Welcome back, Shelley. How did this book
come about?
A Daughter’s Dream is the second novel in the Charmed Life
Amish Series. Each novel focuses on one of the Kinsinger siblings, four adult
siblings who run a large lumber mill in Charm, Ohio .
Tell us about the book’s cover and what
makes it unique.
This cover is
unique to me because I was able not only to choose the models on the cover, but
I was able to go to the photo shoot! When I arrived, the photographer asked me
to chat with the models about the characters they were portraying. To my
delight, they both seemed excited to give being “Jacob and Rebecca” a try. We
walked around the fields and the photographer clicked away. Soon, I felt like I
wasn’t seeing two models but the characters in my book come alive. The scene
that you see on the cover was perfect for their personalities.
Please explain and differentiate between
what’s fact and fiction in the book.
When I developed
the Charmed Amish Life series, I knew I wanted it to center the storylines
around a lumber mill, because the Keim Lumber Mill is a major employer in the
real Charm, Ohio .
I also wanted to name some of the other spots one might visit when they come to
the area. So I did my best to focus on those realities. Besides that, though,
most of my novel is fiction. I made up all the people, made up a tragedy that
took place at the lumber mill, and of course, the storyline is all my own.
How much research did you have to do for
this book?
I’ve found that
visiting places where I’ve set my novels is extremely helpful. I’m able to add
lots of small details that I would have known about if I hadn’t actually
visited the place. Enjoying a few days in each setting also helps me set the
overall tone in my novels.
I actually did
quite a bit of research for this series. I toured the lumber mill and did a lot
of reading about Amish-owned lumber mills. I visited all the real places that I
mention in the book. I used my teaching experience to help with the scenes that
took place at the school. I even spent a day researching pygmy goats for the
scenes with Princess. That part of my research was a lot of fun!
What are some of the most interesting
things you found about this subject that you weren’t able to use in the story?
I’m a big
believer in letting the characters drive a story. Because of that, although I
have researched a place thoroughly, I often won’t write paragraphs filled with
details about the scenery or history of the area. I don’t want the reader to
get bogged down with information that doesn’t pertain to the book’s plot.
What inspired and surprised you while you
were writing the book?
Since I don’t
plot very much before beginning a novel, I’m always surprised about what
happens in a book. A Daughter’s Dream was no different! The biggest surprise was
that the original goals and dreams that I had planned for them to have
changed.
What do you hope the reader takes away
from the story?
As always, I
hope that readers will be able to relate to the characters and find that they
enjoyed reading it. I also hope that they’ll be interested enough in the
Kinsinger family that they’ll want to read the third and fourth book in the
series.
What is the next project you’re working
on?
I’m currently
working on several novels that will be published in 2017. I’m finishing up a
novella set in Pinecraft, writing the second book in next year’s Amish of Hart
County series, and revising a western historical.
What do you do when you have to get away
from the story for a while?
Since I always
work on more than one project at a time, I’ve found that I do take breaks from
my stories. This really helps me see areas where each book could be improved.
Thursday, August 13
Keeping
twenty-five schoolchildren reasonably happy and on task for a solid hour was
harder than it looked.
As Rebecca
Kinsinger stood at the front of the classroom and eyed the group of students
staring right back at her, she realized she had seriously misjudged her ability
to manage small children.
In the last
hour, the twenty-five students, ranging in ages from five to fourteen, had
decidedly taken the upper hand. They’d talked to one another. They’d ignored
her wishes. They didn’t seem all that interested in the work their usual
teacher had assigned them to do. Even the four children whom she knew well were
acting up. Evan, Samuel, Maisie, and Gretel Kurtz acted as if they had
forgotten that their elder sister, Darla, was married to Rebecca’s brother
Lukas.
It seemed that
different rules applied at school than when they visited her home.
As a former teacher, I know how that
first day feels. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Readers can find
me on Facebook at shelley shepard gray, on Twitter @shelleySGray, and on my
website, at www.shelleyshepardgray.com
Thank you, Shelley, for sharing this new book with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Daughter's Dream - Christianbook.comA Daughter's Dream: The Charmed Amish Life, Book Two - Amazon
A Daughter's Dream: The Charmed Amish Life, Book Two - Kindle
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14 comments:
I could never be a teacher. It's such a difficult job. I'd love to read this book, though.
Linda in CA
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
would love to win angela in ky
I am looking forward to reading A DAUGHTER'S DREAM by Shelley Shepard Gray. Thank you for the opportunity to win.Have a wonderful week.PA.
The research would have been fascinating.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Love her books. North Platte Nebraska.
I would love to read Shelley's book. Amish fiction is my favorite. I love the cover too!
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in New York
Her books are always good. I live in Oklahoma
Looking forward to reading A Daughter's Dream. Just found A Son's Vow at the library and I'm reading it now.
Karen G., NY
Really enjoy reading Amish fiction. "A Daughter's Dream" sounds like a great read for the summer. I live in the suburbs of Chicago.
diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Really enjoy reading Amish fiction. "A Daughter's Dream" sounds like a great read for the summer. I live in the suburbs of Chicago.
diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Enter me!!
Conway SC.
Shelley is one of my favorite authors and I always enjoy her Amish fiction.
Beth from IA
I am a big fan of Shelley's. This sounds very interesting!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Hello Lena and Shelley. Thanks for the interview. Would love to win Shelley's new book. Maxie from TX. > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
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