Welcome back, Barbara. God has really
been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
I’m excited to
report that I’m writing another Amish series for a new publisher – it’s my
fifth Amish series and it’s titled HARVEST OF HOPE. The series is set in Paradise , Pennsylvania —my
favorite Amish community. I’m also working on a contemporary romance series
around those books. There’s nothing better than being busy doing what you love.
I am really grateful to God for leading me on this path.
How exciting. I’ll want to feature both
of those series here on the blog. Tell us a little about your family.
My children are
grown. I have a son and a daughter and altogether four grandchildren—two girls,
two boys. It’s so interesting the way that worked out. My daughter says my
children are now my three fur kids, all female Chihuahuas . Sometimes it’s like having a
bunch of two year olds but they are great company and as I write this they are
sleeping in little beds in my home office just a few feet from me.
Has your writing changed your reading
habits? If so, how?
No, I have
always been a voracious reader. I had a bunk bed when I was a kid sharing a
bedroom with my brother. I used to love hiding from my family and reading in
the top bunk. It felt like having my own treehouse.
What are you working on right now?
My new Amish
series. I admire the Amish because they
truly live their faith on a daily basis—not just a couple hours in church each
week. I’ve really enjoyed learning about them and knowing several special Amish
women who have helped me understand them.
What outside interests do you have?
I love spending
time with my kids and grandkids. I recently took painting classes. I’d been wanting
to do this for many years but never found the time. I have a lot more respect
for artists now! It’s harder than I thought and I had a pretty good idea of the
time and effort since my dad was a wonderful artist who won art shows and sold
his work.
How do you choose your settings for each
book?
The setting for
my Amish books kind of chose me … another reason I feel God led me down this
path. I went to a writer’s conference in Pennsylvania
and my cousin took me through Paradise and
surrounding towns. I started getting ideas for stories while I was there and
not long afterward sold them.
If you could spend an evening with one
historical person, who would it be and why?
I’d love to meet Charlotte Bronte, author of Jane Eyre. I fell in love with that book
in my early teens and loved Jane for her independent spirit. This election year
also made me think I’d like to meet the women who fought for the right for
women to vote.
Jane Eyre
is a longtime favorite of mine, too. What is the one thing you wish you had
known before you started writing novels?
I worked for a
newspaper right out of high school so I had a pretty good idea of what writing
was like—especially on a deadline. The main thing I wish I’d known was how to
more easily find an editor interested in my work. When I started going to
conferences, I got the help I needed. Today there is so much help on the
Internet for writers.
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you
right now?
Patience. His
timing and mine are often at odds. I tend to be a little impatient and want
things to run on my time.
I so resemble that. What are the three
best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
First, writers
need to read books in the genre they’re writing. If you don’t read, you will
never be a successful writer. Second, get another writer to read your work and
critique it. Better yet, get more than one person to read it. But be careful to
trust your own instincts about what sounds right for your story. Third, be
someone an editor wants to work with. It’s a partnership.
Tell us about the featured book.
Home to Paradise is book three of the Coming Home series
(Abingdon Press). From the back blurb: Rose Anna Zook has watched her two older
sisters marry two Stoltzfus men and has always thought she and John, the third
Stoltzfus brother, would marry, make a home together, and have children. But
John has other ideas. He’s enjoying his Rumschpringe in the Englisch world a
little too much and isn’t interested in returning to the Amish community –
especially to marry.
Rose Anna is
determined to bring her man back into the Amish fold. John is equally
determined to live his life free and unencumbered. Who will win this battle of
wills? Will love prevail?
Snow fell
quietly, cold and white. Inside the big old farmhouse where Rose Anna had lived
all her life it was warm. A fire crackled in the hearth, the only sound in the
room.
Rose Anna
glanced around the sewing room. Usually she and her three schweschders sat
chatting and sewing with their mudder, sometimes singing a hymn as they worked.
Today it was just her and her mudder.
She sighed. “So
here you sit with your old maedel dochder, Mamm.”
Linda laughed.
“I hardly think you’re an old maedel at twenty-three, Rose Anna.”
She knotted a
thread, clipped it with scissors, and squinted as she rethreaded her needle. “I
feel like one,” she said, pouting a little. “Both of my schweschders are
married and so are lots of my friends. I have been a newehocker at so many
weddings!” She made a face as she began stitching on her quilt again.
“Guder mariye!”
Rose Anna
glanced up. “Ach, here comes my newly married schweschder.”
The three Zook schweschders
were often confused for each other because they looked so much alike with oval
faces, big blue eyes, and hair a honey blonde. They’d been born just a year
apart
so they’d grown
up close. Rose Anna was the youngest—something her two older schweschders never
let her forget.
“Mary Elizabeth,
it’s gut to see you. Kumm, sit by the fire and get warm. You look cold.”
She leaned down
and kissed her mudder’s cheek. “Lavina’s on her way up.”
Linda brightened
and turned to look in the direction of the door. When Lavina walked in a moment
later, her face fell. “Where’s Mark?”
Lavina laughed
and shook her head. “You’re not glad to see me?”
“Well, schur,”
Linda said quickly. “But I thought you were bringing my grosssohn.”
“He was fussy
and stayed up most of the night, so now he’s sleeping.” Lavina sank into a
chair. “Waneta said she’d mind him so I could get out for a bit. She told me
she wouldn’t let him sleep all day so he’d keep us up again.”
“You look like
you need a nap,” Rose Anna told her.
“It’s tempting,
but I need to stay to my goal of finishing this quilt,” she said as she
threaded a needle.
“Could he be
teething already?”
Lavina
shuddered. “I hope not. He’s not three months old yet. I’ve heard about
teething from my friends.”
Soon it was like
it had been for so long, everyone chattering and sewing, the mood as bright and
cheerful as the fire. But Rose Anna felt a growing restlessness. She put her
quilt aside, went downstairs to make tea for their break, and found herself
staring out the kitchen window. The trees were bare and black against the gray
sky. Snow had stopped falling, coating everything with a white blanket that lay
undisturbed. She found herself pacing the kitchen as she waited for the kettle
to boil. Finally, she knew she had to get out and burn off her restless energy.
“I’m going for a
walk,” she announced when her mudder and schweschders came downstairs. She pulled on rubber boots and her bonnet,
then shrugged on her coat. “I won’t be long.”
“But, kind, it’s
cold out there,” her mudder protested.
“I need to walk.
’Bye.”
“She’ll be fine,
Mamm,” she heard Lavina say behind her before she closed the back door.
Funny, her older
schweschder reassuring their mudder.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
I’m on Facebook.
My website is www.BarbaraCameron.com
Thank you, Barbara, for sharing this book
with us.
Home to Paradise, the final book in author Barbara Cameron's The Coming Home series, is not to be missed! Rose Anna Zook always thought she and John, one of Stoltzfus brothers, would marry, make a home together, and have children. But John, enjoying his Rumschpringe in the Englisch world, has other ideas. Rose Anna is determined to bring her man back into the Amish fold. John is equally determined to live his life free and unencumbered. Who will win this battle of wills? Will love prevail?
Join Barbara on Thursday, March 9, for a live author chat party on her Facebook page with fun prizes to be won! Click the graphic below for more details and to RSVP. Hope to see you there—bring a friend or two who loves Amish fiction!
Home to Paradise, the final book in author Barbara Cameron's The Coming Home series, is not to be missed! Rose Anna Zook always thought she and John, one of Stoltzfus brothers, would marry, make a home together, and have children. But John, enjoying his Rumschpringe in the Englisch world, has other ideas. Rose Anna is determined to bring her man back into the Amish fold. John is equally determined to live his life free and unencumbered. Who will win this battle of wills? Will love prevail?
Join Barbara on Thursday, March 9, for a live author chat party on her Facebook page with fun prizes to be won! Click the graphic below for more details and to RSVP. Hope to see you there—bring a friend or two who loves Amish fiction!
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Home to Paradise: The Coming Home Series - Book 3 - Kindle
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14 comments:
What a great book! And I love the cover!
Melanie Backus, TX
I would love to read this as I have read and enjoyed several of Barbara's books. I enjoy having her as a FB friend as well! I have watched a few different movie versions of Jane Eyre and love that story! Thanks!
Diana in SC
This sounds like a story I would really enjoy reading.
Linda in So Cal
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I enjoy Barbara Cameron's book and I need to read this as my name is in it! Thanks for the opportunity to win...Linda from PA
I do enjoy Amish books! This sounds good :)
Deanna S in NE
Enjoy reading Barabara's books. north platte Nebraska.
I love the cover of this book, as well as the others in this series. I'd love to win this book and add it to my collection. I enjoy reading books by authors that I am familiar with on facebook. It makes it so much more personable.
susanlulu@yahoo.com
Susan in North Carolina
I love reading Amish fiction and Barbara's book sounds like one I would enjoy reading.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in NY
Amish fiction is my favorite!
Beth from IA
Sounds like a great read !
Mary from Winchester KY
Always excited to find new authors. Live in southwest Wisconsin. Lovely place. Need to start with book one would love to win one. Thanks. GOD BLESS
Thank you for sharing Barbara's interview and the first page of her book. I look forward to reading it.
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Enter me!!
Conway SC.
This sounds like it would be a welcome addition to my TBR pile! Would love to win.
Pam in OH
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