Dear Readers, here’s
another book from one of my Texas
author friends.
Welcome back,
Lynette. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who
were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their
contributions?
This third book sprang from the inspiration of the
Amish-Mennonite community of Pinecraft in Sarasota ,
Florida . Characters are a
combination and melting pot of those I encountered in the village, and from my
imagination.
If you had to
completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?
I would move to the coast, whether that be the New England
coast near my family, or the Texas
Gulf Coast ,
or to the Maryland-Virginia coast near where I grew up. I have always loved the
ocean and find it's a special place, no matter what the weather.
If you could only
tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?
Finish that first book, and then think about writing
another. I hear from quite a few people, “Oh, I'd love to write a book” or
“I've started a book” but most of those people never finish.
You’ve been asked to
be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why?
(AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])
Wow, that's a tough question, because I really am not one to
follow many celebrities, and I've never been on a cruise, either. :) I would, however, have a chef or two that
would be fun to cook with and learn from, and who would cook for us. Alton
Brown would be one of those chefs. He'd be funny and interesting. For
entertainment, the top billing would be for the a cappela vocal group
Pentatonix, because I love a cappela music done well. Programs would be
favorite book discussions, along with a costume party dressing as your favorite
character. At ports of call, we would stop at some fun historical sites for day
trips—Europe or the Mediterranean would be
fun.
Tell us about the
featured book.
A Promise of Grace
is the third book in my series, Seasons In Pinecraft. It's set in the
Amish-Mennonite community in the city of Sarasota ,
Florida . My
heroine, Rochelle Keim, has been a minor character in the first two books and
this time, she gets her chance to tell her story. She owns a housecleaning
business and guards her ordered life. Then her first love, Silas Fry, moves to
Pinecraft one year after the death of his wife. Silas has spent most of his
adult years working as a missionary pilot in Mozambique
and traveling throughout South
Africa and he feels a bit de-railed, as do
his almost-grown son and young adult daughter. This third book has a few of the
Amish characters from the first two books and rounds out the series.
I’ve been waiting for
this book. I loved the first two. Please give us the first page of the book.
The minivan’s air conditioner gave one last puff of cold air
not long after Silas Fry drove across the Florida state line. Silas merely lowered the
front windows without saying anything to the children.
How many more hours to Sarasota ?
Two? Three?
“I wish we were back in Mozambique .” Lena
sighed and fanned herself where she sat in the front passenger seat. She leaned
toward the open window. Her sigh sounded as if her world had suddenly crumbled.
At nearly nineteen, she tended to see life in extremes. And Belinda had been
the one adept at handling her moodiness.
“Me, too.” Matthew’s echo was born of always wanting to
follow in Lena ’s trail.
“I know you do, I know.” Silas forced his voice to come out
around the lump in his throat. Africa , his
home. Their home. It would never be the same without Belinda. None of them
would be.
Despite what Belinda had done long, long ago, he’d loved his
wife to the end. The day a semi had plowed into the van in which she and some
other ladies had been riding home from a quilt auction. None of those who died
had suffered, the families were told.
Suffering was left for the rest of the families left behind,
spouseless husbands, motherless children.
Silas filled his lungs with the fresh, humid air blowing
into the van. “Your great-uncle said we’ll have plenty of time to go to the
beach after supper tonight.”
The seashore. The ocean had been the one constant where
they’d lived in Africa, not far from the coast in Mozambique . And, one big reason
he’d chosen to move them all to Florida .
In landlocked Ohio ,
the children had balked, and he even found himself feeling a bit constricted,
his only refuge in the air, flying a Cessna.
Life with Belinda as their hub had fallen apart. Somehow,
with God’s help, they’d find a way to put it back together again.
Someone had told him children were resilient.
Children?
He often needed to remind himself Lena
wasn’t a child anymore, her studies had ended long ago, and she was planning to
continue her education, not to become a teacher like her mother, but a medical
assistant. She’d already completed her high school equivalency certificate and
planned to enroll in college in Sarasota .
Matthew, not a child, either, all of fourteen and idolizing
his older sister with her take-charge view of the world. They’d already
discussed him finishing school in Pinecraft at the Mennonite school, after
seeing where he compared to other students his age. He had a good eye for
building and construction, as well as taking motors apart and putting them back
together. Silas wasn’t sure where he’d come by his skill.
But Silas couldn’t help thinking of both of them as
children. He’d been there from the beginning, when their first cries rang out.
He’d seen them grow and thrive, through first words and first stumbles, through
the first days of “I can do it myself.” Especially with Lena ,
who seemed to have come from her mother’s womb sure of herself and the world.
I like the daughter’s
name. J Where can we find you
on the Internet?
I'm on Facebook at: facebook.com/lynettesowellauthor
. My regular blog is at lynettesowell.blogspot.com. I'm on Twitter
@LynetteSowell, and if you want to follow my favorite recipes and sometimes
crafts, I'm on Pinterest as LynetteSowell.
Thanks for having me, Lena !
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Promise of Grace - Christianbook.com
A Promise of Grace: Seasons in Pinecraft - Book 3 - Amazon
A Promise of Grace: Seasons in Pinecraft - Book 3 (Seasons in Pinecraft | Book 3) - Kindle
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19 comments:
What a beautiful title! Thank you for sharing!
Melanie Backus, TX
Oh yes, I NEED this book! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
Wendy from FL
wfnren at aol dot com
I've never had cupcakes on a beach. Now I must sit and dream about this :) Danielle in Indiana
I am looking forward to reading "A PROMISE OF GRACE - Lynette Sowell. Thank you for the opportunity to win.I enjoy reading your books.PA.
Thanks for stopping by! I'm so glad you did. I hope this is a great beach read for book lovers. :)
This sounds like a wonderful story! Thank you so much for the chance to be a winner!!
Britney Adams, TX
I am looking forward to reading this book.I enjoyed this blog post.Thanks for sharing.Jackie Tessnair N.C.
This sounds like a series I need to catch up with.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
The Pinecraft community in Sarasota, FL seems to be the location of several of the new Amish books and I think it's great. It's an area I enjoy. I like your book cover. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
Would really love to read this book! Love Amish reading.
From Mississippi
houston(dot)patsy(at)gmail(dot)com
We are fans of Amish fiction here in our house in St. Cloud, FL. We would love to win this book.
I don't think I have read any of Lynette's books but this sounds very interesting.
Edward A (VA)
Enjoyed the interview. I am really looking forward to reading "A Promise Of
Grace". I live in VA. happygrammaof3@comcast.net
great interview Lynette! Love to win the book! Shelia Hall from Mississippi
One of these days before I'm older and grayer I would love to visit Pinecraft, FL.
Thanks for entering me in your giveaway.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida
Amish fiction is my favorite to read. I love the Pinecraft setting and would love to read Rochelle and Silas story. Sounds like a great book for summer reading.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in NY
This is a can't miss author. I love her books and look forward to reading this one.
Deanne in Pennsylvania
I find it interesting that it seems like a lot of authors are setting their novels in Pinecraft lately. My husband's grandparents had a "winter home" there for many years and whenever I see the name, I think of them. This book sounds great! Would love to read it!
Pam in Ohio
Love reads by this author....thanks for the giveaway!
Tamara in Texas
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