The celebration of Joshua’s Mission continues! First off, don’t forget that there’s a sweet giveaway going on, with a chance to win two copies of the book and all the supplies you’d need for a lovely afternoon with a friend (mugs, coffee, tea, and chocolate). To get your name in the drawing, fill out the form HERE (or at the end of the post).*

Second, this week we’re sharing a series of fun little interviews with the author, Vannetta Chapman. Today’s interview puts the author right in the middle of her story…

What Would Vannetta Do?

Welcome, Vannetta! Today we want to know how you would respond if you found yourself in some of the situations in your book. Would you make the same choices as your characters—or do something entirely different?

Scenario 1: You’re a young adult over the age of 18, and your parents and pastor have practically signed you up for a mission trip that begins in two days. How do you react?

• I’m in! Sounds like a great experience.
• Hmmm. I need to know more about the specifics of the trip before I decide whether or not I want to go.
• I prefer not to be pressured into doing anything. I’ll pass this time and consider other possibilities for serving.

Vannetta explains: I’m always ready to jump in, sometimes without completely knowing what I’m committing to. That’s resulted in some rather funny situations that I’d rather not repeat!

Scenario 2: You’re on a mission trip in a state (or country) you’ve never visited before. In your free time, what would you most like to do?

• Go sightseeing as much as I can on my budget.
• Find a way to earn some extra money and save up for a big experience (for example: surfing lessons or a boat ride).
• Stick around the place where I’m staying and find ways to help or get to know the people I’m serving with.

Vannetta explains: I would love to say C, but the truth is probably A. I love to visit new places and want to see all I can while I’m there.

Scenario 3: Your teenage sibling (who has a penchant for mischief) is out quite late and didn’t tell anyone where he was going. What do you do?

• Panic! Time to send out a search party and call all his friends.
• Keep calm. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and he’ll come home when he’s ready.
• Pace the floor and prepare The Lecture for whenever he shows up.

Vannetta explains: I believe I can remember doing C a time or two when my son was a teenager.

Scenario 4: Your town is hit by a hurricane. After the storm passes, you want to help in the rebuilding efforts. How will you serve?

• Give me a hammer and nails—I’m handy with tools!
• Give me some food and an oven—everyone needs to eat, and I can cook a mean meal.
• Give me paint and a brush—I love putting on the finishing touches to a project.

Vannetta explains: I like doing the hammer and nails stuff. I’ve hammered hurricane joists on a Habitat for Humanity house before, and pulled out hundreds of nails from a house that had been flooded. There’s something about a hammer that is satisfying.

Your turn! What would you do in each of these scenarios? Let us know in the comments, and join us on Friday for Part 3 of the interview!

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Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Vannetta was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time where she lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

Visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com.

*The giveaway is open to US residents only (due to shipping costs). The form will close at midnight on March 1, 2016. Good luck!

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We’re celebrating the release of Joshua’s Mission here at AmishReader.com this month! First off, there’s a sweet giveaway going on, with a chance to win two copies of the book and all the supplies you’d need for a lovely afternoon with a friend (mugs, coffee, tea, and chocolate). To get your name in the drawing, fill out the form HERE (or at the end of the post).*

Second, this week we’re sharing a series of fun little interviews with the author, Vannetta Chapman. Today’s interview takes us back to the good ol’ school days with a multiple choice quiz…

Vannetta Gets Quizzed

1. Your favorite thing to do while at the beach is…

• Surfing
• Building sand castles
• Searching for shells
• Walking along the waves

Vannetta explains: I’m crazy about sea shells, especially sand dollars. I take them home, rinse off the sand and salt water, and put them out on my back patio.

2. The thing you most enjoy about traveling is…

• Meeting new people
• Trying new food or activities
• Discovering new things about yourself
• Being in a new environment for a while

Vannetta explains: I adore traveling, absolutely love going to new places, seeing new things, and yes, meeting new people. I like sampling the food and taking pictures. I like seeing how other people live. But what I like most about being in a new environment, is that it makes me appreciate home.

3. The character from Joshua’s Mission who most resembles you is…

• Joshua Kline
• Alton Kline
• Becca Troyer
• Charlie Everman

Vannetta explains: I am a little like Charlie, in that I’d like the world to stand still for a few moments. He’s nostalgic about the past, and he has good reason to be. I feel that way sometimes, and I have to be reminded that God’s in charge of such things, not man.

4. The most interesting topic you researched for the book was…

• Hurricanes
• Mennonite Disaster Service
• Rebuilding after a natural disaster
• Amish travel

Vannetta explains: Of course it’s really all of those things, but it was fascinating for me to learn how MDS commits to a particular place that has suffered a natural disaster, and then stays there until the work is done. They are literally being the hands of Christ to strangers.

5. Of the following, your favorite sea creature is a…

• Stingray
• Puffer fish
• Starfish
• Shark

Vannetta explains: Those puffer fish are pretty funny.

Your turn! Which answers would you pick for this quiz? Let us know in the comments, and join us on Wednesday for Part 2 of the interview!

* * *

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Vannetta was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time where she lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

Visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com.

*The giveaway is open to US residents only (due to shipping costs). The form will close at midnight on March 1, 2016. Good luck!

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Author Mindy Starns Clark has a brand-new blog, and that’s where you’ll find her exciting Countdown to Christmas giveaway! While the 25 days are over halfway through, there are still some fantastic book giveaways on the way, including Mindy’s coauthored Amish novels (The Women of Lancaster County series and The Men of Lancaster County series).

Here’s a quick look at the giveaway details…

• Who: Giveaways are open to residents of the U.S. (but there are some great behind-the-scenes posts and extras everyone can enjoy!)
• What: An epic giveaway of Mindy’s books!
• When: December 1-25, 2015
• Where: Mindy’s new blog
• Why: To celebrate Christmas and Mindy’s new site
• How: Fill out the form on this post → HERE (You’ll be entered in all the drawings)

We hope you’ll join the fun—and have a very merry Christmas season!

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Mindy Starns Clark by Amber | AmishReader.com
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Who wouldn’t love a good book for Christmas? Wonder no more about what to get your friends and loved ones—just find the closest description below and away you go!

*Disclaimer: Of course, we can’t guarantee someone will love their gift. But seriously, what’s not to love, right? We hope you enjoy browsing this fun Christmas gift-giving guide. Who knows? You might even find a little treat for yourself, too! Just click the image or one of the links below it to find a site where you can purchase a copy of the book.

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1. For the foodie who wants some “yum” with their fiction, we recommend…Made with Love by Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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2. For the Amish fiction lover who’s read it all and wants something new, we recommend…My Brother’s Crown by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould!

(Note: This story is about another Protestant group called the Huguenots. Learn more about the similarities and differences between the Amish and the Huguenots in this article by Leslie Gould!)

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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3. For the friend who needs to believe in miracles this Christmas, we recommend…Anna’s Healing by Vannetta Chapman!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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4. For the ebook aficionado who loves sweet novellas, we recommend…Amish Christmas Memories by Jerry S. Eicher, Mary Ellis, and Murray Pura!

(Note: This is an ebook-only collection of three previously published Amish Christmas novellas titled Susanna’s Christmas Wish, Sarah’s Christmas Miracle, and An Amish Family Christmas.)

Kindle | Nook | Christianbook

P.S. Did you know you can gift ebooks via email? Read this article to see how to gift a Kindle book from Amazon.com.

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5. For the teacher or student who knows the value of a good education, we recommend…An Unexpected Match by Gayle Roper!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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6. For the incurable romantic who likes a lot of drama with the sweet, we recommend…Miriam and the Stranger by Jerry S. Eicher!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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7. For the loved one who has always dreamed of living the simple life, we recommend…My Life as an Amish Wife by Lena Yoder!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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8. For the curious soul with lots of questions about Amish culture, we recommend…Plain Answers about the Amish Life by Mindy Starns Clark!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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9. For the one who wants to be inspired in her faith, we recommend…The Amish Book of Prayers for Women by Esther Stoll!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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10. For the cook who knows the way to your heart, we recommend…99 Favorite Amish Recipes by Georgia Varozza!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Bonus: For the child or grandchild who shares your love of the Amish, we recommend…Blossoms on the Roof by Rebecca Martin!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Happy Christmas shopping!

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Esther Stoll, Gayle Roper, Georgia Varozza, Jerry Eicher, Lena Yoder, Leslie Gould, Mary Ellis, Mindy Starns Clark, Murray Pura, Sherry Gore, Tricia Goyer, Vannetta Chapman by Amber | AmishReader.com
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We’re continuing our celebration of Amish wedding season with an excerpt from The Amish Groom by Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner! The hero of this story, Tyler Anderson, was born Englisch but raised Amish. At 23, he’s old enough to commit to the church, but he’s feeling torn between the two vastly different worlds.

This scene takes place at a wedding, where Tyler and his sweetheart are guests…

* * *

“Tyler.”

I swung my head back around to face Rachel.

“Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?” Her kind face was sweetly marked with concern.

“I ate too much,” I said, not wanting to mess with the festive mood around us.

“Nice try. What’s up?”

I shrugged, but her compassionate gaze wouldn’t allow me to say nothing at all. “Just thinking.”

“About?”

Fueled by excitement and chocolate, the noise level was beginning to rise. Soon the singing would start. It would be hard to have a deep conversation.

“Just…life in general.” I toyed with a candied walnut on the plate. But then out of nowhere I voiced what was somersaulting around in my head. “Sometimes it seems that something out there is calling to me. Like maybe I have missed doing something I am supposed to take care of. And then I come to an event like this, and that feeling grows so strong, it’s nearly overwhelming.”

I shut my mouth. I hadn’t wanted to say all of that aloud, especially not at that moment. Yet it had spilled out of me anyway.

Pained uncertainty flickered across Rachel’s eyes. “Something out where is calling to you?”

I shook my head. “We don’t need to talk about this now. I don’t know why I said anything.”

Rachel stared at me, unwilling to drop it. “What is calling to you?”

I squeezed her hand. “Forget I said anything.” Which was a dumb suggestion. She wasn’t going to forget.

Besides, she knew me better than anyone. Better than Jake. Maybe even better than Daadi and Mammi.

She also knew the timetable for when the next membership classes were to begin—and that I wasn’t sure yet if I was going to sign up for them. Membership preceded marriage. That’s how it had always been, which meant if I didn’t attend the next set of classes and take my vows of baptism and membership in the spring, I would not be able to marry her in the fall.

“Is this about God? About your faith?”

I shook my head. “No, of course not. I know what I believe. My faith is solid.”

She nodded, quiet for a moment. “But this is about joining the church.” Her voice sounded sad, and for good reason. We both knew that if my faith was solid and yet I was still reluctant to join the church, then my hesitation was about things other than theology. Things like living the Amish lifestyle. Things like being married to her.

“It’s about a lot of stuff,” I finally replied, though that wasn’t the whole truth. It was about the church. But it was also about me. And the world outside. And her, too, which I realized at that moment I didn’t want to add to the equation.

“Stuff,” she echoed. “You mean things? Like the watch your father gave you? Your driver’s license?”

My face grew warm. She was latching onto the few vestiges of the outside world I had yet to dispose of, but they had nothing to do with this. These days, except when I went out to visit my dad, the watch and the license remained tucked away in a drawer.

“No, it’s not about things. It’s about all of this,” I said, gesturing toward the people and activities that surrounded us on every side. “It’s about figuring out where I belong.”

Understanding seemed to bloom in her eyes. “Ty, this is where you belong,” she said emphatically. “With me. Everyone here loves you. I love you. This is your home.”

“I’m not like Tobias.” I looked at the happy new groom across the barn from us. He seemed a perfect fit in every way.

Rachel squeezed my hand. “Only Tobias is Tobias. You’re you. And whatever it is you think is out there calling to you, don’t you think you would have found it already? You’ve been outside, Tyler, more than most. You’ve seen the Englisch world every single time you’ve visited your dad.”

“I know, but—”

“And every time you have visited your dad, you’ve always been ready to come home after just a few days. Doesn’t that tell you anything?”

Her last comment took me by surprise. The world outside Lancaster County was a lot bigger than just California, where my father now lived. “This isn’t about him,” I muttered, releasing her hand.

Rachel’s gaze wouldn’t let me go. “How do you know it’s not?”

* * *

Excerpted from The Amish Groom by Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner

Want to keep reading? You can pick up a copy of the book through the publisher (40% off for the month of November!) or from your favorite book retailer.

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Mindy Starns Clark, Susan Meissner by Amber | AmishReader.com
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While not all Amish get married in the fall, this season does involve quite a few weddings in various Amish communities! (We shared a few fun facts on this topic on Facebook from Mindy Starns Clark’s Plain Answers About the Amish Life.) So we thought we’d share an excerpt from The Amish Bride in honor of the season—and to give you a taste of one of the prizes you could win in Leslie Gould’s giveaway, which is open through November 24, 2015!

This excerpt is from the very beginning of the story, when Ella’s grandmother gives her a special book…

* * *

Mammi’s eyes moved to the book in my hands. Gazing at it, her face began to cloud over, and I could see she was troubled.

“There’s another thing, about the book,” she said.

I glanced toward the door, feeling bad for Ezra, though I didn’t protest lest she give me one of her disapproving looks. Neither his family, which was entirely Amish, nor mine, which was a mix of Mennonite and Amish, made any secret of the fact that they weren’t thrilled about our relationship.

“This is just between us,” she continued, oblivious to my impatience. “There’s something unique about it that you have to understand. And there’s something important I need you to do for me.”

Her odd tone brought my attention back to her. Curious, I lowered myself to the chair on her left and waited for her to elaborate. She gestured toward the book, so I opened it up and flipped through it, angling it so that she could see the pages.

“All of those tiny drawings at the tops and bottoms…” Her voice trailed off.

“These nifty little doodles?” Glancing down, I tilted the heavy tome my way. “It’s funny, but they kind of remind me of icons. You know, like for a phone app?”

She stared at me blankly. Of course she didn’t know what a phone app was.

“They’re symbols,” she said. “Each one represents something.”

“Oh, yeah?”

I flipped through more pages and saw that the various icons weren’t just random—they were repeated the exact same way in different places. She was right. Symbols.

“What are they for?”

“I’m not sure. But there’s more.”

She again gestured with her hand, so I tilted the book back toward her and continued to flip through it.

“There.” She placed a pointed finger on the page to stop me.

Glancing down, I saw that she was indicating the middle part of the book, the pages of weird squiggly lines. They reminded me of letters or numbers but were completely unreadable, like a foreign language that used a completely different alphabet.

“What is this?”

She sat back and clasped her hands in her lap. “It’s a code.”

My eyes widened. “A code?”

She nodded. “My mother didn’t want just anyone reading her journal. So she invented a code to keep parts of it private.”

“Cool.” I was really starting to like my great-grandmother Sarah.

I was studying the squiggles more closely when I realized Mammi was leaning toward me in her chair, her expression intense.

“Ella, I need you to decipher that code. Figure out how to make sense of it. The symbols too. I want you to translate the code and the symbols into words. I need to know what it says.”

My first reaction was to giggle, but her face was so serious I held it in. What was this, the CIA or something?

“I’m not exactly good at this sort of thing. I mean, Zed’s way smarter than I am. Why don’t you ask him?”

Mammi placed a hand on my arm and gave it a firm squeeze. “Never mind him. I’m asking you, Ella. You can do this. You have to do this.”

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Excerpted from The Amish Bride by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould

Intrigued yet? You can order the book directly from the publisher or from your favorite book retailer. And don’t forget to enter Leslie’s giveaway for a chance to win this whole series OR her new book, My Brother’s Crown!

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Leslie Gould, Mindy Starns Clark by Amber | AmishReader.com
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Article by Leslie Gould

During my research for The Women of Lancaster County series, which I co-wrote with Mindy Starns Clark, my fascination with church history expanded exponentially. For a while I was “living” in 16th century Switzerland, the time and place where the Anabaptists—the foundational movement of both the Mennonites and Amish—originated. The more I learned about the era, the more fascinated I became with the Reformation and the many branches of Protestantism it produced.

When a reader told me about her Huguenot (French Calvinists) ancestors who immigrated to America about the same time as the first Amish came to Pennsylvania, I was immediately intrigued.

My research into this group of early Protestants resulted in another series with Mindy—Cousins of the Dove, a modern/historical saga that traces a fictional French Huguenot Family from the 1600s to the modern day. The first novel in the series, My Brother’s Crown, released in October, and we’re currently writing the second, My Sister’s Prayer.

As I continue to immerse myself in Huguenot history, I can’t help but compare and contrast the Huguenots to the Amish. Following is a very brief and very simple introduction to what Mindy and I have learned through the years. To see how we were able to weave this knowledge into compelling fiction featuring brave heroines who face nearly insurmountable odds, you’ll have to read the books!

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1. Origins
Verdict: very similar

Both the Anabaptists and the Huguenots originated in the early 16th Century as a result of the Protestant Reformation. The Anabaptists had their start in 1525 and the Huguenots in 1530.

2. Formative Years
Verdict: somewhat similar

The Anabaptists began in Switzerland and then spread, largely due to persecution, throughout Europe and eventually to both Russia and America. They were often referred to as being part of the “Radical Reformation.”

The Mennonites were Anabaptists who followed the teachings of Menno Simons. The Amish broke off from the Mennonites in 1693, believing the original group was drifting away from the teachings of Simons, and were led by Jakob Ammann.

John Calvin, the founder of Calvinism, was French but ended up fleeing to Switzerland and eventually pastoring a church there. However, his teachings led to the establishment of many churches in France too, and by 1562 there were two million French Calvinists—or Huguenots, as they were soon called. Like the Amish, most were eventually forced from their homeland. During the 1680s alone, an estimated 400,000 Huguenots fled France due to persecution under Louis XIV, going as far away as South Africa and North America. (There was a small group of Huguenots who stayed in France, and they will be explored in the fourth novel in our series.)

3. Baptism
Verdict: very different

A belief in adult baptism was one of the reasons the Anabaptists broke off from the Swiss Reformed Church. The Anabaptists believed only adults could make the decision to be baptized and quit baptizing their infants, which led to persecution by the Reformed Church, the Swiss government, and the Catholic Church.

On the other hand, Calvinists retained the tradition of infant baptism, believing it to be a covenant with God. (There are, of course, other theological differences between the two groups, including predestination. A primary source on the subject is John Calvin’s Treatises Against the Anabaptists and Against the Libertines. There are also, however, many basic similarities in the theology of the two groups.)

4. Simplicity
Verdict: different

Throughout their history the Amish have been known for their simple living. They, generally, reject modern ways, choosing to drive horses and buggies and to live off the grid. From the beginning, the Amish dressed simply and even referred to themselves as “Plain.” Today, the women still wear Kapps, modest dresses, and aprons, while the men wear suspenders and wide-brim hats. Traditionally, the Amish worked as farmers. Today, as the population grows, they’re running out of land and more are opening businesses or working in factories or other manufacturing jobs. Most Amish communities continue to meet on one another’s properties instead of in a church building, just as they’ve done since the beginning.

The Huguenots included members of the French wealthy class and even the gentry. Many had large homes, fine carriages, and a significant amount of material goods. (Although there were certainly poor Huguenots too—more so in rural areas.) Congregations usually built churches (called temples) where they worshipped together. Although their dress may have been more modest than the latest fashions, they did not focus on a simple lifestyle as part of their overall philosophy.

5. Today
Verdict: very different

Within a couple of generations the Huguenots assimilated into the dominant cultures that they joined—but they also left a lasting influence on those societies. Eight of our U.S. presidents had proven Huguenot ancestors, including George Washington, whose great-great-great-grandfather arrived in Virginia in 1620. Twelve other U.S. Presidents had credible claims to Huguenot ancestors. The experiences of the French Huguenots also seem to have contributed to the inclusion of Freedom of Religion in the First Amendment of our Constitution. Today there are Huguenot societies around the world, including one in Virginia that Mindy and I visited, that continue to preserve and share the history of their ancestors.

On the other hand, the Anabaptists have assimilated to a lesser degree. There are a total of 2.1 million Anabaptists worldwide, including Mennonites, Mennonite Brethren, Hutterites, and Amish. The Amish, as we know, are one of the groups who have assimilated the least. Today, there are nearly 300,000 Amish in the United States, up from 5,000 in 1924 and 84,000 in 1984. They are one of the fastest growing groups in the United States thanks to a birthrate that is three to four times higher than the U.S. average. (There are also Amish settlements in Canada and a Beachy Amish Mennonite Fellowship in Ireland.)

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Thank you for stopping by today! I hope you’ve enjoyed this quick comparison.

Please leave a comment below to enter for a chance to win a set of The Women of Lancaster County series OR a copy of My Brother’s Crown.

Fine print: Giveaway is open internationally and lasts through November 24, 2015. Participants must be 18 years old or older to enter. Two winners will be randomly selected—one for The Women of Lancaster County series (four-book set) and one for My Brother’s Crown. These winners will be contacted via email on Wednesday, November 25. The prizes will be provided by the author, and the giveaway is in no way sponsored by or affiliated with Facebook, WordPress, Pinterest, or Twitter.

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Leslie Gould is a bestselling author of 20 novels. She received her master of fine arts degree from Portland State University and lives in Oregon with her husband, Peter, and their four children. Connect with Leslie at www.lesliegould.com.

Filed under: Amish Facts, Amish Fiction, Leslie Gould by Amber | AmishReader.com
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It’s countdown week at AmishReader.com! Anna’s Healing (Book 1 in the Plain & Simple Miracles series) is available now, and we’re celebrating with a series of fun little interviews with author Vannetta Chapman. Let’s discover something new about this prolific Amish-fiction author and dive into the major themes of her new book!

Today’s interview involves a traditional Q&A inspired by Anna’s Healing…

AmishReader: Have you ever experienced a miracle?

Vannetta: I believe I have. Miracles of grace, miracles of forgiveness, and unexplainable miracles. I’ll give you one example.

I was walking with my son (who was very young at the time, maybe five years old). He had our small dog on a leash and I had our large dog. As we passed a neighbor’s yard, their two large aggressive dogs broke through the wooden fence. Those dogs were frothing at the mouth, snarling and snapping.

Immediately a man and woman appeared in front of us. They commanded the dogs to sit. The dogs did, without another sound. Then the man told me to take the leash from my son, so that I had both of our dogs. “Go home, and we’ll take care of this.” My son and I were both terrified. We didn’t want to turn our backs on those large dogs, but we did.

Once I had my son inside the house with our dogs, I went back out to thank the man and woman, but they were gone. The dogs were back in their yard, and a barrier had been placed against the broken portion of the fence to keep them in. Although I’d been inside less than 2 or 3 minutes, there was no sign of the couple who saved us. To this day, I believe that they were angels.

AmishReader: How did you first learn about Project Linus, a nonprofit featured in Anna’s Healing?

Vannetta: I attend quilt shows to sell books. It’s a wonderful venue, because nearly every book about the Amish includes quilting. While at one of the shows, I came across a Project Linus booth, and I’ve seen many since then. It’s a wonderful organization and one I wholeheartedly support.

AmishReader: How has your life been impacted by Project Linus?

Vannetta: When I’m sewing for someone else, someone that I don’t even personally know, it changes that task. It turns it into something very special. When I remember to pray for the person who will be receiving my blanket, I forget my own problems.

AmishReader: What was the hardest part about writing Anna’s Healing? The best?

Vannetta: Probably the hardest part was trying to explain how and why a miracle happens to some people and not to others. The best part was hearing from readers as I was writing the story—readers who told me their experience with miracles.

AmishReader: What’s coming next in the Plain & Simple Miracles series?

Vannetta: Joshua’s Mission (coming February 2016). Many people don’t realize that the Amish participate in missions—both domestically and internationally. I love having the opportunity to talk about the good work that they do. Before I wrote this book, my husband and I joined the Emergency Response Team at our church, and while I was writing it we responded to the flooding in central Texas. It was humbling to be able to help people who had lost everything, and I think those experiences helped me in the writing of Joshua’s Mission.

Thank you so much for chatting with us, Vannetta!

And thank you, readers, for joining us this week to celebrate Anna’s Healing! Would you consider purchasing a copy for yourself or a friend through AmazonSmile to support both Vannetta and Project Linus? See image below for details!

* * *

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Vannetta was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time where she lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

Visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com.

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It’s countdown week at AmishReader.com! Anna’s Healing (Book 1 in the Plain & Simple Miracles series) releases TODAY, and we’re celebrating with a series of fun little interviews with author Vannetta Chapman. Let’s discover something new about this prolific Amish-fiction author and dive into the major themes of her new book!

Today’s interview gives us a peek at some of Vannetta’s favorite things pertaining to Anna’s Healing…

Vannetta’s Favorites

• Character in Anna’s Healing: I adore Anna’s grandmother. Mammi is old and somewhat infirm, but she is a strong pillar of faith and encouragement. We all need a mammi in our lives, and we all need to be Mammi to someone else.

• Line in the story: I have several favorite lines from this story. One is, “Her grandmother’s love was both deep and wide. It was a miracle in itself.”

• Experience on her research trip to Oklahoma Amish country: When I walked into an Amish store and saw an Amish woman behind the counter sewing on a Singer sewing machine. It was allowed because she was at work rather than home. She was a much better seamstress than I am!

• Miracle Jesus performed, as recorded in the Gospels (besides the best one of all, the Resurrection and forgiveness of sins!): One of the inspirations for this book was Mark 2:1-5. This is the story of the paralyzed man being healed by Christ. The man’s friends bring him to Jesus. Unable to get into the room, they lower the man down through the roof. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” What compassion and grace, and what a testament to true friendship.

• Verse or chapter from the book of Psalms: I love the Psalms! One of my favorite passages is Psalm 100. These 5 verses are packed with joy.

Your turn! Do you have some favorites from the list that you would like to share? Let us know in the comments, and join us for Part 5 of the interview tomorrow!

* * *

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Vannetta was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time where she lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

Visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com.

* * *

P.S. To celebrate the release of Anna’s Healing today, we have an exciting autumn-themed giveaway happening on our Facebook page! You can enter to win a prize pack that includes a small quilt, a cookbook, two candles, and a copy of Anna’s Healing. You’ll find the giveaway form at this link → http://gvwy.io/1t68y2j

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Vannetta Chapman by Amber | AmishReader.com
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It’s countdown week at AmishReader.com! Anna’s Healing (Book 1 in the Plain & Simple Miracles series) releases tomorrow, and we’re celebrating with a series of fun little interviews with author Vannetta Chapman. Let’s discover something new about this prolific Amish-fiction author and dive into the major themes of her new book!

Today’s interview presents Vannetta with five sets of either/or situations…

Which would Vannetta choose?

1. Attending a harvest festival or a quilting bee?

I can’t go to both? Hmmm. Can I quilt at a harvest festival? Honestly I would love to attend both!

2. Writing an uplifting article to brighten someone’s day or a hard news story that enlightens people?

Uplifting article. Lots of other people write those hard news story. I strongly believe that people need a word of encouragement.

3. A day working in the garden or a day running a produce stand?

Hahaha. I’d pick working in the garden, and yes—I would slip a book in my pocket to read now and then.

4. Planning a visit with family in a different state or going on a spontaneous road trip?

I love my family, but I ADORE road trips. I have my father’s traveling bug … so I’ll pick the road trip. And maybe we can manage to visit a few family members while we’re at it.

5. A golden autumn afternoon or a rainy autumn morning followed by a rainbow?

I would pick the golden autumn afternoon. As I’m writing this it’s 98° in Texas in September. Bring on autumn! Plus I like the way the leaves sound when I walk through them.

Your turn! Which options would you choose, readers?

Join us tomorrow for Part 4 of the interview!

* * *

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Vannetta was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time where she lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

Visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com.

*Flower photo courtesy of Vannetta Chapman.

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Vannetta Chapman by Amber | AmishReader.com
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