What an adventure! I have recently returned home to Georgia from my seven-state book signing tour. Although my husband and I are still exhausted, we were thrilled to get to take such a journey and meet with all the readers who came out to see me!

Our tour began on Tuesday, August 11 with an appearance on Fox 5 Good Day Atlanta. We had a signing that evening in Norcross, GA at the Barnes and Noble. There was quite a crowd, as you can see in the video my husband took.  The next day, I had a signing in Nashville, TN, and the day after that in Plainfield IN. Here are my reflections and some shots of these signings!

On Friday, we headed to Illinois, and on Saturday and Sunday we had two signings in Michigan. Here‘s the video from that weekend. Ann Byle wrote a great article about my visit in the Grand Rapids Press, that you can also find online here.

Monday began our visit to Ohio with a taped interview on Central Ohio Public Radio at Ohio State University. Afterward we met up with my editor, Shannon (Hill) Marchese. We then went to a book signing and Q & A at Barnes and Noble in Columbus. On Tuesday, we had a signing and lunch at the Der Dutchman, which is an Amish restaurant in Walnut Creek, OH. I met my editor’s mom, an Englischer and an Amish woman who always help provide the clothing for the models for my books’ covers, and I even met one of the models. We had a great time and a delicious meal.

Also on Tuesday, I traveled to Joseph Beth Booksellers in Pittsburgh, PA. I had a really fun time getting to know the group, and I was able to discuss the writing and story aspects of my book with one aspiring author.  On Wednesday I had an in-depth interview with Pennsylvania Public Radio at Temple University. Here‘s a link to the audio. That evening, we had a signing at Hackman’s Bible Bookstore in Whitehall, PA, during which I was joined by a journalist from the Wall Street Journal.

Our final stop on the book signing tour was on Thursday Rachel’s County Store, which is an Amish dry goods store in Newburg, PA. About five times more people came to that signing than we’d planned for. I signed over 250 books before we sold out of certain titles. We were thrilled to meet so many readers!

The tour felt like a whirlwind, but I was helped along the way by my husband and editor. It was my first experience at having so much time with my editor as she traveled in the vehicle with us. I could not have received a better blessing! She shared so many helpful insights about the book I’m currently writing–book two of Ada’s House series. After all but one of the signings and interviews, we all went to one of my Amish friends home for supper, where we had some precious time to catch up and an unbelievable delicious meal.

Huge, huge thank you to readers who contributed to The Hope of Refuge hitting the #29 spot on the New York Times best-sellers list!

Sheryl of Lawrenceville, GA  and Grace of Jamestown, NY are our winners from the August 5th drawing for a copy of the Hope of Refuge! I’ll begin a new contest next week so check back to enter!

Here are some photos from our signings and visits throughout Amish Country!

In celebration of the release of The Hope of Refuge, I’m going on a seven-state book-signing tour. Below are the dates, times, and locations of the stops on the tour.

My editor has created a miniature poster that you can print out to share with others or bring to the event for me to sign. I encourage you to download the signing event’s flyer—a beautiful piece of artwork, similar to what you see below. Each one has the date, time, and location of that particular book signing. We did this so you can print out flyers to share with others. You can print as many as you’d like and take them to your book club, church, coworkers, friends, relatives, or even the local library.

This is my first book tour, and I’d love to meet as many readers as possible. I think I’ll get the opportunity to speak for a few minutes at each signing as well as answer some questions. If the economy has taken a hit at your home and you don’t wish to buy a book, come on out and let’s have some fun anyway. I’ll sign the flyer you’ve printed or a bookmark.

My editor, who is flying in from Colorado, will be with me for the tour starting in Columbus, Ohio. She’s been my editor throughout the Sisters of the Quilt series, The Hope of Refuge, and The Sound of Sleigh Bells. Behind every enjoyable, satisfying read is a great editor. She challenges me to write and rewrite until the story inside my heart matches the one that’s showing up on the page for readers. She makes me work really hard, but I always return the favor!

From My Editor: The Top 5 Reasons for Going to Cindy’s Book Signing
1. CSI will be on tomorrow night too.
2. How else can you ask, live and face-to-face, “What is Hannah up to now?”
3. I know Cindy, and she always has intriguing surprises and some unforgettable insight for her readers.
4. Where else can you go but a bookstore to meet Cindy AND pick up that copy of Charlotte’s Web for your daughter’s reading list AND get the perfect gift for your mother-in-law’s birthday [Hint: The Hope of Refuge]?
5. What a perfect opportunity for a field trip with your book club or women’s small group.
One last shameless plug from the editor… This is a great excuse to get out of the house with some friends and introduce them to some terrific books in a friendly, personable environment. Have a ladies’ night out at the bookstore.

If I can manage all the technical aspects while traveling, I will be using Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to keep you updated on how the signing tour is progressing.

Follow the tour on:

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Tuesday, August 11 7-8:30pm

Barnes & Noble

5141 Peachtree Parkway, The Forum

Norcross, Georgia 30092

(770) 209-4244

Flyer (PDF) | Map

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Wednesday, August 12 7-8pm

Barnes & Noble Opry Mills

515 Opry Mills Drive

Nashville, Tennessee 37214

(615) 514-5000

Flyer (PDF) | Map

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Thursday, August 13 6-8pm

Barnes & Noble

2540 Futura Pkwy. #135

Plainfield, Indiana 46168

(317) 838-7941

Flyer (PDF) | Map

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Friday, August 14 6-8pm

Barnes & Noble

1550 West 75th

Downers Grove, Illinois 60516

(630) 663-0181

Flyer (PDF) | Map

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Saturday, August 15 1-3pm

Baker Books

2768 East Paris Ave SE

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546-6139

(616) 957-3110

Flyer (PDF) | Map

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Sunday, August 16 2-4pm

Barnes & Noble Booksellers

3700 Rivertown Parkway Ste. 2058

Grandville, Michigan 49418

(616) 531-1825

Flyer (PDF) | Map

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Monday, August 17 7-8:00pm

Barnes & Noble Booksellers

1739 Olentangy River Road

Columbus, Ohio 43212

(614) 298-9516

Flyer (PDF) | Map

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Tuesday, August 18 7-8:30pm

Joseph Beth Booksellers

2705 E. Carson Street

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203

(412) 381-3600

Flyer (PDF) | Map

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Wednesday, August 19 6-8pm

Hackman’s Bible Book Store

1341 Mickley Road

Whitehall, Pennsylvania 18052-4610

(610) 264-8600

Flyer (PDF) | Map

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Thursday, August 20 1 – 3pm

Rachel’s Country Store (Amish dry goods store)

6352 McClays Mill Road

Newburg, Pennsylvania 17240

(717) 530-9452

Flyer (PDF) | Map