Mary Ellis's Home Thoughts

Chance to win a signed copy of An Amish Family Reunion

Mary Ellis — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:08:25 +0000

I just found a great blog called “Devine Detours”. The blogger, Kathy Harris, interviews both musicians as well as authors. Drop by and post a comment after my interview to be entered in a drawing for a free signed copy of An Amish Family Reunion. By the time I’m done anyone who wants a free book might just have one!

here’s the link to Kathy’s blog: http://www.divinedetour.com/?p=12297

Fun facts about your favorite authors

Mary Ellis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:44:29 +0000

Happy Monday! Want to know ten fun facts about your favorite authors. This book review site also has a great column about authors. Each author picks 10 fun questions to answer from a long list so they’re not all the same. Drop by this site to read mine, but be sure to click on the rest of your favorites. You’ll probably learn something amusing. here’s the link: http://www.examiner.com/christian-fiction-in-grand-rapids/10-fun-and-random-facts-about-amish-fiction-author-mary-ellis

right now the sun is shining and it’s warmed up to forty degrees. if this is winter, I’ll take it! enjoy this unseasonably break in our normal winter.

blessings, Mary

Copy of An Amish Family Reunion giveaway

Mary Ellis — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:30:05 +0000

Good morning, folks. Happy Wednesday. Don’t ask me what happened to my regular posting day of Monday. Mondays have a way of slipping through the cracks. But today I offer three separate chances of winning a signed copy of An Amish Family Reunion. You can simply post a comment here on my blog to be entered in the drawing for one of five free books. The drawing will be held on February 15th to honor my brand new website. Please drop by www.maryellis.net if you haven’t already checked it out. Sign up for my (future) newsletter for another chance to win.

And please drop by my friend and fellow author, Vannetta Chapman’s blog, for a third chance to win An Amish Family Reunion. Vannetta is halfway through reading my book and so far, so good.

here’s the link to drop by and post a comment. http://vannettachapman.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/an-amish-family-reunion/

All you have to do is leave a comment to be entered in the drawing. She will draw a lucky winner in about a week.

that’s it–have a great week. Ohio just dodged a bullet in the big snowstorm that just arrived in the East.

Join me in welcoming a new non-fiction writer

Mary Ellis — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:43:10 +0000

Today I’m interviewing a non-fiction writer who penned an amazing book titled: SubMission by Zeke Lam. This photo is of him with some children in the Dominican Republic.

I asked Zeke some questions to get a feel for his book.

1. Give us a blurb of your latest release SubMission: SUBMISSION focuses on the dire need for the body of Christ to operate daily with Biblical obedience. In other words, we willfully obey His voice and leading in our lives to the extent that we are willing to abandon any and all idols that separate us from the level of submission He expects from His children. In an era where compromise seems so typical, living a life surrendered fully to the Lord appears quite challenging. SUBMISSION hopes to capture the simplicity of absolute surrender to the voice of God.

2. What do you hope readers will take away from reading this book? My prayer is that each reader will walk away with the desire to submit every area of their lives to Jesus. Often times in the Christian faith, people have a tendency to plateau. I have been guilty of this, and found it to be due to the fact that there were areas in which I refused to let go. Hopefully upon reading this book, brothers and sisters worldwide will surrender like never before and position themselves for revival and spiritual greatness.

3. How did your personal faith grow/change during the writing? My faith was challenged in multiple ways. Perhaps the most convicting was the fact that the level of submission I wrote about must be present in my everyday walk. As I wrote, areas became exposed where I had failed to submit. Penning these words ignited my heart to daily walk and live a life of total submission to the voice and commands of Jesus Christ.

4. What do you see as the greatest challenge facing Christians during the twenty-first century? The greatest challenge is compromise. We take the word of God, mix it with a little bit of man and call it obedience. This cannot continue to happen if we expect to see the Holy Spirit work the way He is capable of working. In short, this can be simplified down to the word idolatry. Christians around the globe must identify the areas of our lives which hinder God’s presence and remove them.

5. What are you working on now? In relation to writing, I am working and praying hard to spread the word about SUBMISSION. In addition to this, I am preparing to begin working on the next book in the submission series.

Here’s a little about the author: ZEKE LAM is the founder of SUBMISSION Ministries—a ministry devoted to seeing lost souls encounter God and live lives fully surrendered to the risen Christ. A graduate of Liberty University, Zeke’s deep passion for following Christ’s will has led him through many years of youth ministry and itinerant evangelism. Both of these experiences have enriched and fueled his desire to hand others the keys to a Christ-centered life. Zeke resides in Virginia with his beautiful wife, Kathleen, and a growing family of future world-changers.

Look for the book on www.Amazon.com ISBN-13: 978-1-9374-8100-1

Zeke’s website http://submissionministries.org/

Everyone have a great week. The sun is shining in Ohio, so you know that makes me happy indeed! Blessings!

Greetings from Ohio’s Country

Mary Ellis — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:42:28 +0000

Happy New Year everyone, and I hope you’re enjoying winter wherever you live!

Here’s a photo I took down in Holmes County during an Amish farm sleighride. What fun that was with plenty of hot cocoa and cookies at the end of the ride. Although we haven’t had anywhere near as much snow so far this year as last when this photo was taken. And frankly, that’s okay with this big freeze-baby!!

Two reminders…don’t forget to drop by my new website and sign up for my (future) newsletter. You’ll be entered in a drawing for one of five free copies of An Amish Family Reunion. OR leave me a comment here on my blog. Either way, I will enter you in the drawing. And for those of you who Facebook, drop by AmishReader.com’s facebook page. They’re also running a drawing to win one of five free copies of Reunion. Good luck to everyone! And happy winter!

After Christmas let down?

Mary Ellis — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:41:00 +0000

Happy Tuesday, readers. Are you feeling blue after Christmas? All the delicious meals and time spent with friends and family can leave a void when the holiday is over. I like to look toward the bright and shiny new new year, just around the corner. I might not be big on resolutions, but I am big on fresh starts. And a new year always provides one of those.

I hope you’ll check out my brand new website, designed by the awesome Keiki Hendrix. It should go live on January 1st, if not before. It will have so many neat features that my blog didn’t have. But I still promise to blog faithfully each Monday, (or Tuesday in case of holidays…) Please check out www.maryellis.net after January 1st. Please tell me what you think along with your email address. I will select five comments at random and send them a free copy of my January release, An Amish Family Reunion. A new year…a new book! I’m so excited!

Oh, for those of you who got new Kindles or Nooks or Sony Readers, or any of the other e-readers, two of my titles are ON SALE for $2.99 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and www.christianbook.com If you haven’t read Abigail’s New Hope or Never Far from Home, now’s your chance.

If there’s one thing we need after the holidays…it’s a bargain! Blessings on you all!

Get my books on your e-reader for $2.99

Mary Ellis — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:04:06 +0000

Good Monday morning, folks. I have a great way to pick up two of my titles you might have missed, Never Far from Home and Abigail’s New Hope, for your e-readers for just $2.99. All the formats are included such as Nook, Kindle, Sony Reader and Kobo, and all the distributors are participating such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and CBD. This promotion runs from December 22nd until January 3rd so don’t delay!

Also, drop by AmishReader.com FaceBook page TODAY for a chance to win one of many free copies of Sarah’s Christmas Miracle. Sorry for the late notice, but I just found this out recently.

In the meantime, have a super Christmas week, and may the Lord bless you richly this Christmas season.

A simpler Christmas celebration

Mary Ellis — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:54:49 +0000

This is the time of year so many people become buried alive with stuff-to-do, including myself. We need to remember that we cannot do it all. (not if we wish to maintain our sanity…) We need to pick and choose how we prepare for Christmas, making time for the tasks and events we really enjoy. (okay, we might have to clean house even if we don’t enjoy it…) For instance, I like writing out and sending Christmas cards, so I’ll probably finish those today. But I don’t bake and never have. But if making Christmas cookies is joyful for you, then by all means get busy. Let’s just not forget that if we keep it simple, we can spend more time enjoying the holiday. And that’s the whole point, no? By the way, if any of you are members of the ACFW book club, my book is being voted on right now for the possible book-club selection for April. Please vote for An Amish Family Reunion if you’re a book club member by Wednesday 12-14. here’s the link:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/acfwbookclub/surveys?id=2399980

And finally, here is a lovely video Christmas card from our writing chapter, Ohio ACFW. It was put together by Michelle Levigne and she did a super job. here’s the link:

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=fd9eaa76cd4b9fd7dcd323&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

I wish everyone the most blessed of Christmases and all good things in 2012!

Thanksgiving memories to last a lifetime

Mary Ellis — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:36:55 +0000

We just returned two days ago from our Thanksgiving holiday trip. And those of you who know me or have been following my blog for awhile know that for me, time spent on a farm is time spent in paradise. My dearest friend invited hubby & me (actually, I invited myself, but let’s not split hairs…) to share the holiday with her husband, lovely daughter & fiance, and her daughters. She lives on a rolling farm in the gorgeous mountains of southern KY. If God would have called me home during the four days I spent with these loving people, I would’ve died a happy woman. Besides the delicious meal on Turkey Day, we spent Friday floating around in a houseboat on Laurel Lake, fishing, (one Rainbow Trout was caught by fiance John, which Julie cooked over our bonfire, and at least 6 people shared the bounty!) and roasting S’Mores. We had the lake to ourselves. But the best part of the trip was walking the meadows and trails on Pete and Donna’s farm while dogs blazed the way and hawks circled overhead. I felt the presence of God in His handiwork. Thank you, Taylor clan, from the bottom of my heart.

I hope everyone reading this enjoyed their Thanksgiving. Now, don’t get too caught up shopping and getting ready for Christmas. Remember to slow down, smell the cinnamon and pine (even if they’re only candles…) and reflect on how lucky we are to live here in the USA.

Happy Thanksgiving Week

Mary Ellis — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:21:02 +0000

Good Monday morning. I hope you all enjoyed the weekend and are gearing up for Thanksgiving in a few days. Actually, I absolutely love this holiday. It’s second only to Christmas in my favorites. Why, you ask? Because of the wonderful memories I have while growing up. My parents, although we lived a very modest/albeit poor lifestyle most of the year, went all out on this holiday. We, of course, had a huge stuffed bird, with all the trimmings, along with not one but two kinds of pie. Real whipped cream came out of an aerosol can that my brother and I squinted into our palms when no one was looking. My mom bought a bouquet of flowers at the grocery store for the table and even bought an inexpensive (and very sweet!) bottle of wine so everyone could have a small glass. We invited family, friends, and acquaintances. The guests were always different from year to year. My mom specialized in inviting folks who had nowhere else to go. I know now, as as adult, exactly what that feels like. I’m so glad my mom did that many years ago. My husband and I won’t be cooking a big bird just for two this year, but will be enjoying the holiday with great friends and their children and grandchildren. We are thankful for them! And we are thankful to our magnificent Lord who kept us alive and well for another year. If you have the time, please leave me a comment with your favorite Thanksgiving memory. And may you all be blessed this Thursday!!