Shannon here: Amish Romance author, Mary Ellis shares her real life romance, plus a chance to win a copy of her latest release, A Marriage for Meghan. Every time you comment on any post dated Oct 17 – 21, your name goes in the drawing. Deadline: Oct 26, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Mary:
1. What’s the most romantic present your spouse ever bought for you?
My husband bought me stereo equipment for Christmas while we were in college, even though we’d only been dating for 3 months. My dad said, “My daughter can’t accept so expensive a gift from someone she’s not serious about. My future husband said, “But I am very serious about her—I intend to marry her as soon as we finish college. And we did….six days after graduation.
2. Do you and your spouse have a favorite romantic vacation destination?
We know an island off the eastern seaboard that’s our favorite spot to go. I won’t say the name, because we don’t want it to get too crowded with other tourists. But it’s off the coast of Georgia.
3. What simple gesture does your spouse do that melts you every time?
He wakes me up before he leaves for work with a kiss. (despite the fact I have morning, dragon breath!)
4. How soon after meeting your spouse did you know he was the one?
I knew within the first week. He didn’t get mad when I burned out the clutch on his high-performance car while I was trying to learn how to drive a stick-shift.
5. How soon after meeting you did your spouse know you were the one?
He decided I was the one when I volunteered to cook a homemade meal for him. He knew I couldn’t cook a lick, but I was willing to give it a try since that’s what he really wanted for a present.
6. Where did you and your spouse go for your honeymoon?
We went down to Florida and then took the long way home through the beautiful Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and Virginia. Since we’d just gotten out of college, we had no money for this trip. We lined up three different land-sales-time-share tours to take advantage of free hotel rooms. Of course, we did have to sit through several different high-pressure sales meetings, but at least they fed us lunch or dinner. Luckily, we didn’t buy any properties, which we couldn’t have afforded.
About Mary: Mary Ellis grew up close to an Amish settlement where she loved their peaceful agrarian lifestyle and strong sense of Christian community. She and her husband now live by the largest population of Amish in the country where they take weekend trips to research her books. Mary enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, bicycling and swimming. Before “retiring” to write full-time, Mary taught Middle School and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate—a job with amazingly sweet fringe benefits. All three in her Miller Family series made the Christian bestseller lists. A Widow’s Hope was a finalist in the 2010 ACFW Carol Awards and Award of Merit for the Holt Medallion. Her current release is A Marriage for Meghan, which follows her bestselling Abigail’s New Hope. Learn more at www.maryeellis.wordpress.com and https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mary-Ellis/126995058236.
About the book:
Meghan Yost is eager to prove to her father, the bishop, that she’s mature enough to teach school by herself. But just as she gains confidence, a troubled student challenges her authority and an enthusiastic suitor challenges her patience. How can Meghan outgrow her nickname of “little goose” if she can’t stand on her own two feet? When a series of apparent hate crimes sweep through the district, the sheriff calls in the FBI, and Special Agent Thomas Mast arrives carrying a secret he’s hidden for years. Will he come to terms with the past and regain his relationship with God before his career hardened his heart? With more on her plate than one girl can handle, Meghan sets out to help with the investigation. Thomas works closely with the bishop, who hopes the criminals will be arrested before Meghan finds herself in love with the most inappropriate of suitors—an Englischer.
I would love to win. Thank You for the chance.
Great interview – I enjoy Mary’s book so much
Loved reading about you ! Need to read your books I do love reading stories about the Amish.
As well as Pioneer stories….Christian based of course… looking forward to getting to read your books …Have a blessed day, Verna
I loved your wonderful romantic story of your and your husband’s courtship! It was so sweet about him not being angry when you burned out the clutch while learning to drive a stick shift. (My first car was a stick shift and I taught myself to drive it, so I know all about burning out the clutch!) I have not read any of your books, but love, love, love books about the Amish. They are my favorite books, so I would love to win A Marriage for Meghan. I will certainly be looking for your books in the future, too! God bless you and keep writing books about the Amish. I admire them so much for being able to do without the things us “Englishers” think are necessities.
thanks so much for dropping my Shannon’s marvelous blog and leaving a comment!!!
Shannon gave me (a many-year-married woman) a chance to remember our early days of college courtship. And the flame is still there!!! And I’m a much better cook now, although still not very good with a standard shift. Many blessings, and good luck to everyone in the drawing.
Hey Mary,
I tried to drive a stick shift once. I almost hit a pack of dogs. That was enough for me.
I am a big fan of Mary Ellis!! Just read Abigails New Hope! It was excellent. I would love to win a copy of her next in the series.
Working on my first novel and frantically reading everything I can get my hands on. I haven’t read an Amish book yet. Would love to add that to my library.
Illene Stewart
Her romance continues – I saw Mary Ellis last summer at an outdoor event. It was sweet to see how the spouses followed each other with their eyes whenever one left the immediate area. The smiles they exchanged were full of love. I’ve read all her books and will enjoy reading A Marriage for Meghan.