Welcome, Virginia. Tell us about your
salvation experience.
I was raised in a Christian home, so I’ve known the Lord as
long as I can remember. But I accepted him when I was 12 years old, after
seeing a movie at church called A Thief
in the Night. There was a scene in that book where a girl realized she
needed to make a personal decision to ask Jesus into her heart, apart from her
parents’ belief. That night I came home and asked my mom to pray with me. We
knelt beside the living room sofa and I accepted the Lord as my personal Lord and Savior.
You’re planning a
writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be
and why?
Lori Copeland, because I know how awesome she is to work
with after co-authoring 3 novels with her. Brandilyn Collins, because I admire
the way she creates tension on every page of her novels. Deb Raney because I
admire her skill at characterization. Allie Pleiter, because she’s such a livewire
and so creative.
Do you have a
speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.
I’m a certified lay speaker for the United Methodist
Church , so I do a bit of
speaking to fill in when a pastor is absent. I’ve been invited to speak at
ladies retreats around the country as well. Since I’m a fiction lover, my
favorite events have involved telling stories and then drawing spiritual
parallels.
What is the most
embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?
I stood up to speak at a ladies’ retreat once and realized I
couldn’t read my notes or my Bible. I’d been putting off getting reading
glasses out of vanity, I suppose. But the lighting was pretty dim in that room,
and I absolutely could not see. I made a joke about getting old and my vision
fading, and someone from the audience gave me a pair of readers. I was able to
get through the talk, and the next day I bought two things – a pair of reading
glasses, and a giant print Bible!
People are always
telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you,
too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?
Yes, they do. All the time. I tell them to sit down and do it. There are thousands of people who
have a great idea for a book, but they just talk about it. Once they start
actually putting words on paper – even if they’re not skilled yet at the craft
– they will either fall in love with the process, or they will give it up. Either
way, they will never do more than talk about their idea if they don’t act on
it!
Tell us about the
featured book.
The Heart’s Frontier is my 17th novel. I co-authored the book with the amazing Lori
Copeland, who has written westerns many times, but this is my first historical.
I loved it! The research was so much fun! Here’s a blurb from the back cover:
A lot can happen on a week-long cattle drive. Kansas
1881 - Halfway through a six-day journey to visit relatives, Emma Switzer's
Amish family is robbed of all their possessions, leaving them destitute and
stranded on the prairie. Walking to the nearest trading settlement, they pray
to the Lord for someone to help. When a dusty cowboy lands in the street at her
feet, Emma looks down at him and thinks, “The Lord might have cleaned him up
first.” ... Plain and rugged -- do the two mix? And what happens when a
dedicated Amish woman and a stubborn trail boss prove to be each other's match?
Please give us the
first page of the book.
July 1881
Nearly the entire Amish district
of Apple Grove had turned out to help this morning, all twenty families. Or
perhaps they were here merely to wish Emma Switzer well as she set of for her
new home in Troyer, fifty miles away.
From her vantage point on the
porch of the house, Emma’s grandmother kept watch over the loading of the
gigantic buffet hutch onto the specially reinforced wagon. Her sharp voice
sliced through the peaceful morning air.
“Forty years I’ve had that hutch
from my dearly departed husband and not a scratch on it. Jonas, see that you
use care!”
If Maummi’s expression weren’t so fierce, Emma would have laughed at
the long-suffering look Papa turned toward his mother. But the force with which
Maummi’s fingers dug into the flesh
on Emma’s arm warned that a chuckle would be most ill-suited at the moment.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
I’m at www.VirginiaSmith.org.
Plus, Lori Copeland and I have a website together – www.CopelandandSmith.com.
That is funny, Ginny. Okay, readers, help her find a name.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Heart's Frontier (The Amish of Apple Grove) - paperback
The Heart's Frontier (The Amish of Apple Grove) - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
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.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
25 comments:
This book sounds really good. Would love to read it.
from South MS
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net
love amish books and love this cover looks like there is fun written in the pages.
thanks for chance to win
live in ND
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
This looks like a really good book.
Thanks for entering me in the drawing.
I live in Odessa, Texas
OHHHH, I do so want this book!
I life in FL.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
wrensthoughts.blogspot.com
Sounds like a really fun book. Please enter me.
Krista in Oregon
I really enjoy Amish fiction - thanks for the chance
cheryl in IL
wrt
Please enter me. Its sounds very fun to read! Im from NC,
Katie G.
I'm very interested in reading this book since it is set in Kansas. I've read the first chapter and wanted to keep on reading! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of "The Heart's Frontier."
pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Kansas
I really enjoy reading Amish stories and this sounds like a very interesting story. Please enter me!
Blessings,
Jo from Southern Arizona
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com
Would love to read this book....Thanks...Jackie Tessnair..N.C.
I enjoy reading Amish books! Please enter me. Thanks for the chance to win.
I live in New York
I enjoyed the interview. Please enter my name, thank you. Judy C. in Louisiana
I love Westerns, Historical & Amish - THE HEART'S FRONTIER ticks all the boxes for me.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
I think this book sounds like it will be an absolutely enjoyable one to read. I can sense that it will have some humorous moments in it. I would love to win a copy of "The Heart's Frontier".
Loved the interview. I too was 12 years old when I gave my heart to Christ and was baptized in Big Turkey Lake!
Blessings to you both!
Judy from Indiana
Enter me I would love to win a copy of this book it sounds and looks like a great story!! Thanks and God bless.
Sharon Richmond
Blanch, NC.
it looks like a really good book, I would Love to read it. Thanks for the chance to win
Thanks
Joanna Richmond
Blanch NC
Looks interesting!
Please enter me in the drawing!
God Bless,
Sarah
Blanch,N.C.
Would love to win this book, Amish books are my favorite...thanks,Dani's Grandma/OH
Wonderful interview. Love reading Amish fiction and would love to win this book. Thank you for the opportunity.
Karen Gervais, Troy, NY
kmgervais@nycap.rr.com
ndepube tivallitThank you for the Interview. Your books sounds great and I would love to win it. Amish fiction is my favorite and I like the Cover (smile)
I live in S.Illinois
ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com
Wow - mixing Amish Fiction & Westerns - sounds like a great story!
Elaine in Iowa
Enter me!
Abigail
Blanch, N.C.
This is a book I would really enjoy.
Beth from Iowa
Hi!
I'd love the opportunity to win a copy to read!
Thank you for the chance!
~Mippy in Northern Utah, USA
bunnysmip (AT) yahoo (DOT) com
Looks like a great book!
Kentucky
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