Please join me in welcoming Laura Hilton to my blog this week. I have read Laura's The Amish of Seymour series and enjoyed them and after book three wrote to her telling her how much I appreciated the book. Through our conversations I asked if she would be on my blog. I am so happy she agreed and I am able to introduce her to some of my readers.
1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
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 three of her
children. Her two oldest children are homeschool graduates and are in
college. 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; and she has three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House, Patchwork Dreams, A
Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. Laura has her business degree from Ozarka College
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.
2. When you were a child did you have a favourite book or books?
I read
a lot as a child, anything I could get my hands on. I don’t really remember any particular
favorites, but I did read all the Grace Livingstone Hill books multiple times.
3. Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and write?
3. Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and write?
I love writing Amish, and contemporary, and I enjoy reading both of
them. There are some historical writers
I like, some suspense writers, and some cozy mystery writers. I don’t care for science fiction or fantasy.
4. Did you have favourite authors growing up who have influenced you?
4. Did you have favourite authors growing up who have influenced you?
Well, I
would always say that Beverly Lewis was one of my favorite Amish authors but I
didn’t discover her until I grew up.
One of the most influential authors I knew as a child wrote funny
stories for the newspaper. And she
encouraged me to follow my dream.
5. When did you know you wanted to be an author?
5. When did you know you wanted to be an author?
I
always knew I wanted to be an author.
6. How did you go about becoming an author?
6. How did you go about becoming an author?
I wrote. Though my first attempts probably aren’t fit
to line a birdcage with. I kept trying,
and I joined ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) back in it’s beginning
days, and I took classes, joined a critique group, and studied authors’ books
that I love, to learn their techniques, and what worked for them. I tried to study writers manuals but they are
too technical for me. I did better studying published work.
7. If you were not a writer what would you like to be?
7. If you were not a writer what would you like to be?
My
goal in life was always to be a mom, a writer,
and a pastor’s wife. If I had to
work, I don’t know what I’d do. I think
sometimes about physical therapy. But not sure I’d have the patience
needed. I have business skills, I could
work as a secretary or a receptionist.
And I have, in the past. I also worked in a post office.
8. Outside reading and writing what do you like to do?
8. Outside reading and writing what do you like to do?
I like
seeing new places and learning about them. I like talking with my friends. I like spending time with my family.
9. Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?
9. Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?
I
would love to eventually visit England ,
I want to see “Big Ben”. My sole reason
for going there.
I Love to visit Michigan ,
there is so much diversity there, from Holland
(with is built around the Netherlands )
and Frankenmuth (a German community), and an Amish community, plus the Upper Peninsula , which is a different type of person
completely – called Yuppers.
10. If you could have a meal with 3 living people who would you choose and why?
I don’t
know. There are many I’d like to meet. I
don’t know if I could pick three—and if I did, I’d probably be tongue tied and
just listen to them talk—
Finally can you tell us about your current books and/or any that will
be coming out soon. Also where we can find you on the web.
Finally can you tell us about your current books and/or any that will
be coming out soon. Also where we can find you on the web.
You can
find me on Facebook – Author Laura V. Hilton, or Laura Vernet Price
Hilton. I’m on twitter, Laura_V_Hilton,
and I have a blog: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com,
or http://laurav.hilton.blogspot.com.
The
three books I have out are: Patchwork Dreams Book 1 of The Amish of Seymour ,
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?
A Harvest of Hearts Book 2 of The Amish of Seymour
Matthew
Yoder volunteered to be part of the swap of Amish men from his Old Order
Pennsylvania Amish Community, to the Amish community in Seymour, Missouri . There is nothing for him in Pennsylvania ,
as the youngest of twelve children, and the lack of farmland around Lancaster County , he felt he could make a better
future in another district. Shanna Stoltzfus has been raised Amish, and
couldn’t wait for her rumspringa so she could pursue her education. She hated
having to quit school in the 8th grade to stay home and learn
everything that makes a home run smoothly. But now she has earned her GED and
is taking college courses, but her family is begging her to come home; her
little sisters miss her. And there’s something about newcomer, Matthew Yoder
that draws her attention. But is it
enough to give up her dreams of education and join the Amish church?
Promised to Another Book 3 of The Amish of Seymour
Annie
Beiler is an Amish school teacher. She was in love with an Amish man, Luke
Stultz, but Luke left the Amish community during his rumspringa, but not
without begging Annie to go with him. Now Luke is back, trying to win back
Annie’s love. Joshua Esh may be Amish, but he has been bitten by the travel
bug. He sees the opportunity to relocate from Pennsylvania
to Missouri
as a way to satisfy his longing to see another place yet remain with people of
his faith. Joshua quickly notices the beautiful Annie, but Annie is slow to
respond. With Luke in the picture, and Joshua’s admission that he willingly
left his district, will either man be steady and dependable enough to win the
gift of Annie’s heart?
Who knew Cupid had four
paws? Amish midwife Kristine Lapp’s dog, Chinook, develops a slew of unfamiliar
ailments that sends Kristi to Shane Zimmerman, their veterinarian neighbor.
After Shane’s wife died in childbirth, Shane moves to Amish country to live and
serve. Prejudiced against the herbal and natural remedies that Kristi uses in
her practice, the vet is determined to avoid what his eccentric neighbor cooks
up. Can God use a loyal pet to mix a little old medicine with new and bring two
neighbors past their differences so they can find a love with a positive
prognosis?
Jenny here, This book sounds really good I can't wait to get my hands on it. I have loved all of Lauras books.
1 comment:
Nice interview! As a Pennsylvanian with Amish influences all around, I'm curious what the level of interest is among Australians with Amish culture.
Cathy Hickling
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