I've known Beth for many years, and now we write for the same publishing company. Welcome, Beth. God has really been
moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
I have been incredibly blessed with my writing. It took
awhile to get here, but I don’t take one minute of it for granted. Do I still
get discouraged, yes, but all I have to do is look back and see how far I’ve
come and The Discourager slips away.
Tell us a little
about your family.
My husband sells anti-shoplifting equipment, you know those
pedestals you walk through or tags you forgot to clip off that squeal
throughout the store until you turn red with embarrassment, thoseJ
My son, Cale, will be moving from College
Station to Austin
this coming year, majoring in art/graphic design.
My daughter, Madison, will be finishing her last year in
criminal justice, hopefully!!
Has your writing
changed your reading habits? If so, how?
Yes, but not in a good way. I don’t read nearly as much as I
used to and I miss it. I always feel like I should be writing, but I’ve found I
write better if I’m reading.
What are you working
on right now?
I just finished the fourth book in the six book series, Season of the Spirit. It’s the first
book in the second series. I’m so glad my editor changed the series into two,
three book series. It was nice to start over with new characters and a
different setting.
What outside
interests do you have?
I’m a social worker by trade so I find opportunities to
fulfill that part of me that I miss. My favorite organization is a place called
“The SoupMobile.” I have a passion to help the homeless and enjoy going to
downtown Dallas
for a change of pace.
How do you choose
your settings for each book?
Funny you should ask. I’ve changed the setting three times
according to my experiences. I went from Virginia
to Texas to
Pennslyvania. Because I write about pastoral living I make the setting into a
character in a roundabout way. Spending time at my grandfather’s ranch as a kid
made me appreciate the country life and the land.
If you could spend an
evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
That is not a fair question…I’d say Jesus but that’s too
obvious, so I’d like to have a sit down with the apostle Peter. I can relate to
asking questions and messing things up, so he would probably make me feel
better, or worseL.
More modern day…C.S. Lewis comes to mind and Mother Teresa, talk about a social
worker!
What is the one thing
you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
That what you write might surprise you. What you think is
good or marketable might not be, and in turn you may find your niche in
something different from what you thought you would. To be grateful for what
you have and keep forging ahead. I’ve had ups and downs, but what it comes down
to is that I love to write and hope I always have the opportunity to do so.
What new lessons is
the Lord teaching you right now?
Humbleness, I recently went to a women’s retreat at my
church and was awakened to the reason I write. Because I write Christian based
stories I have the opportunity to share and encourage my faith with others.
What are the three
best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
Learn the trade
Connect with other writers
Write and write some more
Tell us about the
featured book.
After learning the truth about who she really is, can this
prodigal daughter be accepted back into the safety and security of home?
Annie Beiler seems to have it all—a loving family in a
tight-knit Amish community and the affections of an attractive and respected
young man. But when she learns that she was adopted after being found as an
abandoned newborn, she sets out on a journey to find out who she is.
Her father is strongly against her decision to leave, as it
could mean Meidung, or excommunication from the community and even her
family. But Annie knows she must find “the path that has her heart.”
As Annie’s search brings her into the fast-paced world of
modern life, she is confronted with all of the temptations she was warned of.
Her quest for self keeps her from returning, but when she finds out the truth,
she becomes so broken Annie reaches a point of no return, and has to make a
choice. Can she make her way back to the order and security of her family? Or
will she remain an outsider—torn between her two worlds?
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Prologue
The bright moon illuminated the
velvet sky. Shafts of corn swayed in the soft, warm breeze as if alive, dancing
a waltz in the huge ten-acre field. The cries from a pack of coyotes erupted
through the nearby hills surrounding the Shenandoah Valley .
Amos Beiler made his way through
the rows of ripe corn as the pups howled an off-kilter tune along with the
group. Amos followed a different cry—that of a human babe, the sobs weak and
intermittent, nearly drowned out by the louder moan of the coyotes.
He used his shotgun to slash his
way through the six-foot stalks in a maze of never ending rows until a small
whimper close by made him stop. He turned to his right and looked down a stretch
of dirt that led to his farmhouse a good mile away. He’d come to protect his
livestock from the coyotes, but finding their source of interest was his new
goal.
Another sputter from the next line
over caught his attention. He moved quickly, not wanting to lose sight of the
area where the sound came from. Cornstalks shadowed the dirt path that led him
closer to the child. Now in bouts of darkness, he listened with an attentive
ear to any tiny sound. A frog croaked. The wind rustled through the corn
leaves. Another curt howl sounded. All made him pause, listen, and discern.
Another wail from the babe made him
step quickly, running through the dark aisle of soil. Finally, he caught a
glimpse of movement; something white flashed from the ground. As he neared, he
saw a colorless blanket with a newborn wrapped inside. He reached down, lifting
the small bundle to his chest. The urgent need for protection set him into
action.
The coyotes’ song ended. They were
on the hunt now, looking for the prize he’d found. They were downwind of him,
sure to have his scent and that of the child.
Carrying the gun with one hand and
the babe close to his shoulder, he cradled its head in his palm and hurried
toward the house. He looked behind him only once, and saw motion out of the
corner of his eye. The wind played tricks on him that he dared not allow to
fool him. The faster he walked, the farther away the house seemed.
When Amos finally reached a window
on the side of the house, he lifted the gun and banged one time, hard. He
dropped to his knee and scanned the field. One, two, four pairs of yellow eyes
fell upon him. He set the crying babe on the ground behind him. Then, he
steadied his gun.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
And thank you for sharing your new book with us, Beth.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Annie's Truth (Touch of Grace)
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