A super women’s retreat

Spending time with other women, away from home and chores and responsibilites, is a rare treat. I recently attended the Macedonia Methodist Women’s Retreat in Amish Country with my cousin, Nancy, and her grand-daughter. We stayed at the luxurious Carlisle Inn in Sugar Creek where the food was delicious and and ambience was perfect. But most of all we learned about 3 super charities and the good they are doing in the world: Restore Innocence (rehabilitating human trafficking victims) Nehemiah Mission (local Cleveland charity) and Camphor Mission Station in Liberia, Africa (providing midwife & birthing supplies to reduce infant and new-mother mortality). My eyes were opened to these needs in the world and the super women actively striving to meet the demand. Please google the names if you wish more info. And here’s a photo of my cousin and her grand-daughter.

Have a lovely week, readers. At least for today I refuse to whine. We have it so good in this country compared to the rest of the world. Let us all be grateful.

Anybody have a young adult in the household?

Because if you do K. Dawn Byrd has a new book out. Shattered Identity is the sequel the Mistaken Identity, which sold more than all of her other books combined and was one of her publisher’s 10 picks when they decided to go to print. She’s giving away a giftcard for a free download to one lucky reader who posts a comment. Below is the blurb for Shattered Identity and also a link if you’d like read an excerpt.

Lexi Branson thinks she’s found the guy of her dreams. So what if he’s older? Her new motto is, “Love knows no boundaries or age limits.” Zack Bane loves her and treats her like a princess and that’s all that matters.
Lexi soons discovers that she doesn’t know Zack as well as she thought. He has secrets, the kind that shatter the lives of those who love him. When faced with the truth, Lexi tries to hang onto him because she has a secret of her own.
When Lexi ends up in danger, she discovers she has no one to turn to except her ex-boyfriend, Jeremy. Can Jeremey, who is still in love with her, keep her safe from Zack? When faced with a choice will Lexi choose to stay with the guy who has become a stranger or will she choose Jeremy, the guy who loves her with all his heart?
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-285/Shattered-Identity-K.-Dawn/Detail.bok

Well  I’m off to North Carolina for the BRMCWC. I can’t wait to meet old and new friends, take classes, work on a new proposal, and most of all soak in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. Places on earth don’t get any prettier than Ridgecrest NC. have a lovely weekend, readers!

The winner of last week’s drawing and a new guest

Good Tuesday morning, readers. You probably thought I forgot to announce the winner, no? Actually, I’ve been buried trying to finish Love Comes to Harmony, part 2 of my New Beginings series. Hooray, it’s done except for a proofreading and the recipes. Without further ado, our winner of Promised to Another, part 3 of The Amish of Seymour series by Laura Hilton is Jane Squires! Congrats, Jane, I’m sending Laura your e-mail address. She will contact you to about your free signed copy. Thanks to everyone who entered the drawing. No romantic fiction to offer this week. Today I’m honored to showcase Cynthia Simmons who wrote a self-help devotional book for those who struggle with some of life’s most difficult issues. She has a new companion study guide. Here’s more about Cynthia’s book, Struggles and Triumphs: What’s wrong with our world? Shouldn’t a God who claims to be all powerful and flawless prevent suffering? How can we continue to believe when storms rage on in our lives? If you’ve ever had tough questions like these Struggles and Triumphs Study Guide is the book for you. Author Cynthia L. Simmons will guide you toward answers with her unique and enlightening approach. Her twelve-week Bible study for ladies comes from stories of real women as told in Struggles and Triumphs: Women in History Who Overcame. As you study, you’ll come to understand God’s perspective on timeless issues that impact your life. The carefully chosen Scriptures combined with interesting historical information will challenge and encourage you. Cynthia was born in Chattanooga, TN. Her parents named her Cynthia Lynn so that she’d have the same initials as her father, C.L. Thomas. At six she professed faith in Jesus Christ. She graduated from Tennessee Temple High School as Class Salutatorian. In 2004 she joined Christian Authors Guild (CAG) and has served as chaplain, conference director, vice president and president. Members awarded her Lifetime Membership in 2009. Cynthia’s writing appeared in CAG publications, NATHHAN NEWS, Chattanooga Regional Historical Magazine, Georgia Right to Life Newsletter, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Catholic Exchange, and Christian Devotions. us. Her first book, Struggles and Triumphs came out in 2008. While promoting her book, she had interviews on radio and TV across the nation, and was nominated for 2008 Georgia Author of the year. Study guide cover Please leave a comment for Cynthia for a chance to win a free copy of Struggles & Triumphs, a book we all need at some point in our lives. Have a lovely week, readers. It’s raining in Ohio and that’s fine with me…I just planted my tomatos. Spring has sprung and I’m one happy camper!

Home Thoughts Welcomes Laura Hilton

Good Friday morning, readers! Today before I head on down to Holmes County for a book-signing I wanted to tell you about a great book I finished reading called Promised to Another by Laura Hilton. Laura is a super writer friend who lives in Arkansas and writes Amish Fiction, same as yours truly. Although Promised to Another is book 3 of the Amish of Seymour series, it “stands alone” just fine in case you haven’t read the first two. (book one: Patchwork Dreams, book two: Harvest of Hearts). This is a beautifully written story about a “love triangle”-my personal favorite in romances. I’d rate the book 5-stars! here’s the blurb:

Annie Beiler is an Amish school teacher. She was in love with an Amish man, Luke Stultz, but Luke left the Amish community during his rumspringa, but not without begging Annie to go with him. Now Luke is back, trying to win back Annie’s love. Joshua Esh may be Amish, but he has been bitten by the travel bug. He sees the opportunity to relocate fromPennsylvaniatoMissourias a way to satisfy his longing to see another place yet remain with people of his faith. Josh quickly notices the beautiful Annie, but Annie is slow to respond. With Luke in the picture, and Josh’s admission that he willingly left his district, will either man be steady and dependable enough to win the gift of Annie’s heart?

If you’d like a chance to win a free copy of Promised to Another, Laura has one little question for you to answer. Her hero, Josh, kept a big secret that came back to “bite” him.  Post your answer and you’ll be entered to win a free copy. Drawing will be in one week, Friday May 4th. here’s the question: Have you ever kept a secret from someone and had it come back to “bite” you?

Now I’m off the Good Shepherd bookstore in Berlin, Ohio for a book signing at 11:00. anybody in Amish Country today? stop in and say hello. on Saturday I’ll be at the Carlisle Inn in beautiful Sugar Creek. ahhhh spring in Holmes County…what could be finer?

Dont’ forget to post a comment to be entered to win Laura’s book and happy reading!!

Visit Laura’s blog at: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/

 

What an honor and a surprise!

Good Wednesday morning, readers.

Well my taxes are in the mail, and now I’m back to my life, hopefully.

I have a wonderful bit of news. Last Saturday I taught a class on “Writing Amish Fiction for Today’s Market” at Wayne College, part of the University of Akron, here in Ohio. Afterward at the award ceremony, the college presented writing awards to high school, college, and regional winners in poetry, non-fiction and the short story. The final award of the day was the college’s Writer-of-the-Year for 2011-2012, which they presented to me. I was so shocked, it was all I could do to keep from crying on my way to the stage! I gave an impromtu speech at the podium, and I have no idea what I said.

Thank you, Wayne College, for honoring me in this fashion. And also allowing me to teach on your lovely campus.

Everyone have a lovely week! I’m back to work on Love Comes to Paradise, while enjoying spring in Ohio.

Two more winners to announce

Good Thursday morning, readers! If you’re wondering what happened to Monday, I’m wondering the same thing myself! All I know is I’ve been busy as a hornet finishing judging my share of Genesis contest entries. And goodness! They were great! We have some fine budding new authors out there waiting for their chance to break in. I loved the stories I read in the entries. Now I’m back to work editing Love Comes to Paradise which will probably release in Feb. of 2013. It will be second in the New Beginning series. Living in Harmony (set in Maine) will release in mid-July and I can’t wait. I had so much fun researching that book with my college buddy last summer.

Now without further ado, here are the winners of An Amish Family Reunion from Cindy Elliott’s blog. Nancee Marchinowski and Dawn Searcy. Your books are already in the mail to you. (I’m not slow sending things out!) I hope you enjoy the read. Thanks fellow writer, Cindy Elliott, for hosting me on your lovely blog.

Please say a little prayer for me…this Saturday I will be teaching a class on Writing Amish Fiction to college students. Although I’ve taught school in the past, this will be my first time teaching adults. I hope I don’t freeze up. (or start crying…) Wish me luck and have a super week. Hooray–the heavy frost the other night didn’t kill my tulips.

A Blessed Good Friday to you all!

I hope everyone is having a lovely Holy Week. We had dinner at our church last night that included communion at each table. It was lovely to break bread with others in this fashion. For Sunday the weather in Ohio is supposed to be lovely! I can’t wait to get to church and see everyone in their Easter finest!! Especially the little girls with their hats and pretty dresses. (Yes, I do listen intently to the sermon and sing loudly during each hymn, (even though I sound like a frog…) but I can’t help it. I love to see people dressed up on Easter Sunday. I remember a time when everyone dressed up every Sunday, but there I go again….showing my age!

I am so excited! The wonderful folks at Harvest House have just sent me the brand new cover of my next book!! It will be first in the New Beginnings series about three sisters who leave Lancaster County, PA to start new lives in smaller Amish communites throughout the US. The first is set in central Maine, where I had the pleasure of visiting and researching during the summer of 2011 and it’s called Living in Harmony.  What do you think? Did the cover designers do a super job of capturing their hope and excitement?

Now, this might not be a good time to go shopping, but Living in Harmony is on sale for $7.49. That’s 46% off the regular price! I don’t think it’ll be cheaper between now and the release date, but if it is, you’ll get the lower price. You could lock in this price at CBD and not be charged until the book ships in July. If you wish to take advantage of this low price here’s the direct link to my page at CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/living-in-harmony-new-beginnings/mary-ellis/9780736938662/pd/938662

Everyone have a lovely Easter. I hope my Texas readers are recovering from those tornados this week! Praise the Lord that there was no loss of life!!! Although the loss of property and mess to clean up simply broke my heart.