Have a great week!!

        

Hi everyone!

 

I hope you’re enjoying your weekend!  It’s been crazy here.  This morning my boys competed in their first karate testing session and did really well.  They both progressed a belt and are thrilled.  They worked hard.  My older son wasn’t a karate fan until he earned his belt today.  Now he’s excited to keep going forward!

 

Tonight is an exciting night in our house; it’s the night of the first NASCAR race of the season, the Budweiser Shootout!  We’re fans here.  Next week is the Daytona 500!  Boy, the offseason went quickly.  Are you a sports fan?  If so, what do you enjoy?  When I was a kid I was a baseball fan.  Being Jersey Girl, I rooted for the Mets.  Now an adult, I like racing more.  I’m not much for football, but I like to see the Panthers win.

 

Speaking of NASCAR, I wrote a story, “Kevin Harvick’s Gift of Caring,” which is featured in the new Chicken Soup for the Soul: Nascar: 101 Stories of Family, Fortitude, and Fast Cars.  The book will debut February 16.

 

This week I’ve been working hard on my new project, an inspirational book that is not Amish based and is due to my editor April 1.  I’m excited and nervous about it and even more stressed sinc I discovered that one of my Amish deadlines is going to overlap. 

 

So, instead of writing tonight, I avoided it and changed the cat box and then started checking email.  I guess you can call this denial.  How do you deal with stress?

 

Well, I best force myself to write.  Enjoy the rest of you weekend and go #88!

 

‘Til next time,

Amy

 

        

One of my favorite parts of the Bible has always been Ecclesiastes. I love the quote about there being a season for everything...my editor at Abingdon noted that I used it in the three book Amish series I'm writing for her and changed my titles to reflect this. While I thought I loved the original titles, the change she made was brilliant. Now the three books are A Time for Love, A Time for Peace, and A Time for Healing. The first book will be out in August or September. I'm working on the second right now. Chris visits an Amish community hoping to find peace from his inner turmoil but instead meets a woman who is anything but a quiet Amish miss. And danger lurks in this seemingly peaceful community, a danger that will threaten them both. I'm really enjoying working on the book.

I was also thinking about Ecclesiastes because we've got an "in between" time right now in the weather in the part of Florida where I live (east coast near central Florida). We had a brief spell of record breaking low temps that made us grateful anew that we don't live in a colder part of the country ... I kept wondering how anyone gets anything accomplished up north because all I wanted to do was burrow under the covers. One day, when I was sick with bronchitis, I got so cold that I tucked my plump little Chihuahua mix under the blankets with me and held her like a teddy bear to warm myself up. Now it's nicer outside and yet it's not Spring. I want to get out and plant some Spring flowers but it's too soon when we don't know we'll have another freeze. It may sound strange but we still get cold weather up through April here so I'll have to wait a bit longer.  

Meanwhile, there's still time for you to enter the contest to win four books -- one by each of us here at AmishHearts. All you have to do is enter a comment here at this site (not on Facebook or AmishLiving.com). We'll announce the winner next month. Why don't you tell me what you are doing to get through the winter where you live? If it's cold, how do you stay warm? What's your favorite winter-time activity and food?

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Barbara
PS: An Amish Christmas is # 7 on the CBA bestseller list! Thank you to our readers!

        

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest! I loved not only the names submitted, but also the stories behind the names. There were so many wonderful ones to choose from! The winner is Colleen, who suggested the name Mandy. Colleen, please email me and let me know if you'd like to be mentioned in the acknowledgements of the next Mystery of Middlefield book. I've enjoyed this contest so much I'll be holding one for each of my books, so check back in the future for more Name that Character contests.

I'm getting ready to send out my quarterly newsletter, which gives you information on a contest to win a free book. If you're not on my newsletter list and would like to receive it, please drop me an email through the comments here at the blog. Your email will NOT be made public. Thanks!

I don't know about the weather where you live, but its cold and snowy here in NE Ohio. Here's a simple Amish recipe for stew that will keep you warm during these frigid days.

'Til next time,
Kathleen

1 qt. canned steak or chunk meat, chopped
3 cups water
    Bring this to a boil. Add:
1/2 pkg. noodles (4 oz.)
    Cook 10 minutes. Add:
3 medium potatoes, diced
1 small onion, diced (optional)
4 medium carrots, diced
    Cook another 3 to 4 minutes. Add:
2 cups corn
2 cups beans
    Simmer 10 minutes. Add salt to taste (about 1 tsp.)

        

Happy Monday Everyone!

It's cold and dreary here in Texas.  I know lots of folks are tired of the snow, but I sure wish we could have seen a flurry or two, but nope...just cold!

SO much going on!  I'm wrapping up my latest full-length novel, and I've started on a new novella.  And my youngest son, Cory, started college full time...so there was tuition, books to buy, clothes to buy, and the list goes on....  Did I mention that he decided OVERNIGHT that he wanted to start school this semester, and school started in three days?  While we were thrilled with his decision - we had to hustle!

I want to thank readers for putting AN AMISH GATHERING on the ECPA Bestseller Fiction List for February.  We continue to be blown away by how well both AN AMISH CHRISTMAS and AN AMISH GATHERING have done.  A huge thank you to our readers!  Here's the link to the list.  ECPA Bestseller List.

REMINDER!  The contest to win four books (one from each of the Amish Hearts gals!) is ongoing until March 1, when a winner will be drawn.  So, if you haven't left a comment, be sure to do so for a chance to win. (If you are reading this on Facebook, Twitter, AmishLiving, or another outlet, please only leave a comment at the AmishHearts site). 

ANOTHER REMINDER!  Visit us at www.amishliving.com - a new Amish community where you can meet others with a love of all things Amish.  The Amish Hearts gals are all members there, so check it out!  There are discussions going on and giveaways! 

And, finally...I'd like to share the book trailer for PLAIN PARADISE, book #4 in the Daughters of the Promise series.  It's scheduled to release in March, and I'm super excited about this one! 




Have a blessed week!!

        

I’d like to piggyback on what my cohorts have said this week.  Thank you all so much for following our blog!  And remember – all you have to do is post a comment to be entered into the contest to win our books!  The lucky winner will receive one book from each of her – the book of his/her choice!  So, don’t delay – leave a comment and you may just win!

 

Today North Carolina was pummeled with snow, along with surrounding states.  My boys have been in heaven, since we rarely see snow that lasts more than a few hours.  They went out to play twice today.  Our driveway is a sheet of ice, and they pretended to ice skate down it.  I watched from the kitchen window as my younger son fell flat on his back and held my breath, waiting for him to cry.  Instead, he burst out laughing, got up, and skated some more.

 

A planter out front full of snow!

My husband is out of town and supposed to come home tomorrow.  I’m praying he’s not snowed in up north.  I also pray for his safe travel home.

 

This weekend I’ve been editing the galleys (final pages) for my second Kauffman Amish Bakery book, A Promise of Hope.  I’ve enjoyed reading it again, and I have to admit it’s my favorite book so far.  The advanced copies are scheduled to release in two weeks, and the book will be out in March. I can’t wait to share it with you.

 

  

My wonderful kitties, Rico (left) and Molly (right), help edit the galleys for A Promise of Hope!

I hope you’re having a good weekend and staying warm!  Don’t forget to leave a comment.

 

Blessings,

Amy

        

The four of us who write this blog have so enjoyed connecting with you each week. Recently, Beth, Kathy, Amy and I talked about some way to let you know how much we appreciate your support and suggestions. We decided it would be a great idea to have a giveaway but this time, a really BIG giveaway.

I'm sure you know just how popular Amish fiction is these days. The four of us all have released a number of books that have done very well (thank you!) and have even more coming out in the months to come. So we decided to offer our readers a 4 book giveaway. The lucky reader who wins the contest will receive a book by each of us -- of her choice! If you want, say, an autographed copy of my new book, A Time for Love (first book in the new Quilts of Lancaster series which comes out in August or September) instead of An Amish Christmas or An Amish Gathering from me, that's what you'll get -- one of the first copies of A Time for Love of it when it releases. The same goes for a book by Beth, Kathy, and Amy!

All you need to do is enter with a comment here at this website (nowhere else, please) and tell me why you love to read Amish fiction and what you'd like to see in a future book.

For now, for me, it's back to work on A Time for Peace, the second book in my Quilts of Lancaster County series for Abingdon Press. My hero, Chris, feels the weight of the world on his shoulders because of something he's done, and he's come to visit an Amish community in hopes of discovering how to make peace with himself. But things are going to be less than peaceful when he meets the woman God has set aside for him ...

So, remember to leave me a comment and keep reading AmishHearts. We're announcing the winner in March!

Blessings,

Barbara

        

First off, I have to say WOW and thank you to everyone who entered out contest. This is so exciting! Feel free to let your friends know about the giveaway and about Amish Hearts. We'll be taking entries until the contest ends, so if you haven't had a chance to enter, you're not too late! This is a lot of fun for us, and we love reading your comments!

Now its time to name that character! Last year I held a contest to name a character in An Honest Love. The winning name was Ester, who is Gabriel and Moriah's first child and Velda's sister. You can read more about them in An Honest Love. I loved getting everyone's suggestions and invite you to name another character, this time in the second book of the Mysteries of Middlefield series, my tween series. Here's a little character sketch:

_____ is ten years old and lives in Paradise, Pennsylvania. She comes to live with her cousin Rebekah in Middlefield for the school year. She's shy and quiet, but has an inner strength that emerges when Rebekah's curiosity gets the best of her and she's knee deep in trouble.

If you'd like to enter the contest, comment on this post with your name suggestion. The winner will receive a copy of An Amish Gathering, plus have their name in my acknowledgements page for the upcoming book (this is totally optional, if the winner would rather not have a mention, that's fine too.) I'll announce the winner next week. 

Thanks for playing!
kathy 

        

Hi Friends,

Great things have been happening for the Amish Hearts Gals, and we would like to thank readers for all your support and encouragement by offering a contest.  Just leave a comment at this post, and on March 1 will we choose a winner!  The winner will receive a book from each of us - your choice!  Check out the sidebar for a list of current and future releases.  You can either choose a book that is currently available or be put on our personal waiting list to receive one of our new releases hot off the press!

If you are reading this on Facebook, Twitter, Amish Living, or any other media outlet - please note that the winner will be chosen from comments left at this site only.

I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we love writing these books!  We also all have a deep appreciation for all things Amish AND OUR READERS!  

So - good luck to everyone!  And when you post a comment, feel free to personalize it by telling us who your favorite characters are, themes you would like to see in future books, and why you enjoy reading Amish Fiction.

Blessings for a fabulous week!

Love, Beth    

        

 

Hi everyone!

 

Today we celebrated my son’s birthday with a party at a fun place full of inflatable slides.  Both of my boys had a blast! I had fun and ate too much ice cream cake.

 

The weather was warm last week in North Carolina but turned back to cold this past week.  Cold weather has been thinking about my Christmas book, which will be out later this year.

 

I would like to share cover for A Plain & Simple Christmas my novella that will release in August.  I'm so excited to share the cover with you!  Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

 

Here's a blurb for the book:

 

In the tradition of her widely popular Kauffman Amish Bakery series, author Amy Clipston tells the tale of Anna Mae McDonough who was shunned by her family four years ago when she left her Amish community in Lancaster County, PA, to marry an “Englisher” (non Amish) man and move with him to Baltimore. Now, eight months pregnant when her first child, she longs to return home for Christmas to reconcile with her family, especially her stern father, who is the religious leader for her former Amish church district.

 

So Anne Mae writes a letter to Kathryn Beiler, her brother’s wife, to enlist her help. Kathryn asks her husband, David, if she should arrange Anna Mae’s visit. David cautions her that a visit would cause too much stress in the family and instead suggests they visit Anna Mae and her husband in the spring. However, Kathryn arranges the visit anyway, believing in her heart that it’s God’s will for the family to heal.

 

When Anna Mae arrives in Lancaster for Christmas, she doesn’t receive the welcome she expects and her world begins to fall apart, leaving her to question her place in her family – and her faith in God.

 

A book filled with love, the pain of being separated from one’s family, and the determination to follow God’s will regardless of the outcome, A Plain & Simple Christmas is an inspiring page-turner that will keep you guessing what happens next…right to the very last page.