I love opening up a new calendar, cleaning up my desk, making resolutions …

Might seem odd to spotlight Chris Young’s song today, but it’s swirled around in my head for quite a few weeks. It has even helped me to form a new resolution for 2011 …

I also think this is an amusing song. Several years ago, one of those difficult years, I made the conscious decision to SEEK LAUGHTER. That’s right. If there was a comedy on tv, I watched it. If a music video amused me, I taped it. If a certain author made me smile, then I read them more … you get the idea. I needed to find the brighter side of life that year.

When I first heard Chris’s song, I was reminded of that time in my life. The whole idea of “hearing voices” … yeah, I’ve been there. But we all hear voices, right? We all have important people in our lives, who have given us valuable advice. And we’ve all tried to ignore it at times. : )

Turns out I’m pretty dang lucky
For all that good advice
Those hard to find words of wisdom
Holed up here in my mind
And just when I’ve lost my way
Or I got too many choices

I hear voices
I hear voices like
My dad sayin’ quit the team
And you’ll be a quitter for the rest of your life
Mama tellin’ me to say a prayer
Every time I lay down at night
And grandma sayin’ if you find the one
You’d better treat her right
Yeah, I hear voices all the time

Sometimes I try to ignore ’em
But I thank God for ’em
‘Cause they made me who I am

My dad sayin’ work that job
But don’t work your life away

Can you guess which line made it on to my resolution list? : ) Here’s wishing you the very best in 2011 … a year filled with God’s love, the spirit’s peace, and the grace of our Lord.

V~

VannettaChapman@gmail.com