This week I’d like to introduce you to a dear friend of mine, Vannetta Chapman, who is a new author of Amish novels.  Please read the interview below to find out about Vannetta and her new book, A Simple Amish Christmas .

Tell us about yourself and your family.

I teach high school and college English. Bob and I share 4 children together, and yes they are all grown. I recently was held back from DANCING across the collegiate stage as our last graduated, ending 14 years of college tuition. You can see why I would want to dance. : ) Our youngest, Cody was graduating with a BBA and is on the job hunt. (Contact me if you know of an open position anywhere in the continental US). Our oldest daughter, Jordyn is a pharmacist. Next is Yale who is a veterinarian. His twin sister Kylie is a special needs girl - we're so proud of her. She recently moved into a new group home, which was a big step for the entire family. 

What do you do to relax and/or for fun?

Bob and I hike. We like to backpack and camp, though sleeping on the ground is becoming a bit harder each year (you know - the age thing!). I also do needlework and crochet a little, though honestly I can only crochet a rectangle - so it's a scarf or nothing. We love music as well, so we attend almost any outdoor concert that pops up in the area, and then I love to play the piano at home as well. We're also big sports fans - high school, college, and pro. You name the sport, we like to watch it.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I started writing for publication after receiving my MA in English. I was 36 years old and a single mom at the time.  I didn't see a lot in Christian magazines that spoke to my situation - raising a child, working two jobs, and trying to find God's path for my life when it had veered so far from my ideal dream. God laid on my heart that if no one else was writing about those things, perhaps I should. I ended up publishing over 100 articles for magazines such as Homeschool Today, Christian Family Life, Single Parent Family, Evangel, etc. Some of those can still be found on my website at www.vannettachapman.com/Articles.html. After 5 years of writing articles, I began my first novel. Nine manuscripts and six years later, A Simple Amish Christmas was born.

What is your writing schedule like?

Up at 5 a.m., start the coffee (brew it strong), do a little yoga to work the kinks out, then write in my journal-which for me is a devotional time. By 5:20 I'm at the keyboard. I write until 7:00 when I head for the shower. I can be ready for work in 25 minutes. I manage almost 2 hours in the morning, and then I try for another 2-3 in the evenings.

How do you stay inspired while you’re writing?  Do you have a favorite place where you write?

I use my iPod a lot! Seriously, music is my inspiration. I even make playlists for the different characters in my current work-in-progress. It helps to put me in their point-of-view. As far as "place," I will write almost anywhere, as long as my iPod is plugged in.

What was the best advice that helped you on the road to becoming published? 

I had a professor say once that 90% of grant applicants are turned away because they don't fill out the form correctly. He said if you can't fill out the form correctly, you don't deserve the grant. He also challenged us to be in the 10%. That did stick with me. I've always wanted to be in the 10%, and when I see the stats of how few people are actually published, how rare a contract is, how hard it is to sign with an agent, I always think to myself, "But they're not doing it right. They're not filling out the forms correctly." 

Tell us about your new book.

It's Christmas, and Annie Weaver misses her family after leaving her Amish community to work at a distant hospital. But when she hears that her father has been gravely injured in a buggy accident, she rushes home to care for him. Her passion for healing catches widower Samuel Yoder's attention. Will she also capture his heart? (A Simple Amish Christmas , Abingdon Press)

Where did you find your inspiration for this story?

I came at this story with the idea that not all Amish women would be happy with an 8th grade education, but that didn’t mean that they would want to leave their church or community either. Annie is the woman who has a foot in each world, and her heart is split in two. Only God can help her find a way home.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why?

I've been asked that question in several interviews, and I'm afraid I've answered differently each time! Honestly there are so many characters in this book that I love - it is hard to choose. Of course I adore the main characters, Annie and Samuel. They have good chemistry, but it's not all kisses and roses from page one. Annie has a lot of spunk and Samuel is a bit stubborn. So for THIS INTERVIEW I'll say that I pick David as one of my favorite characters. David is a neighbor who helps Annie's family when her father can no longer do the work around the farm because of his injuries. David has a wonderful sense of humor, he's Annie's age, and he helps her to keep things in perspective. I like him because even though he's something of a minor character, he's not a cardboard character. He's important to the story, and I won't say anything else because I don't want to spoil the ending!

What’s on the horizon for you and your books?

A 3 book Amish mystery series set in Shipshewana, Indiana (Zondervan, 2011).

Two women, a quilt, and a dead body. Will Shipshewana ever be the same?

Where can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.vannettachapman.com/

http://vannettachapman.wordpress.com/

Facebook and myspace

Thank you for joining me on Amish Hearts!

Thank you, Amy. You rock, woman!