Vannetta Chapman and Free Books!

When she thought her future would never know love ... she saw him.

Before we revisit with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Alaskan Hearts, by Teri Wilson, is:

love2stitch@ . . .

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 (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways!

Now let's chat with novelist Vannetta Chapman, author of A Promise for Miriam (Harvest House, July 2012).

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups.

She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her first novel, A Simple Amish Christmas, quickly became a bestseller. She now writes Amish fiction for Abingdon Press, Zondervan, and Harvest House.

Vannetta lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

--I don't eat white foods.

--I'm the youngest child of 4.

--I play the piano and keyboard.

--I have a fear of driving over tall, tall bridges.

--I adore Snoopy.

I had another friend with that bridge fear, Vannetta, and until I heard about it, I never considered tall bridges that big a deal. Now I have to talk myself out of getting nervous--talk about being impressionable!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of A Promise for Miriam.

Amish schoolteacher Miriam King loves her students. At 26, most women her age are married with children of their own, but she hasn’t yet met anyone who can convince her to give up the Plain school that sits along the banks of Pebble Creek.

Then newcomer Gabriel Yoder steps into her life, bringing his daughter, an air of mystery, and challenges Miriam has never faced before.

Will Gabe be able to let go of the past that haunts him? He thinks he just wants to be left alone, but the loving and warm community he and his daughter have moved to has other plans for him. After a near tragedy is averted, he hesitantly returns offers of help and friendship, and he discovers he can make a difference to the people of Pebble Creek—and maybe find love again.

What is it about Miriam that will make your readers care about her?

Miriam is dedicated to her job, like a lot of women today. That said, she's begun to question if her deeper dreams will ever happen. She's questioning her decisions--though she loves what she does. She's asking those questions most of us have asked at one time or another, "Is this it?"

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

I like Justine Lupe (Harry's Law) for Miriam.




And Sam Worthington (Man on a Ledge) for Gabe.



It would be fun to see Sam Worthington in a romance. I don't think I've seen him in anything other than action films.

What is your favorite book on the craft of writing?

I do like Stephen King's On Writing, but mostly I read a lot of bestselling fiction, more than I read books about how to write fiction.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I just finished Echoes of Titanic by Mindy Starns Clark and John Campbell Clark. This book does a good job of building tension throughout and also maintaining it between two story lines (the past and the present).

What are you working on now?

I have two books due September 1 - The Christmas Quilt (Abingdon, 2013), which is a sequel to A Simple Amish Christmas. This is part of Abingdon's Quilts of Love series, "every quilt has a story." I'm also completing the third book in my Pebble Creek series, which is tentatively titled, A Wedding for Julia.

Where else can readers find you online?

webpage -- www.VannettaChapman.com
blog -- vannettachapman.wordpress.com
Facebook and Pinterest


The book is available at fine book stores and for online purchase via the following buttons:





CBD.com


Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

Since A Promise for Miriam is centered around a one-room school house, I'd like to know--what was your favorite school subject and why?

Thank you, Vannetta, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Vannetta has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, July 23. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Vannetta'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 interview with Allie Pleiter, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a copy of the book.

And I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

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.