Bio: Award
winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make
their home in Arkansas .
She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. 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 followed by her first
Christmas novel, A White Christmas in
Webster County, as well as the Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard in April
2015, and The Birdhouse in September
2015. Other credits include Swept Away
from Abingdon Press’ Quilts of Love series. Laura is a member of American
Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.
Welcome back, Laura. Why
do you write the kind of books you do?
I love contemporary romance and the Amish. Writing the
combination of this is a dream come true. A win-win.
Besides when you came
to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
Probably when I found out I was expecting my second child.
The first was a shock, we were young and scared, newly-married and in college,
and the second was an anticipated event that we were all excited about.
How has being
published changed your life?
It has taken me way out of my comfort zone in many areas.
What are you reading
right now?
Right now, I am starting Vannetta Chapman’s novella in An Amish Cradle.
What is your current
work in progress?
I’m writing the first book of a new Amish series set in Jamesport , Missouri .
What would be your
dream vacation?
Unlimited money, a travel trailer, and lots of time to go
wherever I want.
When we were younger,
James and I would have loved to have a travel trailer or motor home to travel
around the United States .
How do you choose your settings for each book?
I’m choosing real life Amish communities that I can
research.
If you could spend an
evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
This is hard. There are so many important to me people … maybe
my aunt. She lives a long ways away and I don’t get to see her much.
What are your
hobbies, besides writing and reading?
Spending time with my family, playing board games with them.
Traveling to my favorite places.
What is your most
difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Finding quiet time. I have learned to block out most “white”
noise.
What advice would you
give to a beginning author?
Put your bottom in a chair and write. And read a lot.
Tell us about the
featured book.
The Postcard
David Lapp (from Promised
to Another) survived a “code blue” when he was in a buggy/semi truck
accident in Seymour , Missouri . Now after extensive therapy he has
lingering mobility problems and is still struggling to find his place in the
world. Lured away from Webster
County by thoughts of
closed buggies and a postcard friendship he’s developed with an Amish girl in
Jamesport, he moves north, hoping for a fresh start. He finds work in the area
tying flies and basket weaving, selling his products in the Amish markets in
the Jamesport area.
Rachel Miller dreams of travel, but feels tied to her Amish
life. She is being courted by Obadiah Graber, but wonders if there’s more to
life. When she sees David’s name mentioned in The Budget, she strikes up a pen pal friendship with David while
he’s in the hospital and in therapy, consoling him when he and his girlfriend
part ways. She never dreams that David will come north and move into her
community. David is still fearful in the buggy, especially in high traffic
areas. Feeling he’s called by God to preach, David spends hours in the Bible,
but the Amish discourage him, believing their ministers should be drawn by lot.
Will David follow his call, even if it takes him out of the Amish church? Will
Rachel realize her dream to travel?
Please give us the
first page of the book.
The chimes on the door rang as it opened. She looked over
her shoulder. An Amish man entered. No beard, so he wasn’t married. But she’d
never seen him before. Odd, considering everyone made it to the Amish Country
Store sooner or later. Not to mention, the unmarried ones usually attended
Singings and frolics. Especially the ones where they could meet others from
different districts. It expanded the dating pool considerably. That was how
she’d met Obadiah two years ago, since he lived in a different district than
she.
The stranger pulled off his straw hat, revealing light brown
hair and dark brown eyes. He glanced at her and a slight smile formed as his
gaze skimmed over her. Something inside her jumped to life. Her stomach
fluttered.
Wait, she shouldn’t be so excited about a stranger. She was
taken. But there was nothing wrong with appreciating a handsome man. Tall and
handsome. Nice body. Strong looking. Except for his eyes, there was nothing
dark about him.
His smile widened, and he slowed to a stop. It was then she
noticed the wooden cane he carried, but didn’t use.
A cane. What happened to make him need one of those? An
accident of some sort?
Rachel stared at it, then blinked. She was being rude. She
looked away and resumed straightening the bottom shelf. But his presence loomed
behind her, making her more aware than she wanted to be of him. She really
shouldn’t fill her mind with romance if this was how it would affect her. Her
imagination worked overtime.
The floor creaked behind her. “I’m looking for Rachel
Miller. I was told she works here.” The stranger’s voice broke the silence.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
visit my blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/
& http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/
Purchase my books:
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/laura-hilton?store=allproducts&keyword=laura+hilton
Thank you, Laura, for sharing some of your life and this new book with us.
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
29 comments:
I enjoyed getting to know Laura V. Hilton and appreciate the giveaway. The Postcard sounds like a wonderful story!
Britney Adams, TX
Thank you for entering, Britney. Good luck!
I am intrigued by this story and would love to read the book. Thank you Lena and Laura!
Melanie Backus, TX
I would love to read this book.
BJ Marley in SC.
I'm looking forward to finding out the answers to all of the questions posed.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
The first page makes me want to read the book to find out about all the questions.
Beth from IA
I would love to win a copy of The Postcard! I have heard so many glowing reports about it. Thx so much for the interview and the giveaway opportunity!
Diana in SC
dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com
love to win thanks
live in ND
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot]com
I do enjoy Laura's writing and have seen this book but have not purchased it although it's on my wish list. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
Wendy from FL
wfnren at aol dot com
I have read some of Laura V Hilton's series and love her as an author would love to win a copy of the Postcard it sounds wonderful
Pam Myers , Mo
Thanks for entering, Melanie, BJ,Mary, Beth, and Diana. If you haven't read The Snow Globe yet, consider getting it. The books do stand alone, but the beginning of Rachel & David's story is mentioned in The Snow Globe.
Good luck!
I do enjoy Amish stories & this sounds like another good one!!
dee from NE
Nice, thanks Lena and Laura!
Thanks for entering, DeeAnna!
Apple Blossom, I love your "name". So springy.
Thanks so much, Wendy! Good luck!
And thank you for your kind words, Pam!
Thanks for entering everyone! Happy Easter!
Enter me in this awesome giveaway!!
Conway, SC.
Sounds like a good book - Angela from St. Cloud, FL
Would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Debbie Hazelton, NH
This sounds like a great book, Laura! And I do love Amish fiction.
The hubby & I want to own a 5th wheel trailer & truck so we can travel around the US when we retire too! It's been our dream for many years now & I hope and pray we can. There's just so much out there to do and see! We especially love to visit obscure,out of the ordinary places & sights. Also historical sights, museums, visitors centers, Historical Societies....the more obscure & out of the norm things are fascinating to us :)
Thanks for the interview here today. Really enjoyed reading more about you and your book. Would love to add it to my collection, thank you for the chance!
sounds like a must read book! Shelia from Mississippi
Enter me.
Blanch, NC
I would love to read David and Rachels story. I have read one of Laura's books and loved it. The Postcard sounds like a great story.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in NY
good luck, Sharon
thanks for entering, Angela
good luck, Debbie
Good luck, Trixi! I'd love to do that too. Maybe someday. I hope you'll love my books.
thank you, Shelia
Good luck, Abigail
Good luck, MaryAnn! I hope you will love this story too.
I read and hear a lot about Amish buggy accidents and am a nurse so know what a code blue is and how scary they are to bystanders. sm CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm so interested in reading this book! My favorite genre is Amish Christian fiction. Hope to win!
Susan in NC
susanlulu(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you for entering, Susan! Good luck.
Good luck, SM. Thanks for entering.
I love reading anything Amish!
From South Mississippi
houston(dot)patsy(at)gmail.com
I hope you love mine, Patsy! Good luck.
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