Amish Hearts

Finishing Up Plain Proposal

Beth Wiseman — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:13:00 GMT

Good Morning Friends!

This past weekend, I tested one of the recipes to be included in the first Land of Canaan Novel--Seek Me With All Your Heart--Chicken Lasagna. Really good! My fabulous assistant, Janet, tested chocolate shoofly pie and cabbage casserole. Janet wears many hats, and I'm so glad she likes to test recipes on Hubby Ed! All three recipes are winners and will be included in the back of Seek Me With All Your Heart.

This morning, I was sitting outside and typing the final copy of the recipes to send to my editor, so I had the cookbook outside with me. I am quite sure that when I went in the house, I wasn't gone for more than two minutes. Just enough time for Chloe, my Lab, to shred the cookbook! So, I have been piecing it back together at my kitchen table. I love my Chloe, but I am not very happy with her at the moment. Chloe had a special part in Plain Pursuit (book #2 in the DOP series), but I've told her that if she eats any more Amish cookbooks, no more starring roles for her. I think she understands.

In other news, I'm finishing up book #5 in the Daughters of the Promise series--Plain Proposal. Here's the cover and a brief synopsis.

Miriam Raber enjoys life in her Old Order Amish community, and she is hopeful that Saul Fisher will propose to her soon. But when Saul begins to talk about leaving the only world either of them has ever known, Miriam struggles to ignore the advances of Jesse Dienner, a man committed to marry and live his life in the Old Order community.

Complicating matters is the arrival of Miriam’s cousin, Madison, a worldly Englisch girl sent to live with Miriam’s family following trouble back home.

Who will Miriam choose a life with, and who will choose to stay in the Old Order Amish community? Who will leave?

RELEASING IN MARCH 2011.

What do you think?

A Cover Story

Barbara Cameron — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 07:58:00 GMT

I spent several hours tonight filling in a very complex form for the artist to use to design the cover for the third Quilts of Lancaster County series (Abingdon Press).

Readers often ask authors how much they get to say about covers and as with so many things in publishing -- and life -- there is no one answer. Every publishing house has their own way of doing things although there are some constants. Authors are asked questions like, "What is the mood you want the cover to convey?" and "Describe a key scene" and "What do you think is the most important element on the cover -- the title or the author's name?" and "What do the characters look like?"

The cover artist will work on the design well ahead of the printing schedule so sometimes the author is still working on the book and doesn't know everything about it yet.

After the design is done, it's sent to us for approval. Then the suggestions we make are considered. When I showed my very first cover to my dad, a professional, award-winning artist and illustrator, I said I didn't like the square of color around the picture of the hero and heroine. I swear, the color was that of split pea soup. Dad used a magnet to put the cover on the refrigerator and made me stand back a little, about where he said potential readers would see it on a bookstore shelf. Then he asked how I felt about it. Well, the cover really caught my attention with the unusual color which made a frame around the couple. And the most important thing he said was to not tell the professionals what they should do -- that they knew how to design covers that readers would buy on my book. Wise man, my dad. Now I trust those professionals (my editor, Barbara Scott, and her title committee changed the Quilt titles based on reading the first book and they were SO RIGHT!).

I have felt blessed by some great covers...I loved the one for An Amish Christmas probably because it has a beautiful dusky blue/aquamarine color that is my favorite color. (By the way, AAC is being re-released with an additional story in August.) And I feel exceptionally happy with the covers that have been designed for my Quilts of Lancaster series (the first book is out in September and is available to pre-order). The artist obviously did research to understand what a true Amish quilt designed for use in their homes looks like as compared to the ones the Amish sew to sell to the Englisch. I decided during the writing of Book 2 to have the heroine sew a particular quilt for the hero and without us discussing it, the artist did that very quilt on the cover!

So I'm very interested in seeing what the cover for Book 3 will look like. I promise to post it here as soon as I get it!

Changing subjects, I left out an ingredient for the Amish Macaroni Salad last week. (I really have to stop writing my blog late at night!) A reader asked if the recipe should have included mayonnaise. Yes! How could I leave that out? The recipe I was given calls for 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise OR you can use Miracle Whip if you wish. I start with one cup and keep adding a little until I get the consistency I like. I hope you'll try the recipe and let me know how you like it.

Do you have a question about the process of writing or producing a book, particularly an Amish one? Leave it for me on the comments and I'll be happy to answer it in a future blog.

Have a great weekend!

Barbara

Tidbits

Kathleen Fuller — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:24:00 GMT

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I'd like to add my congratulations to Beth and Barbara for their multiple finals in the Carol contest! Such terrific news, and I'm so happy and proud of them.

Also, thanks to everyone for your input on author websites--your opinions were great and gave me a lot of ideas to work with. I'm hoping to unveil my new website in the next couple months. I'll be announcing that here when it happens.

I wanted to let you all know about my upcoming books this fall and winter. In September A Hand to Hold , the third book in the Hearts of Middlefield series will be released. Then in November the second book in the Mysteries of Middlefield series, The Secrets Beneath, is releasing. An Amish Love , a new anthology, comes out in December. Then I'll be starting a new series called A Middlefield Family. Treasuring Emma releases in March, 2011. The books are all available for pre-order on www.amazon.com.

Note on Treasuring Emma: the book will have a different cover and the story isn't exactly the same that's listed on the website. That sometimes happens when the books are listed for early pre-order. Here's a short summary of the story--

Emma Shetler and Adam Otto have been friends and neighbors since childhood. When their relationship starts to change into something more, Emma realizes she's falling in love with him. But when he suddenly leaves Middlefield without an explanation, her heart is broken. To protect Emma, Adam can't reveal the reason why he left. Yet he loves her more now than he ever has. Can he convince Emma to trust him again? Or has Emma given her heart to someone else?

A BIG thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered the books. I hope you enjoy them!

Finally, tomorrow I'll be making my last trip to Holmes county for a long while. I'm excited to meet up with an Amish fiction fan for lunch, and then show a good friend from North Carolina the beautiful Ohio countryside. Next week I'll be preparing for our move to Arkansas, so I won't be blogging on Amish Hearts. But I'll return the following Wednesday, hopefully with some pictures from Amish country and Arkansas.

'Til next time,
Kathleen

2010 ACFW Carol Award (formerly Book of the Year) Finalists

Beth Wiseman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:58:00 GMT

Good Morning Friends!

Barbara and I are doing the happy dance this morning since we found out that we both finaled in the 2010 ACFW Carol Award Contest (formerly the Book of the Year contest).  This is an annual contest hosted by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and the winners will be announced at the ACFW Conference in Indianapolis in September.

In the Contemporary Novella category, Barbara's story in An Amish Christmas (One Child) finaled, and so did her story in An Amish Gathering (When Winter Comes).  Both of my novellas also finaled -- A Choice to Forgive in An Amish Christmas, and A Change of Heart in An Amish Gathering.

Also, in the Long Contemporary Romance category, Plain Promise (book #3 in the Daughters of the Promise series) finaled.

We are super honored to be recognized alongside some of these really wonderful authors! So, please join our dance!  To see the complete list of finalists, click HERE.

Have a blessed week!

It's Contest Time: Win an Advanced Copy of Plain & Simple Christmas!

Amy Clipston — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:15:00 GMT

In celebration of the coming release of my new book, A Plain & Simple Christmas, I’m running a contest on my Facebook Fan Page!

Please post your favorite Christmas memory or tradition on my Facebook Fan Page by Thursday, July 22, and you will be entered to win an advanced reader copy of A Plain & Simple Christmas!

The winner will be announced on Friday, July 23!

Click here and enter today!

Here’s more information about A Plain & Simple Christmas:

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 and Simple Christmas is an inspiring page-turner that will keep you guessing what happens next…right to the very last page.

Cool Summer Recipes

Barbara Cameron — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:33:00 GMT

We all know that the Amish don't use electricity, so imagine how hot it must get in their kitchens in the summer in certain states, especially if the wife and older girls are still canning the summer fruit and vegetable crops.

Actually, many northern states are currently suffering from heat records so that got me to thinking of using two favorite Amish summer recipes in today's blog.

I love macaroni salad and this recipe from an Old Order Amish friend is a favorite. Hope you'll try it and like it!

Amish Macaroni Salad

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (or other shape of macaroni)
3-4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red, yellow, or green pepper (your choice) seeded and chopped
2 teaspoons pickle relish (if you don't like sweet relish cut up some dill pickles)
2 tablespoons mustard
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons white vinegar
3/4 teaspoon celery seed
3 teaspoons chopped onion
If you add a cup or two of chopped ham or chicken you have a main dish meal.

Boil macaroni according to package directions. Drain and cool. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients and pour over cooled macaroni. Stir until blended. Chill in refrigerator for two hours.

A nice dessert might be a fruit cobbler but if you don't want to heat up the kitchen, try a simple Amish dessert I saw served in Pennsylvania:

Amish Bread Soup

For each serving, tear up bread -- homemade bread or the sweet Hawaiian bread rolls sold in the grocery store are especially good -- and place in a soup bowl. A slice and a half, maybe two slices (or two or three rolls) is a good amount. Then top with your favorite summer fruit: big juicy chunks of peaches or plums, sweetened strawberries, blackberries, or blueberries (or a mixture of berries) will do nicely. Frozen fruit that's been thawed or pie filling can be used, too, but fresh fruit in season is the best. Top with fresh cream or ice cream. This dessert is a busy Amish wife's (frau's) favorite.

So many of you wrote in with such lovely comments about why you like Amish fiction. The winner of an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of A Time to Love, the first in my three book series Quilts of Lancaster County (out in September) is Elaine. Note to Elaine: I've sent you a personal e-mail asking for your snail mail address.) For those who didn't win, I'll have more contests in the coming months. The book is available for pre-order now on www.Christianbooks.com, www.Amazon.com, www.BarnesandNoble.com and other book outlets.

Have a good weekend and stay cool wherever you are!

Barbara

Seek Me With All Your Heart by Beth Wiseman

Beth Wiseman — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:05:00 GMT

Happy Monday!

The following article is about the Amish in Colorado -- and according to the article, there were about 400 Amish folks in 2008 with more arriving all the time. This influx of Amish into Colorado is what prompted the Land of Canaan series which will debut with Seek Me With All Your Heart in October 2010. The fictional town of Canaan is about 10 miles from Monte Vista and about two hours from Westcliffe. I leave next month for a week to travel this area and to do research for the next Land of Canaan book. This is a great article:

Westward ho for Amish

Also, I wanted to share the first review of Seek Me With All Your Heart from an early reader:

Beth Wiseman offers another intimate view inside the Amish culture, in a brand new Amish community. It is her best book yet!

One of the things I love best about Beth’s books is that each stands alone, yet, each builds on the books before. In this book, some of the beloved characters we are already well acquainted with, relocate to a place so different from Lancaster County. I adore these characters, they are so well developed and really get the reader invested in them and their lives. They feel just like family, and your heart will break as they strive to confront the aftermath of unthinkable tragedy. You will find yourself a personal cheerleader for those facing the challenges of new relationships, everyday problems and some not so everyday problems in this unfamiliar part of the country. Throughout each of the story lines, the inspirational focus on friendships, family and faith is ever present.

This book is a great joy to read. I read it in public places (on an airplane and in an airport) and had total strangers approaching me asking what I was reading because I was sitting there with a smile or a smirk on my face or even laughing out loud because of the situation a favorite character found herself in. I will be buying several copies for my nieces.

As you read ‘Seek Me with All Your Heart’ with its hardships, its growing friendships and hopes of romances, it’s strong, yet perfectly tempered theme of ‘faith in God’ will inspire!

Sherry Gregg

AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER. RELEASING OCTOBER 2010.

Hope everyone has a great week!

A Surprise on Amazon.com!

Amy Clipston — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:40:00 GMT

Hi everyone!

One night this past week I was surfing the internet instead of writing, and I typed my name on Amazon.com. I was really excited and surprised to find out that my third Kauffman book, A Place of Peace, is available for pre-order! A Place of Peace will hit bookshelves in December. I’m really excited about this book, and I have to admit it’s my favorite so far.

Please check it out! Let me know what you think of the cover.

And here’s the story blurb:

Miriam Lapp returns to the Amish community she once belonged to when she hears of her mother’s death. Amidst her grief and some painful lies from her past, she is forced to face the people who rejected her. Losing her once fiancé and being shunned by her father becomes an excruciating test of her faith. A Place of Peace is one story you won't soon forget.

Have a great weekend!
‘Til next time,
Amy

First Reviews of A Time to Love

Barbara Cameron — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 06:29:00 GMT

The first endorsement reviews of A Time to Love came in this week from two wonderful fellow authors.

On Monday, Beth Wiseman wrote in this blog about the book. and I so appreciated her taking the time out of an incredibly busy schedule to read the book and say such nice things about it. You can read her blog by scrolling back a few days on the site.

Then Sandra Bricker also sent me her thoughts on the book and I wanted to share them with you. Just last week my blog was called, "Let's Have a Cup of Tea." I'd already gotten Sandie's endorsement review of the book and I meant to put it in my blog because it was the perfect place for it in that entry about the Scripture Tea. I think her mention of tea in the endorsement and my seeing the Scripture Tea in Cracker Barrel a few days later gave me the idea for the blog. But I'd just finished a really good day of writing and did too much with that and a doctor visit and errands so by the time I wrote the blog I had few brain cells left!

Here's what Sandie sent me after she read the book:

"Barbara Cameron's A Time to Love is a captivating, poignant and delightful story. Cameron weaves a masterful character portrayal in Jenny King, an injured war correspondent whose physical and emotional baggage from the outside world meets its match within a small Amish community. The writing is fresh, the setting is realistic, and the revelations are universal. If you think Amish stories aren't your cup of tea, think again and pick up this book!"

Sandie is the award-winning author of wonderful, laugh-out-loud romantic fiction including The Big 5-Oh! and this fall's Always the Baker, Never the Bride. A third title, Love Finds You in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, will be out in October. I've read a number of Sandie's books including The Big 5-Oh! (funny and heartwarming) but I have to say my personal favorite is Always the Baker, Never the Bride. I love weddings -- I've helped planning quite a number and was even asked to write The Everything Weddings on a Budget book so I loved the setting and the cast of characters in Always. I wasn't sure if Sandie would like A Time to Love because I didn't know if she read Amish stories. When she sent the endorsement she admitted that they weren't usually her cup of tea but had been surprised to discover she liked my story.

So, I'm so happy to see these first reviews and thank you Beth and Sandie!

On the subject of tea, the winner of last week's contest for a box of Scripture Tea is Connie Elrod. Hope you enjoy the tea, Connie!

Oh, and one more note: my marketing person is sending me a few more Advance Reading Copies of A Time to Love. So be sure to enter a comment here on the site telling me why YOU like Amish stories for a chance to win a copy of A Time to Love!

Blessings,

Barbara

Author Websites

Kathleen Fuller — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:26:00 GMT

In the next couple months I plan to completely redo my website, and I thought I'd ask you all what you like/dislike about author websites. I'd like my website to be a place readers enjoy visiting, where they can find out information about current and new books and also have a way to contact me. But I'd also like to know if there are any "extras" that you might like to see on my website. Basically, I'm wide open to suggestions.

Here are a few questions to get the conversation started:

1) Do you enjoy reading exerpts of books?
2) What about a family or community tree from books and/or series? For example, a family tree of the Bylers from the Hearts of Middlefield series.
3) What do you look for the most when you visit an author's website?
4) Anything you dislike or think is unnecessary on a website?

Thanks so much for your help! I look forward to the discussion.

'Til next time,
Kathleen

A Time to Love by Barbara Cameron

Beth Wiseman — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:27:00 GMT

Happy Monday!

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday. I made a deal with myself this past week -- hit 15k words, then take the weekend off. I didn't quite make it. I wrote 12,500 words, but I figured it was close enough, and since it was my own deal, I allowed myself the weekend off. Saturday, Hubby and I made the big trip to Super WalMart to load up on the essentials, then my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and nephew came to swim for a while. When everyone was gone, Patrick and I curled up on the couch and watched movies.

Sunday, it was hot and quiet -- so reading by the pool was in order. I read A Time to Love by Barbara Cameron (waving to Barbara!). I don't have as much time to read for leisure as I used to. So, it's a treat for me to curl up with a good book. I really enjoyed Barbara's book, and I think you will too. It's an easy read, filled with the Amish details that we all love--and of a course, a love story! Here's the back cover blurb:

War correspondent Jenny King thinks she's just a temporary guest in her grandmother's Amish community while she recuperates from the devastating injuries sustained in a car bomb attack that changed her world. But when she meets Matthew Bontrager, the man she had a crush on as a teenager, she wonders if God has a new plan for her.

"A Time to Love is filled with healing, hope, and the belief in second chances. A sweet romance that will appeal to Amish fiction fans, as well as those who enjoy a tender romance."

Beth Wiseman

Releasing September 2010 and available for pre-order!!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Fun in Washington, DC!

Amy Clipston — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 17:10:00 GMT

Hi everyone!

Last weekend I was in Washington, D.C., for the American Library Association conference, and I had a wonderful time!

I spent time with Jacque Alberta, editor with ZonderKids; Alicia Mey, Marketing Director for Zondervan and Don Brown, Zondervan author. Saturday night after dinner we walked around for hours, enjoying the sights.

Sunday afternoon I signed 200 advanced copies of A Plain & Simple Christmas, which is coming out in August, and I even had the opportunity to meet a celebrity. Kathy Kinney, who played Mimi on the Drew Carey Show, stopped by at my signing!

Below are a few photos for you to enjoy.

Til next time,

Amy

Amy with Kathy Kinney (Mimi from the Drew Carey Show)

Amy posing at the Zondervan Booth.

L-R: Amy, Jacque Alberta (ZonderKidz Editor), Don Brown (Zondervan author) and Alicia Mey (Zondervan Marketing Director)

Let's Have a Cup of Tea

Barbara Cameron — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 06:51:00 GMT

It's been hard to keep up with everyone on AmishHearts.com lately.

Kathy's been getting ready to move her family back to Arkansas, Beth visited her publisher in Nashville this week and attended a big function in Dallas where she signed books, and Amy was in Washington at a big library conference.

Me? I stayed home. I'm not sorry about that, though, because I am a homebody who enjoys finding reasons to be grateful for not having to rush around in the summer. I like sitting at my laptop, working on a book with my two little dogs sleeping in their baskets near me, the air conditioner on at a comfortable temperature.

Oh, wait, I DID have some excitement out of the house this week. The hard drive in my old laptop died and I drove into the nearest big town and had it fixed. Or at least I thought I did. When I came home I discovered there was more to fix and spent the next two hours and five minutes talking to someone in a foreign country about what to do. I called a friend -- okay, two -- to whine about the experience and my headache afterward and they both insisted I had to go buy a new laptop. So I got back in the car and started the drive again and made it about 5 miles on the Interstate and blew a tire. All sorts of craziness ensued -- the cell wouldn't work for me to call roadside assistance, I realized as the trooper was calling the roadside people for me that I had an expired tag on the car, and I desperately needed a restroom. But I digress. The store was closed by the time the roadside guy got there so I came home and fretted about the laptop again. The next day I went into town, got the last laptop on sale, and came home triumphant. Now if it wasn't for the getting used to a new computer and newer version of software I'd be a happy camper.

A day or two later I treated myself to lunch after a doctor appointment and in the restaurant gift shop I saw boxes of something called Scripture Tea. Each tea bag comes with a quote from the Bible. I thought that was pretty neat since so often when we sit down to have a cup of tea we're taking a break -- mental as well as physical. How nice to have a quote to reflect upon. So I decided to buy two boxes and offer up one to a reader this week. The Amish love to visit with each other and tea is often served with some kind of baked goodie -- cake, cookies, pie, that sort of thing. I figure that the person who wins the tea and I can visit long distance by having a cup of tea in our respective homes.

Just drop me a comment with your favorite Scripture. Mine currently is from Ecclesiastes -- the titles of the books in the Quilts of Lancaster County come from Ecclesiastes. My brilliant editor saw how I used it in the first book and thought to rename the book titles. Tell me what quote from the Bible soothes you, inspires you, makes you work to be a better person -- whatever. I'll send the winner a box of the tea which comes in various flavors.

The winner of last week's contest to win an Advance Reader Copy of A Time to Love is Wendy. I'll be contacting you by e-mail for your snail mail address.

I hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July!

Barbara

Let's Talk Amish Living

Kathleen Fuller — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:41:00 GMT

I've talked about Amish Living on this blog before, but it's been a while and the community has grown so much in the past several months I wanted to bring it up again. For those of you who don't know, Amish Living is an online community of people who love all things Amish--Amish fiction, culture, crafts, recipes, etc. Its a great place to interact not only with authors of Amish fiction, but to also make friends with those who are interested in the Amish.

What can you find on Amish Living? Glad you asked.

1) At over 1000 members, you'll find people from all over the country and Canada, too. Also possibly other parts of the world as well. Through Amish Living you can "friend" other members and talk to them through private messaging, discussion forums, and groups.

2) Groups: there are a number of groups on Amish Living you can join. There are groups for the different Amish areas in the United States, such as the Ohio Amish, Pennsylvania Amish, and even a specific group for Holmes County, OH, the largest Amish settlement. There's also a recipe group, a book club group, and a group about The Budget Newspaper, which is a newspaper popular among the Amish.

3) A list of events: want to know where your favorite Amish author is appearing next? There's a list of author appearances and other events on the site.

4) Create your own blog/discussions: perhaps there's a favorite author or book you'd like to recommend to Amish Living members. Or you've found a great new place in Amish Country to visit. As a member of Amish Living you have the opportunity to post a blog or create a discussion and invite other members to participate.

These are just a few of Amish Living's features. Please come visit the site and join us!

'Til next time,
Kathleen

Back From Nashville and Dallas! Pics to Share!

Beth Wiseman — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:38:00 GMT

Good Morning!

It felt good to sleep in my own bed last night! I've had a great week filled with travel, but it's nice to be home. I spent the first part of the week in Nashville, Tennessee with my publishing team. It was an opportunity to talk about future projects, and I was the guest speaker at the sales conference. I loved that! I love to talk about the books and spend time with the great folks out there selling the books!

Then two days later, I left for Dallas to go sign books at the Retail Gift Show...a massive event! I signed over 200 books that my publisher was offering to retail vendors, and again...another great opportunity to talk about the books, even if my signature was probably a little illegible towards the end of the signing! I signed copies of Plain Perfect and the novella collection--An Amish Gathering--written by me, Barbara Cameron, and Kathleen Fuller.

Lately, I've spent a lot of time working in airports, on planes, and in hotel rooms...and I want to share a few pics from my recent travels! Janet--my assistant--went with me to Dallas, and after the signing, we visited the 16-story building filled with vendors. It was amazing--and overwhelming! We had big plans to do tons of shopping, but the place was so big, we didn't end up buying much...mostly looked!

Seek Me With All Your Heart is done! All edits/revisions complete, and I can't wait for everyone to read it in November! So, now my head is back in Lancaster County as I work on book #5 in the Daughters of the Promise series -- Plain Proposal.

Here's me with some members of my publishing team. GREAT folks!

Left to right--Katie, Kristen, Andrea, Natalie, Beth, Heather, Ashley, and Amanda. Behind Amanda is Allen...our fearless leader.

I'm blessed to be a part of this amazing family!

And this is Whitney -- another amazing member of the Thomas Nelson family!

This was taken at the Retail Gift Show in Dallas.

Thanks for everything, Whitney!

This is my assistant, Janet. She went with me to Dallas, and we had such a 'gut' time!

She stayed busy passing out bookmarks to people at the Retail Gift Show.

And we shopped and had a fabulous dinner at Charlie Palmers restaurant in the Joule Hotel in Dallas.

I signed about 100 copies of Plain Perfect and 100 copies of An Amish Gathering.

Great fun talking about the books!

And last...but not least...check out this rooftop pool at the Joule Hotel in Dallas where we stayed.

I took this early Sunday morning while I drank my coffee and prepared for the long drive home.

Pretty cool, huh?

Hope everyone has a fabulous week!

Heading to DC

Amy Clipston — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:03:00 GMT

Hi Everyone!

Today I'm heading to Washington, DC, where I will sign advanced copies of my next book, A Plain & Simple Christmas, which will debut in August. I can't wait to hold this book in my hand! I also can't wait to share it with you.

I thought I'd share another recipe today. I'm sorry this is short, but I have to head out to the airport soon.

Have a wonderful weekend!

SHOO-FLY PIE

Crumb mixture:
1-1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 cup shortening
Pinch of cinnamon

Liquid:
1/2 cup hot water
1 tsp soda
1/2 cup corn syrup molasses

Combine the four ingredients of the crumb mixture, using hands to work into crumbs. Set aside 2-3 tablespoons of the crumb mixture. Line a 9-inch pie pan with pastry.

Combine the three ingredients of the liquid mixture, and fold the crumb mixture into the liquid. Pour into the pie shell and sprinkle the set aside crumbs over the top of the batter. Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees) for approximately 35 minutes.

Another Book Giveaway!

Barbara Cameron — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 03:31:00 GMT

Okay, so that is not the most original title but I can't think of anything else.

You see, it's so hot here in Florida that when I went out today to run an errand and then stopped by the Dairy Queen to get an ice cream cone, not only did my ice cream melt all over my hand in less than 10 steps from the pick up window to my car, but I think my brain fried (and I really needed it this afternoon because I'm working on Book 3 of the Quilts of Lancaster series).

So instead of some wordy column by me (see last week), I'm going to hold a contest to give away another Advance Reader Copy of A Time to Love due out in September (Abingdon Press). If you haven't seen the cover yet, just scroll down on the right side of this page. By the way, the book is available for pre-order now at Christianbooks.com, Amazon.com and other fine stores where you buy books. An expanded edition of An Amish Christmas, the "Christmas Bestseller" (by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Barbara Cameron, with a new story by Kelly Long, published by Thomas Nelson) is also available for pre-order. It's due out in late August...End of commercial. : )

All you have to do is leave a comment here at AmishHearts.com (nowhere else) giving me a suggestion for a good item to give away to promote the book here on the site. So far, I've bought a basket of quilt supply stuff from my favorite quilt shop and a 1,000 piece puzzle with a beautiful photo of quilts hanging on a clothes line near a covered bridge in Lancaster County. I bought the puzzle at an Amish restaurant in Pinecrest, Florida. I figured that the puzzle ought to be a good way to hide indoors from the heat --or in the winter from the cold -- and assemble...don't you think?

Kathy had such a great idea to have entrants get an additional chance in her contest if they got someone to enter and say who told them about the contest that I'll do that, too!

So, I'm looking forward to your ideas about contests and promotional items for A Time to Love here. Good luck on the contest!

Blessings,

Barbara

Me, Myself, and My Lawnmower

Kathleen Fuller — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:43:00 GMT

One of my very favorite things to do is mow my lawn. I know it probably sounds crazy, but I truly love it. Our lawn is pretty big and it takes about two hours to mow with a riding lawn mower. But its not the ride that I enjoy, because I feel the same about using a push mower. When my children were babies and toddlers we had a smaller yard and I would bring out the playpen and swing, put the kids in them, and mow a patch of lawn. Then I'd move the swing and playpen and mow another patch of lawn. I can only imagine what the neighbors thought. I'm sure I'm the only woman who looks out the window at her yard, does touchdown arms and says, "Yes! I get to mow again!"

Why do I enjoy mowing so much? I love the smell of fresh cut grass. If there was a perfume called Eau de Freshly Mowed Lawn I'd not only buy it, I'd wear it every day. My friends with allergies might disown me but that's a risk I'd be willing to take. The scent is a trigger for me--each time I smell the grass I think of spring and summer, of warm, beautiful days with plenty of daylight and lots of fun outside. Since I live in a climate where cold weather and snow occur almost six months out of the year, I treasure the warm weather.

This past Monday I went to Middlefield with my daughters and one of their friends to the flea market. I've been several times before, but this time I didn't see many Amish at the market. It was a sunny, hot day, and while driving around the area (another one of my favorite things to do) I noticed a lot of Amish outside--some working in their yards, a mother and daughter relaxing under the cool shade of a big oak tree, a few young people riding in open buggies, enjoying the day. The Amish don't take nature or the land for granted, and when you visit Amish country one of the things you notice are the pristine lawns and farms. The landscape is simply stunning. If the weather's not too hot I like to roll the windows down so I can smell--you guessed it--fresh cut grass. I think I need to make another trip to Middlefield soon.

What do you like best about the spring and summer seasons?

'Til next time,
Kathleen

Leaving For Nashville!

Beth Wiseman — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:50:00 GMT

Good Morning Everyone!

I'm packing to leave for Nashville this afternoon, and I can't wait to get there! I'm going to visit my publisher--Thomas Nelson--and I'm super excited to see everyone. I have some exciting news to share with my editor, and I can't wait to tell her in person! Plus, I'm scheduled to speak at the semi-annual sales conference to about 100 folks. It's a chance to talk about the books and future projects. And I LOVE to talk about the books! I'm not super crazy about flying, but on this trip, I'll be working on line edits for Seek Me With All Your Heart...so that will keep me busy on the plane.

Don't forget to check 'Fans of Beth Wiseman' on Facebook later this morning to see who won the Daughters of the Promise series, 4 books.

I had a fun book signing on Saturday. My best friend, Renee', came to town for the event, and Janet--my fabulous assistant--went with us. We had a nice lunch in Bastrop, Texas, then I signed books for two hours at the Living Room Christian Bookstore. A woman walked in with her husband and daughter, so I instinctively greeted the wife and daughter, assuming they were the readers. Turns out, the husband is reading my books. I love hearing from male readers, and it's nice to know there are some out there reading my books. Here's a pic of me and Mike at the signing!

Blessings for a great week!

Amish Recipes!

Amy Clipston — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 02:32:00 GMT

Hi everyone!

I have to be honest: I almost forgot to post tonight! Today has been a crazy day. I completed a very challenging book rewrite last night, so I’ve been celebrating this weekend by having some special family time. Today I took my mother and sons to see “Toy Story 3,” and we loved it! It’s a wonderful movie. This evening, my husband and I went to dinner for our wedding anniversary. Tomorrow we’ll celebrate 12 years together!

I thought I’d share a couple more Amish recipes with you tonight. Enjoy!

Happy Father’s Day to all of the fathers out there!

‘Til next time,
Amy

Moravian Christmas Cookies
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup molasses
1 egg
4 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
Blend shortening, sugar, and molasses. Add beaten egg. Sift dry ingredients and combine. Mix well, roll out, and cut in shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. When cool, decorate with boiled icing.

Apple Butter Pie
1/2 cup apple butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sugar
Pastry for 9-inch crust and strips for top
1–3/4 Tbsp cornstarch
1–1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups milk
Combine apple butter, beaten eggs, sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon and mix well. Add the milk gradually and blend. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Top with crisscross make for 1/2-inch strips of crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.