Update: We have a winner of an autographed copy of “The Angel of Forest Hill” and of the Amish-made quilt. Congrats to Donna K of North Carolina! And to all of you . . . thank you so much for participating. I wish I had time to respond to every post, both here on my blog and on FB.
Dear Readers ~
I have two exciting pieces of news today. It is the release day of my newest Christmas novella, The Angel of Forest Hill. Also I’m giving away a beautiful Amish-made quilt, along with a copy of the new novella!
Many authors find themselves writing stories in settings similar to where they reside. I grew up in the dairy country of Maryland, where I was close friends with an Amish-Mennonite girl my own age. This planted the seeds of my career writing about the Amish, but as an adult, I live in an area where very few Amish or Mennonites reside: North Georgia. I love living here, but the places I write about often look nothing like the area in which I live. Sometimes, to find inspiration, I look at images to get a good idea of the scene I’ll be writing.
I also have several pieces of Amish-crafted art in my home: quilts, wall hanging, signs, dolls, and more. Having these items can also give me some inspiration at times
Often when I’m writing, I long to travel to the places I’m writing about and stay there until the novel is done. The settings of each book is usually a place where I’ve spent time, but not always. Here are a few pieces of Amish country I’d love to visit (or visit again), especially right now when the beautiful fall colors are coming out.
1. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
I have been lucky enough to get to travel to Lancaster, PA many times for my research. I found a picture of this beautiful spot online. Turns out that it is a BnB, called Country Lane Amish Farm Stay. I like to daydream of staying there for a few days… or weeks.
I’ll never forget the first time I traveled to Lancaster. I knew this was the kind of place I wanted my characters to live. Parts of the physical beauty of Lancaster are just otherworldly.
2. Pearisburg, VA
I’ve had several of my Virginia readers tell me about this place. After hearing their enthusiasm about the people and community, my imagination has been sparked. I’ve traveled through Virginia several times, but I haven’t gotten to visit this Virginia destination. Perhaps a visit is in order next time I am traveling through the state!
3. Shipshewana, IN
This is a town I’ve always been interested in seeing. Shipshewana has several Amish owned restaurants that I hear are delicious. Apparently this small town is a mixture of Englisch locals and Amish, who come together to make a very unique and memorable place. Similar to the Virginia picture, while I have visited Indiana, I haven’t visited this particular town. If you have, maybe share with me in the comments what you think of the area.
Even though during this fall and winter, I will be writing from my own home and not one of the previously mentioned picturesque locations, I’m hoping to spend many days writing under a cozy Amish-made quilt. It’s just the thing to get me in the mood for these beautiful settings. I’d like to invite you all to enter to win a piece of Amish country: a beautiful and colorful quilt.
Quilt and Book Giveaway
If you have a few moments to help get the word out again about my latest release, The Angel of Forest Hill, I would GREATLY appreciate it. To help make the sharing fun and as a thank-you for your time and effort, I’m offering a chance to win an autographed copy of The Angel of Forest Hill as well as the beautiful Amish-made quilt seen above. One participant will win both. (I’ve given away 25 Amish-made quilts over the years, and even more Amish-made wall hangings!) The measurements of the quilt are 106 x 117 inches.
I’ve prepared two simple ways you can share—either by clicking Share while on my blog or through clicking Share while on my Facebook page.
To share while on my blog, just scroll down until you see several icons that look like the following images, and then click on one and follow any given instructions.
OR you can hop over to my Facebook page and click Share on the post titled: It’s RELEASE DAY for “The Angel of Forest Hill!”
After you’ve shared, be sure to either leave a comment on my blog, under the words “Leave a Reply” or on my Facebook page. Leaving a comment on either page lets me know you’ve participated. Only comments made in those two distinct places will count as an entry.
If you’re a first-time commenter, please read the “Helpful tips” section below.
The deadline for entering this giveaway is Monday, October 10, at noon Eastern Time. One winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be contacted privately. Only one entry per person, please. As always, please remember that all of my giveaways are limited to US residents only. Please visit my giveaway rules and FAQ page for a complete explanation of the terms and conditions of this giveaway.
Helpful info for first-time commenters:
- The third field in the comment form states: Got a website? This is simply a question. You may leave that field blank. If WordPress would let me, I would remove that question. <smile>
- If it appears your comment didn’t “go through,” it probably went to “moderation,” which is a holding place where WordPress keeps some of the comments until I approve them. If that happens to you, I will approve it ASAP.