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Tuesday, July 09, 2013

A WEDDING FOR JULIA - Vannetta Chapman - One Free Book

Welcome back, Vannetta. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?
The joy of friendship, and how that is such a gift from the Lord. Also, God's grace, how it is infinite and it will cover all things.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?
The Christmas Quilt will release in October ... this is part of the Quilts of Love series. It is also a sequel to A Simple Amish Christmas.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?
Maybe Janette Oak.  I grew up reading all of her works, and remember how enthralled I was with Love Comes Softly. I was fortunate to be in the room at the ACFW conference a few years ago when she was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. I'd love to sit down with a cup of tea with her.

I loved seeing here there. I was in a picture with her and two other women. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?
Mother Teresa has always been someone who fascinated me. I'd love to spend some time working beside her and gaining her perspective.

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?
By telling them my story. I had hundreds upon hundreds of rejections. I didn't sell until I'd finished my 9th manuscript. And now I'm writing for 3 very big publishers. Things happen in God's time, not in my time – and that's certainly a good thing.

Tell us about the featured book.
The idea for A Wedding for Julia was born in a Bible study group. I had the awesome experience of participating in a Bible study entitled, The Bible in 90 Days. It was during that study that I came across Genesis 24:67. “Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.” I couldn't let go of that image of God providing a lifelong love for Isaac before he had even met the woman. And Isaac, he trusted God and married Rebekah. What a wonderful God we serve. Julia's story began there, in the pages of Genesis. I hope it is one that brings readers hope, inspiration, and a touch of God's grace.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Pebble Creek, Wisconsin
March
Julia Beechy stood next to the open grave and prayed the wind would stop howling for one moment. Next to her, she could feel her mother trembling. Ada Beechy had turned seventy-eight the previous week, two days before Julia’s father had passed. It would have been perfectly acceptable for her mother to sit, especially in light of the mist, the cold, and the wind.
Ada Beechy had no intention of sitting.

But Julia did shuffle one step closer to her mother, so that their sleeves were touching, as the bishop began to read the words to the hymn Ada had requested—“Where the Roses Never Fade.” Ada had stared out the window of their kitchen, her attention completely focused on the rosebushes, which had yet to bud, while members from their church sat beside Jonathan’s body in the next room. She’d gazed at the bushes and made her request.

Bishop Atlee had nodded, ran his fingers through his beard, and said, “Of course.”
Julia tried to focus on the bishop’s words as the men—the pallbearers—covered the plain coffin with dirt. How many shovelfuls would it take? Would Bishop Atlee have to read the hymn twice? Why was she worrying about such things?

David King stepped back, and Julia realized they were finished. Bishop Atlee bowed his head, signaling it was time for them to silently pray the words from the passage in Matthew, chapter six, verses nine through thirteen—their Lord’s prayer. Julia’s mind formed the words, but her heart remained numb.

“Amen,” Bishop Atlee said, in a voice as gentle as her mother’s hand on her arm.

The large crowd began to move. Words of comfort flowed over and around her. There had been a steady coming and going of people through the house to view her father’s body for the entire three days. Julia had become used to her privacy as she cared for her parents alone. The large amounts of food and the people had surprised her. Some of them she saw at church, but others came from neighboring districts. Those she barely knew.

She and Ada turned to go, for their buggy was marked with a number one on the side. The white chalk against the black buggy caused Julia’s heart to twist. They had led the procession to the cemetery. They would lead the gathering of friends away from the graveside.

But Julia realized she wasn’t ready to leave.

She pulled back, needing to look one more time. Needing to swipe at her tears so she could read the words clearly.

Jonathan Beechy
11-3-1928
3-6-2012
83 years, 4 months, 3 days

Now she and her mother were alone.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
webpage-- www.vannettachapman.com   
twitter -- @VannettaChapman          
pinterest – www.pinterest.com/vannettachapman

Thank you, Vannetta, for sharing this new book with us and the way you found the story.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Wedding for Julia - Christianbook.com
A Wedding for Julia (The Pebble Creek Amish Series) - Amazon.com

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.)

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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, 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.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

27 comments:

  1. Hi,

    I love how you came up with the idea for A WEDDING FOR JULIA. That's just wonderful.

    Mary P

    QLD AUSTRALIA

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  2. Great to see Vannetta on Lena's blog.
    Amy C
    VA

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  3. Hi Mary. I'm glad you enjoyed the blog! Amy, it's great to be here!

    Lena, I appreciate your having me. Also, I wanted your readers to know that books 1 and 2 in this series (A Promise for Miriam and A Home for Lydia) are on sale today for $1.99 in ebook format. Also this book will be out in ebook format by the end of the month. Thanks again!

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  4. I would really like to win A Wedding for Julie, I love Vannetta's books, thank you for the chance.

    Wendy from FL

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

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  5. Anonymous9:39 AM

    would love to win.

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  6. Anonymous9:39 AM

    oops forgot to say Angela from KY

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  7. Thanks for entering, y'all. It's good to see everyone is reading this summer. :)

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  8. Such a nice interview. Vannetta Chapman is a treasure to read and one I appreciate.

    I'm in middle North Carolina

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  9. Linda McFarland8:06 PM

    Hi Vannetta, I adore "Love Comes Softly", too. Great interview. Love your books and your website is awesome! Linda

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  10. I so would love to win this. I love her books - so anointed of God.
    jrs362 at Hotmail dot com

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  11. thanks for the chance to win Vannetta's book
    live in ND

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail[dot] com

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  12. thanks for the chance to read this beautiful story

    karenk...from PA
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  13. I appreciate y.all stopping by!

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  14. I would really like to read A Wedding for Julia. Please enter me.

    Tonja S. in Virginia

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  15. This sounds very interesting! I purchased books 1 and 2 on the ebook format sale a few daysa ago, and would love to follow up with this one. The way the Lord led you into this book, through Isaac & Rebekah's life in Genesis, is awesome! Jeanie in Phoenix, AZ

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  16. Enter me!
    Sarah Richmond
    N.C.

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  17. Thank you all for entering. And MAMA CAT, just to let you know, Julia will be out in ebook format by the end of the month.

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  18. I love reading Vannetta's books and love reading Amish.
    From South Mississippi
    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  19. I enjoy your books and would love to win. Like Amish fiction very much. sharon, CA

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  20. I've enjoyed some of her stories so I'm excited to read this one!

    Heidi, CA

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  21. Love Vannetta's books - looking forward to reading this one also!

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  22. A Wedding for Julia sounds wonderful.Thank you for the opportunity to win . Have a great week.

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  23. I enjoyed the first 2 and look forward to reading this one. I'm in MN.

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  24. Anonymous2:20 PM

    I love reading Amish fiction and would love to read this book
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann in NY

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  25. I enjoyed the interview. I am looking forward to reading this series and would love to win a copy of A Wedding for Julie.
    Tennessee

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  26. Sharon Richmond Bryant3:06 PM

    Enter me!!
    Sharon Richmond Bryant
    Conway,SC.
    sharonruth126@gmail.com

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  27. I have read the first two books in this series and I am so happy to be entered in this giveaway. I look forward to reading A Wedding for Julia.
    Beth from Iowa

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