Welcome back, Vannetta. What are some of the
spiritual themes you like to write about?
The joy of friendship, and how that is such a gift from the
Lord. Also, God's grace, how it is infinite and it will cover all things.
What other books of
yours are coming out soon?
The Christmas Quilt
will release in October ... this is part of the Quilts of Love series. It is
also a sequel to A Simple Amish Christmas.
If you could spend an
evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would
it be and why?
Maybe Janette Oak. I
grew up reading all of her works, and remember how enthralled I was with Love Comes Softly. I was fortunate to be
in the room at the ACFW conference a few years ago when she was presented with
a Lifetime Achievement Award. I'd love to sit down with a cup of tea with her.
I loved seeing here
there. I was in a picture with her and two other women. What historical person
would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?
Mother Teresa has always been someone who fascinated me. I'd
love to spend some time working beside her and gaining her perspective.
How can you encourage
authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?
By telling them my story. I had hundreds upon hundreds of
rejections. I didn't sell until I'd finished my 9th manuscript. And now I'm
writing for 3 very big publishers. Things happen in God's time, not in my time –
and that's certainly a good thing.
Tell us about the
featured book.
The idea for A Wedding for Julia was born in a
Bible study group. I had the awesome experience of participating in a Bible
study entitled, The Bible in 90 Days.
It was during that study that I came across Genesis
24:67 . “Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s
tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special
comfort to him after the death of his mother.” I couldn't let go of that image
of God providing a lifelong love for Isaac before he had even met the woman.
And Isaac, he trusted God and married Rebekah. What a wonderful God we serve.
Julia's story began there, in the pages of Genesis. I hope it is one that
brings readers hope, inspiration, and a touch of God's grace.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
March
Julia Beechy stood next to the open grave and prayed the
wind would stop howling for one moment. Next to her, she could feel her mother
trembling. Ada Beechy had turned seventy-eight the previous week, two days
before Julia’s father had passed. It would have been perfectly acceptable for
her mother to sit, especially in light of the mist, the cold, and the wind.
Ada Beechy had no intention of sitting.
But Julia did shuffle one step closer to her mother, so that
their sleeves were touching, as the bishop began to read the words to the hymn Ada had requested—“Where
the Roses Never Fade.” Ada
had stared out the window of their kitchen, her attention completely focused on
the rosebushes, which had yet to bud, while members from their church sat
beside Jonathan’s body in the next room. She’d gazed at the bushes and made her
request.
Bishop Atlee had nodded, ran his fingers through his beard,
and said, “Of course.”
Julia tried to focus on the bishop’s words as the men—the
pallbearers—covered the plain coffin with dirt. How many shovelfuls would it
take? Would Bishop Atlee have to read the hymn twice? Why was she worrying
about such things?
David King stepped back, and Julia realized they were
finished. Bishop Atlee bowed his head, signaling it was time for them to
silently pray the words from the passage in Matthew, chapter six, verses nine
through thirteen—their Lord’s prayer. Julia’s mind formed the words, but her
heart remained numb.
“Amen,” Bishop Atlee said, in a voice as gentle as her
mother’s hand on her arm.
The large crowd began to move. Words of comfort flowed over
and around her. There had been a steady coming and going of people through the
house to view her father’s body for the entire three days. Julia had become
used to her privacy as she cared for her parents alone. The large amounts of
food and the people had surprised her. Some of them she saw at church, but
others came from neighboring districts. Those she barely knew.
She and Ada
turned to go, for their buggy was marked with a number one on the side. The
white chalk against the black buggy caused Julia’s heart to twist. They had led
the procession to the cemetery. They would lead the gathering of friends away
from the graveside.
But Julia realized she wasn’t ready to leave.
She pulled back, needing to look one more time. Needing to
swipe at her tears so she could read the words clearly.
Jonathan Beechy
11-3-1928
3-6-2012
83 years, 4 months, 3 days
Now she and her mother were alone.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
webpage-- www.vannettachapman.com
facebook -- www.facebook.com/VannettaChapmanBooks
twitter -- @VannettaChapman
pinterest – www.pinterest.com/vannettachapman
Thank you, Vannetta, for sharing this new book with us and the way you found the story.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Wedding for Julia - Christianbook.com
A Wedding for Julia (The Pebble Creek Amish Series)
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