Winner, House Projects, and Contest
The winner of last week’s blog contest is Carol Graves. Carol won an autographed copy of When the Soul Mends, to be sent when its available.
Congratulations, Carol!
I’m adding the last touches to latest edition of Plain News. If you enjoy insights into the Amish life, I encourage you to join the newsletter. It only goes out four times per year, so you won’t get tired of it;-)
This next edition has:
Sneak peek ~ chapter one of When the Soul Mends
Part two of Connecting to the Old Order Amish Community
Chance to win an autographed copy of all three books in Sisters of the Quilt series
A tidbit on using a reel mower from an Old Order Amish friend
A few words from guest author Tamera Alexander
And some good reads shared by my editor Shannon [Hill] Marchese
To sign up, click here: Plain News Newsletter (After you sign up, you’ll receive a welcome letter with a link to the previous newsletter. After you’ve read that one, at the bottom of it is a link for another previous newsletter.)
A night of changing roles ~
My husband and I are house project people. We’ve had decades of taking on at least one large project each year. Even when money is really tight there are tons of projects that can be done, from deep cleaning storage rooms to buying a couple gallons of paint and painting as many rooms as possible.
Project time rolled around again this past week, only this time someone else has been doing a large part of the labor. We had new flooring laid in the kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom and also new kitchen countertops.
We were without access to the restrooms for days, no water to the kitchen for even longer, and the stove as well as the washer and dryer can’t be moved onto the flooring until Friday.
Now it’s pretty easy to do without a kitchen for a few days in the summer, especially since we only have one child to feed these days. . . if he were at home, which he isn’t. Not very often since school let out.
Our second son and his wife took him back to thier place, which is an hour away.
Hubby and I slept at home, but last night we loaded laundry into our van and crashed our oldest son’s place. He only lives a couple of miles away. So we made a wreck of his laundry room, took over the remote control to his television, and propped our feet up while he broke out the snacks;-) Hmmmm. Maybe we should do two projects next year. LOL!
Anyone who waded through all of my meanderings deserves something.
For a chance to win an autographed copy of When the Soul Mends, just leave a comment below. I’ll draw a winner next week and it’ll be sent close to its release date.
June 17th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
The first to comment! Cindy, I’m in the middle of When the Morning Comes and I can’t put it down. I love your style and I’m partial to the Amish because I’ve lived around them most of my life. Thanks!!
June 17th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I just finished When the Morning Comes and realized the story did not end. Clicked on to see what the next book is so I could go to the library to pick it up tomorrow only to find out it won’t be published until Sept. I have it marked on my calendar. Can’t wait to read it.
I enjoyed the other two in the series immensely.
Thanks for providing good fiction.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I have not read the books, but I have heard so much about them. I will be buying them so I can read them.
June 17th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
I’m enjoying your Sisters of the Quilt Series and sad I have to wait until September for the next book. We have Amish communities (barn builders) in Michigan and love driving through and visiting their settlement in IN. It’s common to see a buggy on the highway in those areas. I intend to suggest your books for our book club. Keep on writing. I’ll read them all.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:20 am
I simply cannot wait until the new book is released! These books have been some of the best I have read! I will anxiously await its arrival.
Please keep writing~ Tammy
June 18th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I can not wait till September 16th! I am not wishing my life away but it can not get here fast enough. I bet I read the entire book that day.
June 19th, 2008 at 5:46 am
I am currently reading the second of the Sisters of the Quilt series and cannot put it down! Both books have been spellbinding! Cindy does a wonderful job of making you feel you are right there with the characters. Cannot wait for the next one.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:06 am
I’m originally from PA and we travel to Lancaster all the time so I love reading about the Amish!I have not read one of your books yet but am happy to have discovered you!
June 19th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I have enjoyed the “Sister’s of the Quilt” series eminencly. I love reading about the Amish. This series has been a bit different than most of the Amish books I have read, which makes them even better. I can hardly wait for the third book. Thank you for writing great stories that are christian based, clean, and still a wonderful read!
June 19th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I recently came across your 1st book (Sisters of the Quilt) in the giftshop of a Hotel…I love reading about the Amish so was excited to find it. I am just finishing the 2nd book of the series and can’t wait for the next one in Sept. It is so hard to lay the books down, I get so involved in their lives. Thank you for writing such great books and please continue.
June 19th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I really have enjoyed all your books and don’t know how I’ll make it through the summer waiting for your new book to come out!!! I live among the Amish and your books truely relate and convey their life style. Thanks for writing such wonderful books.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Don’t know why, but the Amish have a ‘drawing’ to me. I read several books on the Amish, and when I saw “When the Morning Comes” with an Amish young woman on the cover, I had to read it too. Realized half way thru it was book #2, now I want #1 and #3. Your story brings out the tenderness so needed in this busy world.
God Bless, Jan
June 19th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I am really looking forward to your third book, “When the Soul Mends”! The first two books have made the rounds of my daughters and friends very quickly. Your writing on the Amish life is so true to life. Thank you so much for sharing your talents with us.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I enjoy your books so much as I read them they seem to draw you in like you know all about them and can take time to visit them. Thank you for sharing your gift God has granted you.
Blessings, Toni
June 19th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Just finished reading”When the morning comes,loved it. Can’t wait to read the next two.I love books about the amish, my parents were amish and joined the mennonites. I was raised mennonite,speak the language,have many amish relatives. I’m thankful for my heritage.
What a God given talent you have!
June 20th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Loved your account of house projects! I know exactly what you are going through! I am still waiting on my new walk-in closet my precious husband promised me for CHRISTMAS!! My husband is precious, his projects–not so precious.
I am counting the days until September when your new book is released!! Loved the first two!!
Tami
June 20th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Cindy,
Just wanted to tell you that I love your books. I am inpatiently waiting for book 3. I loved the first two and could not put them down. Just to let you know that I think you are one of the great christian arthurs. Thanks
June 21st, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Cindy, I just finished reading your second book yesterday during a hospital stay. I turned the final page about 30 minutes before the doctor discharged me to go home and am now waiting eagerly for “When the Soul Mends”. Keep up the wonderful storytelling!
June 21st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
My sister and I are so excited about your 3 book coming! We will be at the stores on September 16!!!
June 21st, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Your “meanderings” on home projects was entertaining, as we all know home projects usually aren’t! Got to love grown children nearby to come to your aid. I always get excited when I see your newsletter in my inbox! I can hardly wait until September for the latest on Hannah. I read chapter one and loved it, it left me anxious for the release of the rest of the story. Thank you for bringing such joy into our lives!
June 21st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
While I anxiously await book three, we keep busy with our yard project. The house is always dusty from things getting tracked in, but this too shall pass. The changes out back have drawn deer, birds, rabbits, squirrels, frogs… The list goes on and on. As does the entertaining antics of these creatures God has blessed us with.
Enjoy your new floors! I’m sure it will be worth the disruption. God Bless!
June 21st, 2008 at 4:23 pm
loved reading your first book for me “Sisters of the Quilt, I, II” and can’t wait for book 3.
This is fantastic reading, going from Amish to Englisher life style has been great reading.
I do so enjoy your writing style, and so many things going on in the story, These have been my summertime reads; I had to come home to check online when the next book is due. Thank you
for all your dedicated research and marvelous series.
June 21st, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Love all your books. waiting (im)patiently for the last one in the series. Know what you mean about home projects. have lots of experience with a 120 yr old home.
June 21st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I loved the first two books! With that in mind, I must tell you that September is too far away!! I can’t wait to read book three and find out what happens next.
June 21st, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I read both of your books in the “Sisters of the Quilt” Series. They were wonderful and I appreciated the fact that you have given the Amish woman a mind and will to think on her own. Your characters are alive and could be living anywhere, even outside of the Amish community. I have passed your books around my office and they have been enjoyed by my lunch buddies. I have already ordered your third book in the series and can’t wait until it arrives.
June 22nd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I’ve been reading many Christian books this summer. I just finished ‘When the Morning Comes’. It was excellent!! I was so disappointed when I found out that the 3rd book was not out yet! My last child (out of six) is leaving home next month and we will be ‘empty nested’. Thank you for writing clean, interesting, Christian fiction. Keep it coming!
June 22nd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I just wanted to say that I’ve enjoyed all the books that you have written about the Amish. I can not wait for the next book to come out in September.
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:19 am
I´m from Germany but I love reading American Christian authors, especially about the Amish. What I like about your books is that they also tell about the problems young Amsih could have.
My vacation is starting on Thursday and I also want to do some “house projects”. Hope to have as much fun as you!
July 5th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I have just completed “When the Morning Comes” and boy do you know how to leave a reader hanging! As with the others who’ve left comments here, I too am eager for the arrival of your third book in September! Thank you for the blessing of a really great book!!
July 7th, 2008 at 2:23 am
I read the first 2 and can hardly wait for #3 this Fall!!!!!
July 30th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Wonderful books. One of my travel dreams is to visit Amish country and see first hand the people and places you have described so well. Don’t you think this series would make a great movie?!
Looking forward to the next book with great anticipation.
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
I read both books with such joy and interest in the Amish way of life. How simple and beautiful their choices are. You have a wonderful, inspirational way of writing about this lifestyle. I immediately passed both books on to my daughter who loved them as well. We had several interesting discussions about the characters. Can’t wait for the third book!
Joanne Albright