Amish Romance author, Vannetta Chapman shares the inspiration behind her latest book. Comment on any post dated Jan 21 – 25 to get your name in two separate drawings. One winner will receive A Promise for Miriam and A Home for Lydia on e-book. One winner will receive both books in paperback. Deadline: Feb 2, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Vannetta:
Oh, I love this story.
A Home for Lydia is very much a story from my heart. I love stories about old things made new. Places and people who have fallen on hard times, but then someone finds them, sees the potential in them, and begins to rebuild. Much as God has done for each of us.
My husband and I visited Wisconsin before I began writing this series. There are a lot of falling down barns in Wisconsin. Many of the farms belonged to large dairy corporations. The corporations left, and the Amish are coming in and rebuilding the places. Looking at these farms, set against the beautiful backdrop of SW Wisconsin, and seeing them in such disrepair – it sparked my imagination.
But of course farms aren’t the only thing that need love and attention. People do too! And so I created Lydia and Aaron.
Lydia’s father is ill with farmer’s lung – an ailment I learned about while in Wisconsin. Lydia has grown up fast because she needed to be able to help her parents. I know all about caring for an ill and/or dying family member. It’s one of the greatest blessings and also one of the toughest trials. Lydia needs someone’s love, but it isn’t a future she has imagined for herself. Like the cabins she tends, her heart is somewhat abandoned.
Aaron comes to town to do a job (sell the cabins or repair them), and he’s not interested in looking for a wife. But then he locks horns with Lydia. Are they co-workers, friends, or more? Before either can decide, the cabins are robbed. Now they have even bigger problems. And is the person Amish or Englisch? If they’re Amish, it’s an issue their Bishop will deal with. If they’re Englisch, the police will become involved.
And so the story turns again, this time toward God’s grace. Can Lydia care for her family and still have a home of her own? Will Aaron decide to stay, or return to Indiana? And what of the person who is robbing their local businesses? Why would someone do that? And how can they respond as a community with love and grace?
A Home for Lydia is a story of love, of old things made new, and of God’s grace. I certainly hope you’ll give it a try.
About Vannetta: 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 novel, Falling to Pieces, was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner for best mystery. All of her books have been Christian Book Distributor bestsellers. She currently writes Amish fiction for Abingdon Press, Zondervan, and Harvest House. Chapman lives in the Texas hill country with her husband. For more information, visit her at http://www.vannettachapman.com/, www.facebook.com/VannettaChapmanBooks, and twitter — VannettaChapman
About the book – A Home for Lydia: A bend in the road can be daunting … or the beginning of everything.
A Home for Lydia, the second book in a new romantic series from popular author Vannetta Chapman, centers again on the Plain community of Pebble Creek and the kind, caring people there. As they face challenges to their community from the English world, they come together to reach out to their non-Amish neighbors while still preserving their cherished Plain ways.
Aaron Troyer simply wants to farm like his father and grandfather before him. But instead he finds himself overseeing the family’s small group of guest cabins nestled along the banks of Pebble Creek. That also means he must work with the cabins’ housekeeper, Lydia Fisher.
Lydia is the most outspoken Amish woman Aaron has ever met, and she has strong opinions about how the guest cabins are to be run. She also desperately needs this job. Though sparks fly between boss and employee at first, when the cabins are robbed, nothing is more important to Aaron than making sure Lydia is safe.
Together they work to make the vacation property profitable, but can they find out the identity of the culprit before more damage is done? And is Lydia’s dream of a home of her own more than just a wish and a prayer?
Purchase – http://www.vannettachapman.com/a-home-for-lydia.html
Come back Jan 25th for Linda Rondeau!
Thanks for allowing me to tell the story BEHIND A Home for Lydia. The Amish and Englisch folks in Wisconsin were just wonderful, and I appreciate their help in creating this story.
would love to win these books Thanks for the chance
love the Amish books!
Would love to win the 2 paperback books.
I would truly love to win these books.
Sounds wonderful….would love to win a copy.
Blessings, Tina
tfrice@comcast.net
I LOVE Amish books and also Vannetta’s books! She’s a great author! I’d love to win! Thanks for giving us a chance!
makeighleekyleigh at yahoo.com
Would be thrilled to win any of the prizes in this wonderful giveaway. Please accept my entry. Thank you.
Would love to win! Can’t wait to read them!
Thanks for the awesome opportunity to win!
Please enter me in your drawing. Love reading and would love to win. Thanks and God bless.
Would really really love to win any books.
Thanks for having the giveaway glad to be able to have a chance at winning it.
Blessings
joeym11@frontier.com
I would love the chance to win these books, I love Amish Fiction.
Looks like another great book to read. Thanks for this chance. Either way winning or library book, can’t wait to read.
I am eager to read this book. I am hearing so many great things about it!
I would love the chance to win these books.
Thank you sharing the behind the story segments & for giving us these chances to win Shannon & Vanetta!
I’d love to be able to win this book as I have read all your other books. This should be another good romance.
Thank you; Pat(:
Ty so vm for doing these!
LOVE LOVE LOVE TO READ YOUR BOOKS!!!! Hoping to win!! God Bless!!!!
I’d love to win a copy of your book, to add to my growing collection. Thanks you for the contest. LeAnn
angel4god@charter.net
I would love to win this book.
I would love to win!
Oh I would love to read this book. It sounds like a wonderful. Please put me in for the drawing.
I love reading your books and I also love reading other Famish authors.
I love reading amish but but cant always afor to buy
I love your books! Would love to have these two new ones.
Would love to read this book! Would love to win a copy!!
Thanks again for your wonderful books! And thank you for the chance to win a copy.
glad to be able to have a chance at winning
Would love to read both these books. I’ve loved the other books of yours, that I read!! I read them too fast, but that is what happens when you can’t stand to put them down!!
Thank you all for stopping by.
Love it! Please enter me. 🙂
enjoyed the background of the story, thanks. love to read your books. would love to be in your drawing.
Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)
Sounds like another great book – would love to win it.
Thanks.
I love reading Vannetta’s books. There is a freshness in them that you don’t find in other Amish books.
I love your books! Thanks for the oppertunity to win one! How great would that be?!
Can’t wait to meet Lydia! She sounds fascinating.
I would love to win. I find so much comfort and enjoyment is amish stories. Thank you Vanetta
Thank you for the gifting of the Pebble Creek books. Please enter me in the drawing as I so enjoy Vannetta’s books! May God continue to inspire you. Blessings. Pauline 🙂
I would love to win. I love reading your books
Would love to win the paperbacks! Any extra for the library would be awesome too! Don’t ever stop writing!
cant wait to read it.
Thank you all for leaving a comment! And feel free to share this with your friends.
Thank you for the drawing. I love Vannetta Chapman’s books! Blessings, Brandy
I love your books, Vannetta and would love to win this one. God bless
I just love these books. It is so refreshing to read such pure, and spiritual books. Would love to win one. I will read it no matter.
Love your writing Vannetta!
Have read all of Vannetta’s books and LOVE every single one. These will stay in my forever library.
Beth
(V Team)
This sounds so good. I enjoyed the first one and I know this one will be just as good or better.
Thank you for sharing this blog. I can’t wait to read it.
I have a winner! Lee Ann Mooneyham won the drawing for Vannetta’s book. I’m so pleased with the response this giveaway generated. I appreciate Vannetta for being here and everyone else for stopping by.
Thank you everyone for commenting!
And congratulations to Lee Ann. Your book will be on the way this week.