Anybody up for a blog hop about works in progress?

Just for fun, a bunch of authors are answering questions about our latest WIPs (works-in-progress), and here are my quick quips. Be sure to click the links at the bottom to keep hopping on to see what’s next!

What is the working title of your book? A Little Bit of Charm

Where did the idea come from for the book? I read a non-fiction account about the Old Order Amish moving from Lancaster, PA due to the exorbitant price of farmland. I was intrigued by the smaller, more remote communities they were moving into and what major differences they would find. So I traveled to Maine, Missouri and Kentucky to research new districts. This final book in the New Beginnings series is set in the Blue Grass State.

What genre does your book fall under? Inspirational Amish Romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? I would choose Leonardo DiCaprio to play my tender-hearted horse trainer Jake Brady and the lovely Reese Witherspoon for my blond heroine caught between two worlds.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Rachel King wants nothing more than to work with horses, but when her handsome boss sweeps her off her feet, she begins to doubt everything in life, including her faith.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? My book will be represented by the Seymour Agency and published by Harvest House.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? It takes me four and a half months to write the first draft, but I edit as I go along. So the manuscript only needs a thorough going-over when it’s finished. The final edit takes about two weeks.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? I would compare it to any books by Suzanne Woods Fisher, Kelly Irvin or Amy Clipston.

Who or What inspired you to write this book? I have been fascinated by the Amish since I was a child. When I decided to write solely Christian fiction, writing about their culture was a natural choice. For this particular book, the counties of Barren, Hart and Casey, Kentucky inspired plenty of plot twists.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? One of the sub-plots involves the potential spreading of the “wild” polio virus, almost eradicated in this country, throughout a religious sect that doesn’t embrace vaccines. With the recent flu epidemic, including the deaths at least twenty children, this is a timely topic.

If you haven’t read book one of the series, Living in Harmony, is on sale for Kindles for 2.24. Here’s the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Living-Harmony-Beginnings-Series-ebook/dp/B008G5FLHS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1361391903&sr=1-1&keywords=living+in+harmony

And don’t forget to hop over to Lillian Duncan’s blog next:

here’s her link:  http://www.lillian-duncan.com/

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Writers block, part two

Good Monday morning, readers. And what a lovely morning it is in Ohio. The sun is shining, the temps are above freezing, and the snow is melting. All three make me one happy woman. Last week’s and this week’s postings are mainly aimed at fellow writers. But if you’re a reader, I’ve got some good news for you, too. Living in Harmony, Lime Award winner for 2012 for Excellence in Amish fiction is on sale for E-readers, including Amazon, CBD, Barnes and Noble.com, iTunes, and Kobo. The price is 2.99 or less. Links are at the bottom. This price should last until Feb. 18th as far as I know. Thanks, Harvest House, for reducing the price of book one, to celebrate the release of book two! This week Cindy Elliott has posted her review of book two, Love Comes to Paradise. You could win a free copy if you drop by Cindy’s blog and leave a comment.  One lucky commenter will win a free copy of Love Comes to Paradise next week. Here’s the link: http://www.cindyelliottfiction.com/love-comes-to-paradise-by-mary-ellis-book-giveaway

Last Monday I started talking about “writer’s block” or more specifically, some things to try if your creative energy seems to have dried up. The second problem we sometimes experience is the haven’t-I-said-all-this-before-syndrome. We’ve got our story; we’ve got our multi-dimensional characters. But we’re trotting out the same old metaphors and tired verbs. It’s time to get away to someone else’s creative work that’s not in the genre you write. Read a book by a writer whose work you admire to see how they craft a story. No time to read a full novel? Go to a movie, again one with a screenplay by someone you love. Sit back, sip your soda, munch your popcorn and enjoy. I’ve been known to utter things like: What a delightful black moment, much to my husband’s dismay. The key is getting away from yourself. Then when you return to your work-in-progress, the well will be primed with fresh creative waters. Happy writing.

Happy Valentine’s Day–don’t forget your sweethearts! Don’t forget Lent starts on Wednesday. And if you haven’t seen the movie, Lincoln, go tomorrow! It’s Honest Abe’s birthday!! Have a great week, readers and writers…Mary

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008G5FLHS/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008G5FLHS&linkCode=as2&tag=harvesthousep-20

Barnes and Noble: http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=lhOFjTQPVzI&subid=&offerid=261457.1&type=10&tmpid=8432&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fliving-in-harmony-mary-ellis%252F1107956927%253Fean%253D9780736942867%2526itm%253D1%2526usri%253D9780736942867

Apple iBookstore/iTunes: http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=lhOFjTQPVzI&subid=&offerid=146261.1&type=10&tmpid=3909&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fbook%2Fliving-in-harmony%2Fid547296303%3Fmt%3D11

·Kobo: http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=lhOFjTQPVzI&subid=&offerid=258185.1&type=10&tmpid=9310&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kobobooks.com%2Febook%2FLiving-in-Harmony%2Fbook-iDbQramJ60eqFrgxpFYbQQ%2Fpage1.html

ChristianBook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?isbn=9780736942867&event=AFF&p=1169188

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Happy New Year and here’s our winner of Amy’s book

Happy New Year, readers, and I hope 2013 is off to a good start for you and yours.

Here’s our winner of Saving Gideon by Amy Lilliard….Johnda Scott! Johnda…you’re the next winner on Home Thoughts of a great piece of Amish fiction. I will be contacting you privately.

I am pleased to announced book three of the New Beginnings series is done and being sent to my editor at Harvest House today! I am tickled pink to get it done on time. A Little Bit of Charm will be released this summer.

Book two of the series, Love Comes to Paradise, has received it’s first editorial review from Romatic Times Magazine. They gave it 4-stars! Here’s the capsule version: The second New Beginnings novel is a sweet, adorable love story with credible characters who want a fresh start and to leave painful memories behind them. They encounter unexpected obstacles and rely on their faith to help them break through those obstacles. Ellis gives the Amish culture the respect it deserves, and her research on the Amish way of life shines in each of her stories. Thanks so much, RT magazine.

And finally, book one of the series, Living in Harmony, is still on sale in e-book version at all e-distributors like christianbook.com, amazon.com, b&n.com and i-Tunes. It’s under 3 bucks but today is the last day if you haven’t read this one yet.  On Monday, I start something fresh which will take me back to my beloved Wayne and Holmes Counties, Ohio. In the meantime, enjoy these fresh first days of a new year.    Mary

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Thanksgiving away from home

Greetings readers from the Golden Isles of Georgia!

It feels so strange to celebrate Thanksgiving far from home. We’re seeing palmetto and cypress trees, and live oaks shrouded with Spanish moss, instead of bare maples and black walnuts. Yesterday workers were stringing Christmas lights on palms trees. Do you know how odd that looks to someone who’s spent her whole life in northern Ohio? We’ve spent Thanksgivings in the past with parents, siblings, cousins and good friends along with their extended families. This year my husband and I will dine surrounded by strangers in the land of Georgia Bulldog fans. (luv that Uga!) On the beach this morning, we were the only ones wearing Ohio State sweatshirts. But it will be perfectly fine! Everyone is so friendly  here that we already feel right at home. Southern hospitality is not a myth! Whoever said home is where the heart is wasn’t kidding. Ken and I will be together. And in our hearts we’ll have all the people we’ve spent Thanksgiving in the past, both living and dead. I hope I don’t sound too maudlin but I am so thankful for everyone–friends, family, and dear readers who’ve dropped me a line about one of my books. You have touched our lives–thank you! And I wish you all the happiest of Thanksgivings.

Now if I can interrupt this program for a commercial….my publisher, Harvest House, is offering two of my books on sale starting tomorrow. A Widow’s Hope and Sarah’s Christmas Miracle.  From November 22-26 they will be at $2.99/each through ebook distributors—this includes Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Apple, and the Sony Reader from distributor websites (Amazon, CBD.com, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, etc.).  A Widow’s Hope was nominated for a Carol Award in 2010 and Sarah’s Christmas Miracle has been my best-selling title to date.

So if you’ve missed these, now’s the chance to get them for your e-reader on sale. I believe CBD is also throwing in free shipping on some orders. In the meantime…have a lovely Thanksgiving and….don’t eat too much!

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Help me welcome author Murray Pura to Home Thoughts

Good afternoon, readers….

I’m posting a tad later today due to the Frankenstorm. You would think Ohio would be far enough inland to avoid the brunt of Hurricane Sandy, but we just had a huge tree fall in front of our home, totally blocking the highway. The police and Highway Patrol have their hands full. The winds are howling, and it hasn’t stopped raining in 3 days. But today Home Thoughts welcomes Canadian author, Murray Pura. I just finished his book, The Face of Heaven, and I absolutely adored it! Murray combined my three personal favorites in one lovely book that I could not put down: the Amish, American History (namely, the Civil War) and a yummy romance. Here’s a blurb about the book:

Following on the heels of The Wings of Morning, the first book in Murray Pura’s Snapshots in History series, comes this compelling saga of the Civil War. In April 1861, Lyndel Keim discovers two runaway slaves in her family’s barn. When the men are captured and returned to their plantation, Lyndel and her young Amish beau, Nathaniel King, find themselves at odds with their pacifist Amish colony. Nathaniel enlists in what will become the famous Iron Brigade of the Union Army. Lyndel enters the fray as a Brigade nurse on the battlefield, sticking close to Nathaniel as they both witness the horrors of war–including the battles at Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Antietam. Despite the pair’s heroic sacrifices, the Amish only see that Lyndel and Nathaniel have become part of the war effort, and both are banished.And a severe battle wound at Gettysburg threatens Nathaniel’s life. Lyndel must call upon her faith in God to endure the savage conflict and to face its painful aftermath, not knowing if Nathaniel is alive or dead. Will the momentous battle change her life forever, just as it will change the course of the war and the history of her country.

If you love a good story, one set in a turbulent time in America’s past, I recommend you get a copy of The Face of Heaven. This book has something to appeal to everyone! Murray has graciously agreed to give away a copy of his latest to one of my readers. Please post an answer to this question: How would you deal with the possibility of killing someone during wartime?

I will draw a random winner of The Face of Heaven in one week. Stay warm, stay dry, and stay away from down powerlines, my dear readers!   Mary

ps. If you have a little time, please click on this link to check out a new free magazine for booklovers. If you click on my book cover, Living in Harmony, I might win some free advertising. thanks bunches!  http://www.bookfunmagazine.com/i/90331

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Welcome Vannetta Chapman to Home Thoughts

Today I’m pleased to welcome fellow Harvest House author, Vannetta Chapman, to Home Thoughts. Vannetta has published more than 100 articles in Christian family magazines. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, PA. She is an award-winning member of Romance Writers’ of America, has taught school for fifteen years, and lives with her family in Texas’ hill country.

Here’s the back cover blurb to whet your appetite: A Promise for Miriam, the first book in a brand-new romantic series from popular author Vannetta Chapman, introduces the Amish community of Pebble Creek and some of the kind, caring people there. As they face challenges to their community from the English world, they come together to reach out to their non-Amish neighbors while still preserving their cherished Plain ways. Amish schoolteacher Miriam King loves her students. At 26, most women her age are married with children of their own, but she hasn’t yet met anyone who can convince her to give up the Plain school that sits along the banks of Pebble Creek. Then newcomer Gabriel Miller steps into her life, bringing his daughter, an air of mystery, and challenges Miriam has never faced before. Will Gabe be able to let go of the past that haunts him? He thinks he just wants to be left alone, but the loving and warm community he and his daughter have moved to has other plans for him. After a near tragedy is averted, he hesitantly returns offers of help and friendship, and he discovers he can make a difference to the people of Pebble Creek—and maybe find love again.

I thoroughly enjoyed Vannetta’s look at the Amish of southwestern Wisconsin. Her heroine, Miriam, rings with authenticity. In A Promise for Miriam, the characters have realistic imperfections and encounter plenty of challenges to keep readers turning the pages. Their faith and strong sense of Christian community help them through life’s difficult challenges. Vannetta’s hero, Gabriel, is multi-dimensional and well-crafted. It was a joy to witness his change of heart. I eagerly look forward to the next installment of the delightful Pebble Creek Amish series.

Please leave a comment to this post to win a copy of A Promise for Miriam. Answer the question: What do you like best about Amish fiction?  Have a great weekend, readers!  Mary

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ACFW Conference in Dallas

Good Tuesday afternoon, readers!

Goodness, it’s good to be home. I returned on Sunday from 4 whirlwind days in Dallas Texas at the ACFW conference. What a great time I had with fellow Amish fiction authors, the folks from Harvest House Publishers, and my agent Mary Sue Seymour. I learned plenty from workshops given by Davis Bunn, Mark Kuyper, and Bonnie Calhoun. I participated in a “How to get published” panel with my agent and 5 fellow Amish fiction authors: Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Amy Lilliard, Shelley Shepard Gray, Amanda Flower, and Jennifer Beckstrand. And 10 of us signed books out at the Hurst Lifeway store. Thanks to everyone who came out and showed support! We attended a gala dinner wherein winners were announced for this year’s Genesis and Carols Awards. Now I’m home with a ton of laundry and bills to pay. But ahhhh..it was so worth it. I hope you enjoy the photos.

 

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At long last…pictures from BRMCWC

Hello readers,

I am home from my research trip to the Plain communities of KY! It’s good to be home. I finally have my photo taken last month at the writer’s conference in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mtns. of NC. The first is of my editor, Kim Moore, at Harvest House, yours truly on the left, and another lovely writer on the right, whose name escapes me at the moment! The second photo is of the ACFW Ohio chapter gang that all sat together at the final night banquet. I assure you…a good time was had by all and plenty of wonderful lessons learned at BRMCWC.  Have a super week, everyone!

 

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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.

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Here’s a contest to end all contests

Good Ash Wednesday, readers.

I just heard from my publisher, Harvest House, that they are running a contest on Faithful Reader and giving away 75 free copies of An Amish Family Reunion. that’s right–75 copies of my book! Price is right, no?? Go to this website and follow the directions to enter the contest. You MUST enter this contest from their website, instead of posting a comment here on my blog. (As much as I do love hearing from my readers…)  here’s the link: http://www.bookreporter.com/faithfulreader

Good luck to you all. And have a blessed day!

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