Wednesday, November 26, 2014

A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN WEBSTER COUNTY - Laura V Hilton - One Free Book

Bio: Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools three of her children. Her two oldest children are homeschool graduates and are in college. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love. A nonAmish book Swept Away  released November 2014 from Abingdon Press. She is contracted for another three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, begins in November 2014 with The Snow Globe, The Postcard in June 2015, and The Bird House in September 2015, and A White Christmas in Webster County (Amish) released in September 2014. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites.

Welcome back, Laura. Why do you write the kind of books you do? 
I love writing about the Amish. A mix of contemporary and historical in the same book, a study of my family history, a platform for clear faith message, and romance.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life? 
The day that I knew my second son wouldn’t die from the weird disease almost claimed his life as a baby and was misdiagnosed multiple times before treated correctly.

How has being published changed your life? 
It introduced deadlines. And interviews.

What are you reading right now? 
At this very moment, I’m reading The Tidewater Sisters by Lisa Wingate. I’ll finish that tonight. Next up is Child of Mine by David and Beverly Lewis.

What is your current work in progress? 
The Birdhouse. It’s the third book in the Amish of Jamesport series, releasing in September 2015.

What would be your dream vacation?
Unlimited time and resources to travel across the Midwestern Amish communities and end at a cabin on Lake Superior.

How do you choose your settings for each book? 
Ease of getting to them for research.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why? 
My husband. We don’t have much alone time to date.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?  
I have five kids still at home, homeschool, and am a pastor’s wife. No time for other hobbies. J

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it? 
Quiet time!  I overcome it by attempting to zone other noise out.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Sit and stay. You won’t get published if you don’t sit down and write.

Tell us about the featured book. 
A White Christmas in Webster County  
Wanting to relocate from Shipshewana to somewhere new, Mercy Lapp answered an ad in The Budget to work as a mother’s helper for Matthew and Shanna Yoder in Seymour, Missouri. Mercy relocated from Shipshewana to give herself space and time to heal after the death of her beau in a fishing trip on Lake Michigan.

Abner Hilty fled Shipshewana to Montana to work on a ranch after he and his twin brother witnessed a murder. Now that the killer is safely behind bars, Abner decides to visit his brother Abram in Missouri where he’d settled with his bride of one month. Mercy is surprised to see Abner there, and equally surprised by how much he’d changed physically since she’d last seen him. Even though the two live in different districts they occasionally see each other in town and form a fledging friendship.

As Christmas approaches, an unexpected heavy snow lets Abner and Mercy spend a lot of time together in wintertime fun. Abner hopes to interest Mercy in a more permanent relationship. But then Mercy has a potentially life changing discovery. Will she return to Shipshewana to answer the summons of the past? Or settle in a new place?

Please give us the first page of the book.  
“Would you kiss me?”

Mercy Lapp stumbled to a halt. She looked up from the list she’d been perusing and into a pair of beautiful, twinkling blue eyes. They belonged to a clean-shaven Amish man who held out a pair of plastic vampire teeth on a Halloween clearance rack. They were brown, crooked, and ugly. He moved them closer to her.

Her stomach lurched. “Ewww. Nein!”

He chuckled, then glanced around.

She followed his gaze. They were alone in the aisle. She turned her attention back to him, surprised to find him falling to his knees in front of her, his hands clasped together as if in prayer, the package of teeth dangling from his fingertips.

“Have mercy!” He puckered up in an exaggerated kiss.

She blinked. None of the Amish men back home acted like this. So bold. So…tempting.

“Please? I’ll never get kissed by a pretty girl if I have teeth like these.” He lifted his hand and shook the package.

She wrinkled her nose. “Enough already, jah?” She tried to look away from those yucky teeth but got distracted by a dimple in the bu’s cheek.

He reached forward and fingered the hem of her dress—a bold move—then gazed up at her with an inquisitive expression as she stepped away. “An Amish-style dress. Pink. Camouflage. You aren’t from around here, are you?”

Mercy’s face heated. “Uh, nein. But…well, I just got here. I took a job advertised in The Budget for a mother’s helper, and I haven’t had time to make any new dresses. And Shanna, the woman I’m staying with, just laughed and said it’d probably be a gut thing to add some color around here anyway. I’m from Shipshewana

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

Purchase links to my books:



DeeperShoppinghttp://www.deepershopping.com/index.php?query=laura+hilton&x=0&y=0&module=productsearch&_logmode=Y&querymodule=SPX 

Thank you, Laura, for sharing this Christmas book with us today.

Readers, 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 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:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Angela Chenut in KY would like to win.

Britney Adams said...

I enjoyed the excerpt and would love to read more!

Britney Adams, TX

Deanna Stevens said...

“An Amish-style dress. Pink. Camouflage." that's my kind of girl LOL
fun! !
Deanna from NEBR

lollipops said...

Happy Thhanksgiving everyone! Deanna, shhe's my kind of girl too. I saw an Amish girl dressed like that in Shipshewana, IN and I thought she was Mennonite at first. But she was Amish. :)

Jennifer Hibdon said...

Sounds like a fun read! Thanx for the giveaway! Happy Thanksgiving!

Library Lady said...

In years past my Christmas's have been hot, cold, rainy, stormy, but never have they been white.
I enjoyed reading your interview with Laura.
Happy Thanksgiving to You & Yours!
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida

Diana Flowers said...

Aww, Laura. We've got to set up a date for you and your hubby! :(
I have a little wishlist of books saved in my email and this one is at the top. Along with Snow Globe! This would make a nice bday gift for me on Dec. 20, so I hope I win! lol Thx for the opportunity!

Diana in SC

dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com

Momtojandz said...

Awesome book!! So glad I read it. You will not be disappointed. A definite must read!

Melody said...

Sounds like I need to add this to my shelf.

Melody from Donna, TX

Sarah Rebekah Richmond said...

Sounds interesting, would love the chance to read it!!! Thanks for the awesome giveaway and God Bless you!!!
Sarah Richmond
N.C.

scottsgal said...

I've just started to read more Amish themed books and they're such an interesting culture - would love to read this holiday book

Cheryl in IL

Anonymous said...

I just finished the Snow Globe in a day and a half. I loved it snd can't wait to read the continuiation. I really want to read A White Christmas in Webester County, the excerpt sounds like alot of fun. Unfortunately my library doesn't have it.

Anonymous said...

This book sounds like another great one from Laura! I just finished reading Snow Globe and loved it.
Amish fiction is my favorite genre to read
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in NY

Melanie Backus said...

Sounds great and would love to read more!

Melanie Backus, TX

Unknown said...

You gotta love Christmas books :D

Unknown said...

Oh, I forgot! Indiana :D

Mary Preston said...

What a fun beginning. I'm going to love this.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Cindy W. said...

I love books about Christmas. I would love to win a copy.

I live in Indiana.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

Unknown said...

I've chased this one around the blogs a bit and have most definitely added it to my TBR list!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Blessings!
Kelly Y in central VA
kelly *at* dkcountryarts *dot* com

apple blossom said...

oh, I love Amish and Christmas reading this should be right down my alley. thanks for the chance to win

live in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

sm said...

I do enjoy Amish fiction and would love to win and read your book. I also homeschooled and was a stay at home mom while kids were young. They're grown up and married with their own kids now. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

Patsy said...

Would love to read Laura's book. I enjoy reading anything Amish.

From Mississippi
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

susanlulu said...

The reviews on this book are great! I've been wanting to read this. Hope to win it!
Susan in NC
susanlulu@yahoo.com

PriviesAndPrims said...

So sweet that you chose your husband to spend time with. :)
I live in Amish Country in Lancaster County, PA.

Doreen
PriviesAndPrimsAtYahooDotCom

Loraine N. said...

This sounds like an interesting read. Thanks for the giveaway.

Loraine from TX

Unknown said...

This book sounds really awesome, I can't wait to read it! I love Amish books, they make my spirit feel lighter and just make me feel better! I used to live really close to an Amish Community, so I got to know them better! I wish I could read Child Of Mine by Beverly Lewis and her husband, but things have been very difficult for me, I spend a lot of time in the hospital for treatments and I am waiting for disability to come through, so i have no money, sometimes not even for food! When you finish reading Child of Mine, if you would want to lend it to me, I would so appreciate it! Thanks so much for the opportunity to win your book! I would be so blessed to win! God Bless You and Your Family! Have a wonderful, blessed day! And please, keep writing the wonderful Amish books!!!
Frances from Deltona, Florida!

Anonymous said...

Love a good Amish book! Shelia from Mississippi

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me!!
Conway, SC.

Kelly Blackwell @ Heres My Take On It said...

Laura is inspiring. Five children, homeschooling and a pastor's wife. No small feat. I am impressed that through it all, she finds time to write so many great works. Thanks for sharing the interview.

Kelly
Prescott, AZ

Granny's Attic said...

Why have I not read this book yet? It's going on my TBR list right now. lisajcowell(at)cs(dot)com in Ohio

Unknown said...

5675Sounds like a great book to read. Would love to win.
seraphinangel7(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Tonja Beckley Ohio!
tbeck0000@yahoo.com
Love me some Amish reads!
Also love having Amish neighbors!

kec200 said...

This book sounds like a hoot!

Kathy from Wendell, NC

Abigail Mitchell said...

Looks great! Please enter me! Merry Christmas! :)

NC