Sorry for the delay in picking a winner for Heidi’s military romantic suspense. Without further ado, Janet K. Brown, you’re the winner of Dog Tags by Heidi Glick. She will be contacting soon about your copy of Dog Tags.

This has been a bizarre weekend, rounding out a bizarre week. On a happy note, I got to spend time with Amish fiction authors Kathleen Fuller and Amanda Flower at the Sparrow bookstore in Middlefield, Ohio. I also got to celebrate our wedding anniversary with good friends at the Outback Steakhouse. (actually, we honed in our friend’s retirement party…) But a great time was had by one and all!

Then Sunday brought Father’s Day, and I was acutely reminded how much I still miss my father. Dad has been gone for sixteen years, yet the pain still hasn’t gone away. Does a child ever get over losing a parent? I don’t know, but for everyone who still has their parents, enjoy them. Life is short.

Happy final week of Spring, readers. Summer is just days away. And I am so ready!

Today I am welcoming fellow Ohio author Heidi Glick to my blog.

Heidi has written an intriguing romantic suspense that is so my cup of tea! Here’s a short summary of Dog Tags: When disabled ex-Marine Mark Graham reconnects with his best friend’s sister, he finds himself falling in love. But Beth Martindale’s presence is a constant reminder of events he’d rather forget. Mark wants to move forward, but the secrets surrounding her brother’s death as well as his own confinement to a wheelchair threaten to tear them apart. When a psychopath who calls himself The Knight fixates on Beth, Mark is determined to give her the protection he failed to give her brother on the battlefield, yet he discovers that a wheelchair isn’t the only impediment he has to keeping Beth safe. Will terror win or can Mark find the strength of mind and body to rescue Beth and find his own redemption?

I asked Heidi a couple questions about Dog Tags:

What provided the inspiration for this story? I wanted a villain with certain weaknesses that might help lead to his demise, but at the same time, I wanted the villain to be able to capitalize on the weaknesses of the hero. Also, I wanted a strong female as my heroine. I used my husband as part of my inspiration for my hero. My husband is quite the history buff and can spout off trivia facts at random. Also, one of my dogs served as the inspiration for the dog in the novel. And like the heroine, I’m a free spirit.

Where can my readers find you?  heidiglickbooks.comhttp://sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com
http://queencityquill.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/authorheidiglick
https://twitter.com/sheglick

I was shocked, and not in a good way. Is there anyone normal left in the world? Did all of these crippling traumas exist years ago, but we simply hadn’t named and gathered data about them yet? Or has our society deteriorated due to the constant onslaught of violence in our movies, on TV, in the news, in children’s video games, and just about everywhere. I have no answer. But I would love to hear your opinion.

Thanks, Mrs. Morales, for a real eye-opener. Have a great week, readers. And focus on pleasant thoughts today.  Mary

Thanks to all of you who left me a comment after last week’s post. I had been curious about a Christian’s viewpoint on horseracing, and in particular, gambling on races. I asked the questions: Can a devout Christian be a devotee? (of racing) What about plunking down two dollars on your favorite to win the race?  I loved reading your responses. My next book, A Little Bit of Charm, deals with a young man who breeds and raises a colt to be a winner. His devoutly religious dad takes exception to Jake’s obsession with racing, particularly the expense of training a horse to contender status. His new Amish girlfriend, a lover of horses herself, also disagrees with plenty in Jake’s new lifestyle.

I have always loved horseracing, and once laid a two-dollar bet on Winning Colors to win the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. (She did, by the way, but I only bet on her because she was a filly!) Most of you felt: A little gambling in moderation will not hurt, but anything excessive, or anything at all if you can’t afford it, should be avoided. I watched the Preakness this past Saturday. No money was involved. I loved watching those sleek Thoroughbreds do what they’re bred to do. But alas, they’ll be no Triple Crown winner. Oxbow won it, denying Orb his second jewel.

And finally, Maria Kulscar, your name was drawn as the winner of Love Comes to Paradise, book 2 in the New Beginnings series. Please contact be at maryeellis@yahoo.com so I can send that out to you.  Mary

This Saturday is the annual running of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, Maryland. Orb, the winner of the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago in Louisville, will be vying for the second jewel of the prestigious Triple Crown. The third and final stakes race will be the Belmont Stakes in New York, three weeks later. I will be watching on TV, routing Orb on to victory. None of my hard earned money will be at stake, however. I love watching horses race, pure and simple. I attended the Preakness once, years ago, and the Kentucky Derby four times. I enjoyed myself thoroughly at each event. These days, fighting traffic and mega-crowds is no longer quite so appealing. Alas, I’ve become a couch-potato Thoroughbred racing fan. Over the years, I’ve encountered other Christians who take exception to horseracing in general, and betting on races in particular. In book three of my New Beginnings series, I explore a young man’s dream of raising a Thoroughbred colt to contender status as a three-year-old. His devout Christian father grabbles with the son’s obsession with racing, both the cost of training and the lure of potential riches. His young Amish girlfriend grabbles with Jake’s obsession with money, period. I had so much fun writing this story, and learned something about myself along the way.

I’m curious about my readers’ opinions on horseracing. Can a devout Christian be a devotee? What about plunking down two dollars on your favorite to win the race?

To celebrate A Little Bit of Charm being sent to the printers this week, I’m  giving away a copy of Love Comes to Paradise to someone who leaves a comment. Please give me your two-cents worth. And have a lovely week! Contest open to US and Canadian residents. Mary

One final mention, tomorrow May 11th is the annual Ohioana Book Festival in Columbus from 10:00 until 4:00. Close to 100 authors will be participating, including yours truly, at the Fort Hayes Career Center on Jack Gibbs Blvd, off I-71. There will be 30 different author panels/roundtable discussions on topics including horror, fantasy, literary fiction, poetry, memoirs, children’s books and much more. The schedule of panel events is here: http://www.ohioanabookfestival.org/schedule/

I will be speaking from 12:45 until 1:30 on “Fiction by Women: A Writer’s Roundtable” with Emilie Richards, Duffy Brown, Linda Lee Greene, Sherri Hayes, and Kara Lynn Mackrory.

For complete info and driving instructions, click here: http://www.ohioanabookfestival.org/

Books will be sold and signed all day long. Please drop by and say hi if you’ve in the area.  Mary

Thanks to all of you who took the time to answer my question last week, “Are Amish Fiction books romances?” Since there were so many responses, I selected two winners of the 3-book Miller Family series. Drum roll please: my winners are Georgia R. Puckett and Brenda of email address, kittycro…

I will send out signed copies to A Widow’s Hope, Never Far from Home, and The Way to a Man’s Heart, as soon as I get those addresses. If you’re curious about the consensus: Yes, it was practically unanimous–Amish inspirational stories are romances! Thanks, I just needed to hear readers’ opinions.

And before I forget: Did you know that copies of my older books are available at a discount, postage-paid? You can purchase from me the 3-book Miller Family series (A Widow’s Hope, Never Far from Home, The Way to a Man’s Heart) signed and personalized for $25.00, shipped for free.

Also the Wayne County series, (Abigail’s New Hope and A Marriage for Meghan) is available for $20.00, shipped for free.

Email me at maryeellis@yahoo.com if you’re interested. In the meantime, happy reading. Spring has sprung in Ohio…and I couldn’t be happier. Mary

We have a winner of last week’s contest following the interview of Sharon Srock. Jackie Smith–you’re the lucky winner of Terri. Sharon will be contacting you shortly to arrange delivery. Thanks to everyone who entered the drawing.

This week’s drawing is for a three-book set of the Miller Family series. (A Widow’s Hope, Never Far from Home, and The Way to a Man’s Heart). Since I’ve received so many entries already, I will be giving away 2 sets of the Millers, instead of one. Page down to my question regarding “Are Amish fiction books romances?” and leave your comment there to enter the contest. Drawing on Monday May 6th. Open to U.S and Canadian residents.

Also, do any of my readers live in Ohio. I will be speaking, and signing books in four different Ohio locations during the next month, including this Saturday May 4th. If you live in Ohio take a look below where I’ll be. I LOVE to meet readers–they’re always a lovely group of people.

Booksigning with authors Amanda Flower and Nancy Herriman at The Learned Owl Bookstore, N. Main St, Hudson, Ohio 44236 on Saturday, May 4th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

Ohioana Book Festival on Saturday May 11th from 10:00 to 4:00 546 Jack Gibbs Blvd. Columbus, OH. Over 100 Ohio authors participating. Author panels, children’s events, guest speakers, besides book-signing. Lunch will be available. website for directions and specifics: http://www.ohioanabookfestival.org/

Author Talk/Book-signing on Saturday, June 8th from 1:00 to 3:00 at the Newton Falls Public Library, 204 S. Canal St, Newton Falls, OH 44444

Book-signing with Kathleen Fuller and Amanda Flower, Saturday June 15th at Sparrow Christian Bookshop, Middlefield Heritage Center,  14962 South. State Ave.  (SR 87 & 608) Middlefield, OH 44062

Author Talk/Book-signing/Brown Bag Luncheon on Saturday, July 20th at Noon at Dover Public Library, 525 N. Walnut St. Dover, Ohio 44622

happy reading, Mary

Lately, I’ve been asked this question several times…and it got me thinking. For regular romance readers, whether contemporary or historical, do you find Amish stories romantic when you read them? Romance readers often have certain expectations regarding the level of “heat,” so to speak. But almost universally, Amish stories are Christian inspirationals, thus the heat level would be zero. Yes, this culture usually produces plenty of babies, but how they come to be remains tastefully behind closed doors. Also, Amish fiction often has either a cozy mystery or a family drama feel to them.

So when someone asked me whether Living in Harmony would be classified as a romance I had to ponder for a moment. I told her “yes,” despite my young couple enduring plenty of problems before their walk down the aisle.

I want to hear your opinion. Many of you read many Amish fiction authors, beside other genres. Do you think Amish stories are romances? I will give away the 3-book Miller Family series (A Widow’s Hope, Never Far from Home and The Way to a Man’s Heart) to one lucky commenter. I’ll give away two sets if there are plenty of comments. So please give me your two-cents. And happy reading everyone!  Mary

Secondly, I’d like to welcome back Sharon Srock to my blog. Sharon has a new book out, The Women of Valley View: Terri. You can win a free copy of Terri if you answer the question at the end of the interview. Here’s the blurb: Despite a bustling day care center and a new foster child, Terri Hayes hungers for a family of her own. Then a plumbing mishap leaves her homeless and questioning God’s plan. Steve Evans’s gracious offer of his basement apartment as a temporary solution is an answered prayer.

Steve is a successful writer and a good father, but Terri is horrified when Steve’s book research leads him to a harsh confrontation with the parents of her foster child.  She needs to distance herself from Steve, but her efforts fall short as his two scheming daughters plot to make Terri their new stepmother. Will harsh words and sneaky plans drive Kelsey’s family further apart and put a wedge between Terri and Steve? Or does God have another plan in store? Here’s a free download to introduce the women of the series: http://bitly.com/SmQmUs

Sharon Srock lives with her husband, Larry, and two dogs in Rural Oklahoma. She is a mother, grandmother, and Sunday School teacher. Sharon has one and three-quarters jobs and writes in her spare time. Her favorite hobby is traveling with her grandchildren. She is a member of the ACFW and currently serves as treasurer for her local chapter. Sharon’s debut novel, The Women of Valley View: Callie released in October 2012. The second in the series, The Women of Valley View: Terri releases this month. Connect with her here: Bloghttp://www.womenofvalleyview.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SharonSrock#!/SharonSrock
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SharonSrock
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6448789.Sharon_Srock

Amazon:   http://tinyurl.com/d9kwdcc 

Barnes and Noble:  http://tinyurl.com/cud7xb6

Pelican book group:  http://tinyurl.com/cd5zqar

And finally, here’s the question to answer to win a free copy of her latest book: Have you ever felt God leading you off your expected path?  Have you ever felt God leading you off your expected path? Contest open to US and Canada residents only. Drawing in one week.

In the meantime, have a great week, readers!  Mary