Becky is looking for acceptance in a community that is holding her up as a bad example. Before we visit with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Vickie McDonough's new release, Finally a Bride, is:
rbooth43@ . . .
Congratulations! I'll contact you today for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (below my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways!
Now let's meet novelist Laura Hilton, author of Patchwork Dreams (Whitaker House,
April 2011).
Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools her children. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.Her publishing credits include Hot Chocolate and Shadows of the Past from Treble Heart Books; a devotional in a compilation from Zondervan. Patchwork Dreams, the first book in her Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House, was released in April 2011. The second book, A Harvest of Hearts releases in September 2011, and the third in April 2012. Laura has her business degree from Ozarka and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Laura is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites.
Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.
-- My husband and I married after only knowing each other three months. We will celebrate 25 years of marriage in December. I was a Christmas bride, complete with tinsel, poinsettias and twinkly lights.
-- I love apples, blueberries, and peaches. Chocolate is one of life’s pleasures, and while I normally drink tea, I love McDonald’s iced hazelnut coffee.
-- I love the Great Lakes, lighthouses, boats, sand and surf. I also love winter, with snow, sleds, mittens, snowmen, and Christmas.
-- I love books! I love the feel of books, the smell of books, and curling up with a good book. My favorite genre? It varies by my favorite authors. I love pretty much anything by Susan May Warren. I’ll drop everything for Tricia Goyer’s WWII books, and Beverly Lewis’ Amish stories. But that by no means says it all.
-- I’m a breast cancer survivor.
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Patchwork Dreams.
Becky Troyer has committed the ultimate sin, and finds herself on the edge of her Amish community. Jacob Miller believes he was sent to the Old Order Community in Missouri to help out a distant cousin. Instead, he discovers he was part of an arranged swap--sending men from his Pennsylvania district to the Missouri district to bring new blood into the Amish community. Becky dreams of marriage, but doesn't dare hope that anyone would choose her--not with her history. Can God use the lies that have affected Becky and Jacob to bring them together? Or will Jacob rebel and head home to his first love?What is it about your lead character that will make your readers care about her?
Becky has been deeply hurt, but regardless, she wants to make the best life for herself and someone she loves.
Why will readers enjoy your novel?
I hope they will enjoy it. It is a sweet romance set in Amish country.
If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?
This was hard because I’m not really up on current actors/actresses. My college son suggested I google actors in such and such age group. Jacob Miller would be played by Lucas Grabeel. 
Becky Troyer would be played by Dakota Fanning. 
And Becky’s father would be played by Harrison Ford. What was the last thing about writing that made you laugh (or at least smile)?
Researching actors, actresses for the question above.
I'm glad you enjoyed the task! What is the last book you read that you would recommend?
I just finished reading The Amish Midwife
by Mindy Starns Clark—it’s a woman’s journey into Amish country to find her past. I’m currently reading Bake Until Golden
, part of the Potluck Club series. What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on book 3 of my Amish series, yet untitled.
Where else can readers find you online?
lauravhilton.blogspot.com and lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com and I’m on Facebook as Laura Vernet Price Hilton.
The book can be purchased online via the following buttons:
CBD.com
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Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?
What plots would you like to see in Amish fiction?
Thank you, Laura, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Laura has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Thursday, May 5. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Laura's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.
Be sure to check out my my post about Delight Yourself in the Lord, Even on Bad Hair Days, below, and leave a comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for one of three signed copies of the devotional.
Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.
8 comments:
I remember a movie starring Harrison Ford as a detective. A young Amish boy had witnessed a murder and Harrison's character was trying to protect the boy and his mother. Another plot that may be interesting is having many siblings lose their parents and how they survive.
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
I love Amish fiction. It would be interesting to me to read a story about an Amish person who leaves their community and lives among the English. While this might be a common theme in many books now, the Amish person nearly always goes back to their community. I'd like to read how they cope outside the community and continue to live their lives.
lgm52@hotmail.com
The question was: what kinds of plots would I like to see in Amish fiction?
Okay:
How about a young guy who returns from his traditional year outside the community and tries to convince his family to modernize some aspects of their farming operation. E.G. a tractor.
Nothing wrong with his faith in God, but he just thinks faith is bigger than those rules.
The romantic interest would be the daughter of the senior clergyman in the community.
There, I've given you the whole book.
salter8jeff [at] yahoo [dot] com
A teacher from California comes to teach the Amish children the ways of living and working outside the Amish community without comprizing their principles and beliefs!
Thanks!
Rebecca
rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot0com
One thing I don't see addressed much in Amish fiction is the balancing act of being Amish while living in a modern world. I live in an Amish community (we tell people we're easy to find, the first farm with a truck) and it amazes me how my neighbors manage to keep life simple even when they have to use modern things to work with modern world.
twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com
Gosh, this a tough one, b/c they have managed to cover alot more realistic type themes in the past few years in Amish books, ranging from adoption, to unwanted pregnancies, rape, and even murder. Maybe child abuse...I'm sure it doesn't happen often in the Amish community, but there was an ex-Amish young lady on tv who talked about her physical and sexual abuse. Not all Amish families are perfect...some are dysfunctional same as the English.
dianalflowers@aol.com
I enjoyed this wonderful post. Your loves, likes and interests are so special and beautiful. It sounds like mine, The feel of books etc, Winter, mittensm apples, blueberries. Wonderful. A plot that has always interested me is one that involves a young woman who leaves but realizes and returns to her roots since she appreciates her upbringing and background as she matures.
saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
I love all Amish fiction. I would like to read a book about how the Amish person who leaves their community and remains out is still influenced by their upbringing. I experienced this year an Amish prayer partner of mine I have know for over 10 years but did not know she was Amish when we met shunning me because she got mad at me. She could not just move past an issues.
It hurts to be shunned and you would think she would know that since she has spent all her married life experiencing it.
jrs362 at hotmail dot com
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