Friday, January 13, 2017

THE AMISH WANDERER - Laura V Hilton - One Free Book

Bio: Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with almost twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs, and writes devotionals or blog posts for Seriously Write and Putting on the New.

Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye and currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife and homeschools her two youngest children. When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas.

Welcome back, Laura. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about? 
I don’t generally pick out spiritual themes, but a lot of them are based on trusting God even when you don’t see His hand moving. The theme of The Amish Wanderer is how you react when it seems God doesn’t hear your prayers? The two characters have different views on this.

What other books of yours are coming out soon? 
There *might* be an Indie published contemporary romance coming out with some other authors later this month, entitled Love in the Skies. My story is First Class, Wrong Flight. There also *might* be another collection with other authors releasing in April or May (these are not for sure, set in stone dates yet!) I don’t know the title of that collection, but my story is called The Kissing Bridge.  In August, I have a novella with Barbour Books in the Second Chance Brides collection called Married by Mistake. In September, Whitaker House releases another Amish Christmas story, The Christmas Challenge and in October another Amish book releases, but I don’t yet know for sure what that title will be.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why? 
A random officer in the Coast Guard so I could ask a ton of questions. Either that or one of my favorite authors so we could talk books.

What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why? 
Mary and Martha. The main character in The Christmas Challenge is like Martha and she has some interesting questions about Martha’s attitude and how (and if) she ever learned to sit at Jesus’s feet and listen.

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?  
Oh, good question. Keep studying and learning the craft, and don’t be afraid to let your pain into the book. Often that is the key to making the characters come alive – YOU know how it feels when you are rejected, go through a life-threatening illness, a life-altering event, or whatever. Let that passion out.

Tell us about The Amish Wanderer.
Bethany Weiss has been fascinated by Silas Beiler since he spent a couple of years in Jamesport, Missouri, before he and his family moved to another Amish community. They hadn’t kept in touch, but she hasn’t forgotten the friendly young man who brought her lemonade and took her home once from a Singing years ago. When she finds a man sleeping in her family’s barn, like Jesus sleeping in the hay, she is stunned to recognize Silas. He has left the Amish and is backpacking across the country. She talks him into staying, at least until after Christmas.

Silas’s family has never been happy living in one area for long, and their vagabond ways are wearing on him. He has lived in Amish communities all over the nation, moving whenever his daed became disgruntled with the leaders, and he’s looking for some sense of stability. His intentions are to make it back to Pennsylvania and stay with his Englisch onkle and his family—and pursue an education. Will Bethany be the one to bring Silas in from the cold? Or will he continue on his way to his extended family and become Englisch?

Please give us the first page of the book. 
November
The sky is falling and I’m searching for somewhere to hide. We need someone to help, but all I see are clouds in everyone’s eyes. If my fears could only be forgotten…

If only I could get out of this town.

An unidentified sound, loud in the relative silence, jarred Bethany. Her blue pen made a squiggly line across the page in the fat little notebook where she wrote her thoughts. Maybe she should’ve found a more secluded place than the hay pile beside the loft ladder, but she rarely was disturbed. She raised her head and listened.

Nothing, except the squeak of the wood doors in the back of the barn as her younger brother, Timothy, put the cows out to pasture. The soft lowing of cows. The clucking of free-range chickens.

Hopefully, he was too busy to notice she’d left—and wouldn’t look for her.

But there it was again. From somewhere overhead. A sound that didn’t belong. A creak and a thump.

Hopefully, it wasn’t Hen. She’d hear if he were out of jail, ain’t so? A thread of fear ripped through her, unraveling the tiny bit of peace she’d been able to find.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton

Purchase my books:

Thank you, Laura, for sharing this book with us today. It sounds like a good read.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

50 comments:

Lorraine Alexander said...

Thank you for the opportunity to win The Amish Wanderer. I live in NC & I enjoy reading Laura's books & other Amish authors

Blessings,
Lorraine

lollipops said...

Thanks for entering, Lorraine!

Deana said...

Would love to read your latest book. I live in Texas. Thanks for the chance.

Wendy Newcomb said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Amish fiction is my favorite genre to read. I would love to read about Bethany and Silas in The Amish Wanderer. Thanks for the chance.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in New York

Wendy Newcomb said...

I have been wanting this book, thank you so much for the chance to win a copy.

Wendy in Florida

wfnren at aol dot com

Mama Cat said...

I have been waiting for it, also - I am excited to see new books by Laura V Hilton! And have a few older ones to catch up on. The depth with which she writes is impressive, and I think the theme of this novel with resonate with most readers - including me, awaiting answers on several fronts. Thank you for the opportunity to win this!! Laura, thank you for your ministry of writing!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Carol Written said...


Hello from South Carolina. I have all of Laura's books to date. I'm looking forward to reading The Amish Wanderer.

Anonymous said...

Looking forward to a new book from Laura. I had the opportunity of meeting her when she was first starting out in a little town in Arkansas. I currently live in South Dakota and would love the opportunity to win Laura's latest book The Amish Wanderer. Many Blessings.

Mama Cat said...

Oh, I forgot to include it- Jeanie in Arizona! jeaniedannheim at ymail dot Com

lollipops said...

Thanks for entering, Mama Cat - Jeanie!

lollipops said...

I remember meeting you, Vicki! How are you doing? Good luck!

lollipops said...

Thanks for entering Wendy! I hope you like Bethany and Silas's story.

lollipops said...

Thanks for entering, Mary Pop Mom! Love your "name".

Lots of good Amish writers out there to choose from!

lollipops said...

Thanks for entering, Deana!

Tina Wyatt said...

Thank you for the giveaway. I love Amish books This looks lie it would be a good one. I live Alabama

Patti Bond said...

What a nice interview. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of The Amish Wander

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the chance to win. I live in New Hampshire.

lollipops said...

thanks for entering Patricia, Anonymous, and Tina! Good luck

ajwbear said...

thanks for sharing from your new book. I love books about the Amish and I love all your books. Thank you for the opportunity to try to win this book.

lollipops said...

Thank you, Andrea!!! Appreciate you stopping by.

Unknown said...

I have never read any of your books...This one sounds like a storyline I've never read before...would love to win it to and check out your writing style!

Linda Ortiz said...

Can't wait to read your new book! The story sounds good. Thanks for the giveaway, a fan from Canton, OH.

Strgth4yu@hotmail.com

Robin in NC said...

Amish stories are some of my favorites! Thanks for sharing the interview, excerpt & chance to win! rw620 AT aol DOT com

Patsy said...

I love reading Amish books. Looking forward to reading this one.

from South Mississippi
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

apple blossom said...

oh, for fun I love Amish books. thanks for the chance to win
live in ND

kim hansen said...

Sounds like a good read. Cool cover. north platte nebraska.

lollipops said...

I have a style all my own, Mary. I hope you do check out my books someday.

lollipops said...

Thank you, Linda! I hope you enjoy the book

lollipops said...

Thank you for stopping by, Robin!

lollipops said...

Hi, Patsy! Thanks for coming by. Good luck!

lollipops said...

Thanks for stopping, Apple Blossom. I've been to ND once. Somewhere near Devil's Lake. :)

lollipops said...

It is a lovely cover, Kim. Whitaker House did a lovely job.

Thanks for entering!

GrandaddyA said...

Sounds like a very interesting story. Thanks for sharing.
Edward A in VA

Unknown said...

I'm definitely interested in this book. It's my favorite genre, and a relatively new author for me.
susanlulu@yahoo.com

SavingsInSeconds said...

This is a new author for me, but I love the blurb. I love stories about lost love!
Dianna G. in TN

Connie Porter Saunders said...

This sounds like another wonderful story from Laura. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

lollipops said...

Thanks for entering, Edward. Connie, thank you so much. I hope you enjoy the book, Susan. Thank you, Dianna.

Unknown said...

I love Amish fiction! Thank you for the chance to win.

Melody B, Quebec (Canada)

lollipops said...

thanks for entering, Melody! Good luck!

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway, SC.

lollipops said...

Thanks for entering, Sharon!!!

Trixi said...

Thank you for the chance to win Laura's book! It sounds really good, I love Amish fiction :-)

Trixi in OR

lollipops said...

thanks for entering, Trixi

Trixi said...

Laura, I actually have three of your books on my shelf: The Birdhouse, The Amish Firefighter and The Postcard :-) So I'm excited to have the chance to add this one to my collection!

lollipops said...

Cool! Sam from The Amish Firefighter does make an appearance in The Amish Wanderer.

Trixi said...

Yay, thanks for letting me know that! :-)

Jennbenn said...

I love Laura's.books. Byhalia, MS

lollipops said...

Thanks for entering, Jennbenn. And you're welcome, Trixi