Interview and give-away with Laura V. Hilton!

A Christmas romance...A new beginning...A resurrected past...

A White Christmas in Webster County

Hi Laura! Welcome to The Diamond Mine!  

I really enjoyed your book, “A White Christmas in Webster County.”  How did you get your idea for the characters of Abner and Mercy, and their histories? 

  Thank you, Nancy.  Abner is the twin brother of the hero in Awakened Love, Abram.  I knew Abner’s backstory when I started the book, because he shared most of it with Abram. The part that I didn’t know, Abner was willing to share.  Mercy, I read an article about Amish going fishing on Lake Michigan. And the what if questions followed from there.

That's interesting! In your books, are your Amish characters based on people you know, parts of yourself, pure imagination, or a combination of these?  

Probably a combination of all three.  I am a quiet/shy person by nature, but I am fully capable of standing up for myself, too.  Amish are not so different, human-nature, than “Englisch”. 

I can tell that from your characters! I see that most of your books are about Amish people. What inspired you to take that direction with your writing? 

  My maternal grandparents were Amish.  But that wasn’t what did it.  Someone mentioned on American Christian Fiction Writers that we should write what our favorite genre is.  I love most Amish fiction, so when my agent gently suggested I give it a try, I was willing. And I love it.

And readers do, too! Do you have a lot of readers who are Amish?  

No, not too many Amish read about the Amish. Not a lot of Amish. It is mostly Englisch who read it.

I’ve always wondered if practicing Amish are flattered or puzzled by the interest so many readers have in their lifestyle. What’s your opinion on that? 

  I think they are puzzled.  To them, their life is normal, what God commands. Flattery would mean pride, and pride to the Amish is a sin.

Good point! I see that an upcoming book of yours, “Swept Away” releases this month and is somewhat of a departure from what you usually write. How did that come about?

    I love contemporary fiction and wanted to write for the Quilts of Love.  However, to be honest, Swept Away is not mine so much as it is Cindy Loven’s.  Cindy came up with the Grandma and heroine idea, and the quilt, and she told me most of their story.  I tried to write it the way she wanted it.  Drew, however, was my invention and his story is all mine. 

 Can you describe the book a bit?  

I actually have three new books out this fall.  A White Christmas in Webster County, The Snow Globe, and Swept Away.  

After our interview, I'll post a blurb from each!  I'm curious. Do you have a favorite among your stories or characters?   

My favorite male characters are Troy Troyer in Surrendered Love, and Viktor Petershiem in The Snow Globe.  My favorite female characters are Shanna in Healing Love, Esther in The Snow Globe, and Janna in Surrendered Love.

What are you working on now, Laura? 

I’m writing the third book in the Amish of Jamesport series,  The Birdhouse. 

What is the main message you’d like your readers to get from your books?   

I leave that up to God and the reader.  But I hope they hear the gospel of Grace. That they are accepted in the Beloved. That God loves them, despite everything. 

That's a wonderful thought, Laura. Thank you for sharing your answers with us on the Mine. Now, here are some descriptions of Laura's latest books! Since we're showcasing "A White Christmas in Webster County" I'll  start with that one:

A White Christmas in Webster County

Wanting to relocate from Shipshewana to somewhere new, Mercy Lapp answered an ad in The Budget to work as a mother’s helper for Matthew and Shanna Yoder in Seymour, Missouri. Mercy relocated from Shipshewana to give herself space and time to heal after the death of her beau in a fishing trip on Lake Michigan. Abner Hilty fled Shipshewana to Montana to work on a ranch after he and his twin brother witnessed a murder. Now that the killer is safely behind bars, Abner decides to visit his brother Abram in Missouri where he’d settled with his bride of one month. Mercy is surprised to see Abner there, and equally surprised by how much he’d changed physically since she’d last seen him. Even though the two live in different districts they occasionally see each other in town and form a fledging friendship. As Christmas approaches, an unexpected heavy snow lets Abner and Mercy spend a lot of time together in wintertime fun. Abner hopes to interest Mercy in a more permanent relationship. But then Mercy has a potentially life changing discovery. Will she return to Shipshewana to answer the summons of the past? Or settle in a new place? 

The Snow Globe

Victor Petersheim has left the Amish and works on a river boat on the Mississippi River, spending three months on the river then having three months off. During his off-work months he returns home to his Amish community and helps out on his grandparents’ farm. When he returns home after his most recent absence, he discovers his grossmammi has developed health problems and they’ve hired Esther Beachy to be a “mother’s helper.” Victor is unsettled by this woman living in their home, but has to accept it. Esther loves listening to Victor’s grandmother’s stories and while puttering around in a store while the grossmammi’s in the hospital, she discovers a snow globe that depicts an area where the Petersheims used to live. She buys it as a gift for the grossmammi to cheer her up during her hospitalization. Victor is touched by Esther’s gift and her care for his grossmammi, and strives to be friendlier. Will Esther’s gentle heart draw him back to the community? Or will he return to the river once again?   

Swept Away

He survived a life-altering event. She is facing one.

Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her grandmother who doesn’t want to be cared for. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don’t always go as planned.

Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but also as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane’s grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between him and his new employer’s granddaughter.

It doesn’t take Sara Jane long to see Drew isn’t what he seems. Questions arise, and she starts online researching him. What she discovers could change her life—and her heart—forever. 

Sounds like a lot of great reading coming our way from Laura V. Hilton! Remember to leave a comment for Laura, and you'll be entered to win a free copy of A White Christmas in Webster County!

Here are contact and purchase links for Laura:

http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q 

visit my blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/  & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/ 

twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

Purchase Laura's books:

Amazon   http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q 

CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=laura+hilton&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/laura-hilton?store=allproducts&keyword=laura+hilton

Deeper Shopping http://www.deepershopping.com/index.php?query=laura+hilton&x=0&y=0&module=productsearch&_logmode=Y&querymodule=SPX

Life and Love With Cheryl Wyatt at the Mine

Hello, Cheryl. Let me first welcome you to the Diamond Mine. I’m so glad you’re here…even if this interview has been a challenge between forgotten and lost emails. (For those who may not know, I recently moved back to Wyoming and most of my office is still in boxes. I’m so happy to be under a real roof and have internet!) Anyway, ma'am, thank you for your patience! Let the games begin...

***GIVEAWAY via RAFFLECOPTER***

The Nurse’s Secret Suitor (Eagle Point Emergency series) from Love Inspired Books

(See book and giveaway details following the interview)

Renee: I love your writing. With all the genres to choose from, what led you to lean toward military fiction?

Cheryl: My military stories happened to be the first ones to get contracted. I mostly write about rescuers, military or otherwise. Most of the military characters I write about are either in Search-and-Rescue or are medical in nature. My nursing background comes in handy and also that I have a lot of friends and family who were or are in various branches of the military.

Renee: Do you have a favorite character of one of your stories? What makes him or her so special?

Cheryl: Wow, this is so hard to choose. I love all of my characters but I’m usually partial to the one I’m currently writing. There is a really fun secondary character named Memaw from my Coast Guard series from Redbud Press who makes me laugh a lot. I’d say she’s my favorite currently.

Renee: Oh, I believe joy’s necessary for survival. I think it’s so cool you have characters like that. Humor makes a book a lot of fun to read. Is that something you try to do all the time?

Cheryl: I try to incorporate laughter in every book.

I strive to inspire and encourage.   (Tweet this)   

Laughter is good medicine for the spirit and life is so very tough sometimes that people need to be able to laugh. I hope my words provide that gift for people.

Renee: Well, speaking of books, do you have anything releasing soon for the readers?

Cheryl: I have several books releasing in the next few months from three different publishers and more books in the que from my original publisher. Coming in November is Out of the Flames, a Haven Bay Heroes prequel that will be FREE from Redbud Press for folks who sign up for their newsletter. In December I have A Refuge Christmas releasing from Inspy Kisses in the novella collection. In February from HarperCollins Christian Publishing comes Serving Up a Sweetheart, a February Bride story from Zondervan’s Second Year of Weddings series. In March comes book one in Haven Bay Heroes, titled Out of the Deep. Visit my website for more information on releases and purchase links or to sign up for my newsletter for new release news and goodies exclusive to subscribers at: www.cherylwyatt.com.

Here’s the blurb for Out of the Flames. Remember this is FREE for anyone who signs up for Redbud Press’s newsletter.

Coast Guard fire chief Scotty Cohen learned his lesson when one careless moment on the job cost his best friend his life. So he heads for Haven Bay, Florida, ready to start again. And this time? No distractions allowed.

Enter conservationist Lilah McLaughlin—that woman is one major distraction. How is he supposed to ignore her when the marine wildlife rescue center is right next door to the Coast Guard facility—and when she proceeds to break down every wall he’s put up?

Then the unthinkable happens, and Scotty must decide: give up Lilah or give up his calling. Whatever choice he makes means he’ll get burned all over again…

Renee: Whoa! You’ve been a busy beaver. How do you do it? I can barely keep up with the schedule I keep and only have one or two books in the works. Has your life changed now that you’re a “multi-published” author?

Cheryl: I think people have a lot of misconceptions about authors in general. One is that people think we make a ton of money. I actually made way more money working as an RN. LOL! Another thing is that being a writer is such a blessing but it stretches me in the sense of it’s not a very hidden gift, like say prayer would be. You have to put yourself out there and being shy, I’d rather operate in obscurity. On the other hand, I love being able to make myself accessible to readers online, to pray for them and encourage them and let them know how much I appreciate their readership.

Renee: You know, you’re so right. Many writers start their career in the recesses of their home and after publication, are thrown into the spotlight, so to speak. It’s a challenge, especially for a little girl who used to hide in corners. (I’m not mentioning any names here!) Pharmacy helped me overcome a lot of my shyness, but I have to admit, there are times I’d run if given the choice. Still, it seems like every author has a literal nook or cranny where he writes…and a cat that walks all over his keyboard. Do you have a special place?

Cheryl: My recliner in our family room because it’s nearest the fireplace. I like to write with the fire crackling. It’s also by the window and I love being able to look out and see wildlife or hear the rain pattering against the window as I write.

Renee: I have a recliner too! Not a fireplace anymore but my chair is right next to a window where I can see the hummingbirds. I’m sure I’ll watch the first snowflakes of winter float down as well. If you could tell a reader one thing before she cracked open the cover of one of your incredible books, what would it be and why?

Cheryl: Don’t hold mistakes against me or my publisher. LOL! No author is perfect and I hope they find the story worth their time and while.

Renee: Oh, I agree so much. And in this day and age, it’s expected. After all, so many are publishing at the touch of a button. By the way, what do you think of social media? Is it a benefit or hindrance to the publishing world today?

Cheryl: I LOVE being able to market digitally. I have a busy family life, and it is a blessing to be able to market on social media from home or wherever we happen to be that week. It would be difficult if I had to travel a ton for book signings or book events. I left one career to stay home with my children and I want to spend as much time nurturing and training and loving on them as I can. Social media enables me to do that as well as connect with my readers. I consider that a huge blessing and benefit.

Renee: I’m getting better but I still have a lot to learn! Thanks for stopping by the Diamond Mine, Cheryl. It’s been an honor and a joy to have you here.

***GIVEAWAY DETAILS***

Trauma nurse Kate Dalton can handle any challenge—except love. The combat veteran dreams of settling down, but heartbreak is one risk she won't take. Then a chance encounter opens her heart to a masked stranger…who might not be a stranger after all! Caleb Landis, the army medic behind the disguise, has always admired Kate, even though she only saw him as her best friend's brother. What will it take for Kate to discard her fears and discover the man she's always hoped to unmask? 

Eagle Point Emergency:  Saving lives—and losing their hearts— in a small Illinois town

***ENTER VIA RAFFLECOPTER BELOW***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

Multi-award-winning author Cheryl Wyatt writes romance with virtue for the Christian market. A busy mom, wife, humanitarian RN and orphan advocate, joyful chaos rules her home and she delights in the stealth moments God gives her to write. She stays active in her church and in her laundry room.

She loves her readers and cherishes interaction with them at: https://www.facebook.com/CherylWyattAuthor.

Join her newsletter for goodies exclusive to subscribers via her website: www.cherylwyatt.com.

She provides encouragement and writing prompts for aspiring authors at: https://twitter.com/cherylwyatt.

She shares story extras at http://www.pinterest.com/cherylwyatt7/ and is agented by http://www.alivecommunications.com/