Beth Wiseman's Blog, page 16

Beth Wiseman Interviews Colleen Coble

Hi Everyone!

I'm excited to have fellow Christian author Colleen Coble visiting my blog today. I've read several of Colleen's books and can attest to the fact that she is a wonderful author, but on a personal note, she is also a dear and loving person. So! Welcome, Colleen!
 

I'm excited to be here with you, Beth! I love your newest book, Need You Now. I just finished the advance reader copy and I couldn't put it down.

Awe, thanks so much! For those few readers who might not have heard of you or your books, can you tell us a little bit about you personally, why you write Christian fiction, and who or what inspires you?

I have two grown kids and a three-year-old granddaughter who is the light of my life. I've been married to the same great guy for forty years. I love being able to show the hope God gives to us in my books. I love writing. It was a lifelong dream and I'm constantly amazed at where God has taken me with my career. My books are all romantic mysteries. People have asked why I have mystery and suspense in my books, and I think it's because I have such a strong streak of justice. I look around the world and see all the injustice. I can't do anything about that but I can make sure the villain is caught in my books!

I love that! I've heard you say in an interview that Lonestar Angel is a favorite of yours. Can you tell us about the book and why it holds a special place in your heart?

The Lonestar books are all marriage of convenience stories. Lonestar Angel is a little different twist on that because Eden and Clay were married once. Then their infant daughter died in a kidnapping attempt gone wrong and they divorced. Eden moved on with her life. Five years later Clay shows up and tells her he never signed the divorce papers. But even more earth-shattering is his announcement that their daughter Brianna is still alive. Eden goes with Clay to try to figure out which of five little girls is their daughter. Along the way they have to learn what love really is and they start to make the choice to love every day. And of course they plunge into a dangerous situation as well.

While most authors will tell you that there are no 'typical' days, how do you like for your day to play out on average?
 

With coffee! I have to start off with freshly ground beans of the strong stuff in a big mug. Then I take care of business emails before plunging into my writing. I try to get at least 2000 words written a day when I'm putting down the rough draft. I keep at it until my goal is met for the day.

I need my coffee too! What can readers expect from you in the future?
 

I'm excited about a new series that is launching in a couple of weeks. The first book in the historical Under Texas Stars series is Blue Moon Promise. It's a marriage of convenience story set in 1870s Texas that I think my readers are going to love. It's a very personal book too. Lucy is dealing with the same lack of control issues I faced this year when my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer and my best friend Diann Hunt discovered that her ovarian cancer had come back. I wanted to DO SOMETHING. To fix it. But Lucy and I both had to realize that control is just an illusion. God is the one who has our life and death in his hands.

That sounds great! You are so right. God is in control, even though it's hard sometimes to 'let go and let God'. Where can readers find you online?
 

My website is www.colleencoble.com and I'm always chatting on Facebook and Twitter. I blog with four other close friends at www.GirlsWriteOut.blogspot.com.

Thank you, Colleen! And for my readers, a special offer: comment on this blog post to be eligible to win a copy of Lonestar Angel. And let me know if you've ever read any of Colleen's books before!  I will choose a winner on Friday.  Good luck! 


Peace,
Beth

Books to come...and a video!

Happy Tuesday!

Hope you're all enjoying the New Year so far.  I've been a busy girl trying to wrap up two books that are due Feb. 13.  Also, I've had lots of inquiries about what's coming next with regard to my publishing schedule.  Here's the plan:

>    I'm currently working on book #3 in the Land of Canaan series--His Love Endures Forever--scheduled for release in Oct. 2012.  

>    I'm also working on my story in An Amish Kitchen, which is titled A Recipe for Hope.  An Amish Kitchen is a novella collection with stories from me, Kelly Long, and Amy Clipston.  In the back, there is also a cookbook with 45 Amish recipes.  This collection will release late this year.  

>    My next book to release will be Need You Now.  This is my first non-Amish contemporary, and I'm SO excited for everyone to read it!  (See video below).  The first half of this book is going to release early in digital format only -- and more details coming on that very soon!  The paperback version releases in April.

>    Beginning in February, I'll start working on my next contemporary novel, which is tentatively titled The House That Love Built.  Did you see the movie Hope Floats?  That movie was filmed in Smithville, Texas, and that is where The House That Love Built will be based.  Smithville is a cool little town about 45 minutes from me.  This will be a romance, but with some interesting twists! 

>    After that, I'll be writing book #6 in the Daughters of the Promise series (not yet titled).  

>    Then back to another contemporary -- tentatively titled Walter.  I am VERY excited about that book, and I already have the story in my head, even though I'm over a year away from writing it.  

>    Also, somewhere in all of that -- I plan to write some short stories that will follow up with characters from the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series.  For example -- would you like to read about Jonas and Irma Rose's love story when they were young?  

Here is a video that my publisher made recently.  I'm discussing my transition into contemporary novels.  And yes...there are still plenty of Amish books on the horizon too!

INTERVIEW WITH BETH WISEMAN

Hope you all have a fabulous, blessed week!
Beth


 

Recipe Friday, January 6th - Amish Sausage Patties

Have you ever wondered what they actually put in sausage patties?  Yeah, me too!

AMISH SAUSAGE PATTIES

Equal amounts of lean and fat fresh pork, ground. To each pound of this mixture, add 1 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper, 1/8 tsp. each of sage and thyme. Add one beaten egg, mold into cakes and fry in skillet until browned on both sides.

I love sausage patties with pancakes or waffles.  (But probably not enough to make them from scratch at home )

Have a great weekend!
Peace and blessings,
Beth

Recipe Friday, December 23rd- French Toast Casserole

Two days before Christmas, and I'm writing, writing, writing!! 

Here's a breakfast casserole that is assembled the night before and baked in the morning. 



French Toast Casserole

1 (10 oz.) loaf French Bread,                    4 tsp. sugar
 cut into 1 inch cubes                                1 tsp. vanilla
8 eggs                                                            3/4. tsp salt
3 c. milk

Topping:
2 Tbsp. butter                                                2 tsp. cinnamon
3 Tbsp. sugar        

Place bread cubes in a greased 13 X 9 inch baking pan.  In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar and salt.  Pour over bread, cover and refrigerate overnight. 
Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.  Dot with butter.  Combine sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle over the top.  Cover and bake 45 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Serve with maple or fruit syrup.  Yields 12 servings. 

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas,
Beth

Need You Now, Review -- A Man's Perspective

When I wrote my first non-Amish contemporary--Need You Now--I knew it would be dubbed as a "book for the ladies."  But I took great care to write from multiple points of view.  Darlene is the protagonist, and I think women will relate to her challenges. 

However, her husband Brad is a strong personality in the book also, and I just love him.  I wanted the reader to know what was going on in his head amidst the hardships his family faced. 

And SO many times, we as parents THINK we know what our teenage children are thinking and we couldn't be more wrong.  In that regard, I also gave the children a point of view.  This was my effort to appeal to a broad range of readers -- men, women, and teenagers -- since the book deals with complex issues that affect all the characters. 

I loved writing this story, and I can't wait for you to read it.

Many of you know Larry Knopick.  He's a huge fan of Amish fiction.  I sent Larry an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Need You Now, and I was anxious to hear what he thought. 

Here's what Larry had to say.


See below:

I was fortunate enough to get an early copy of Need You Now by Beth Wiseman. I didn't know what to expect since this was Beth's first non-Amish contemporary. I'm so used to reading her great Amish novels. Need You Now did not disappoint.

This story has an average American family moving to a new town where every character has some kind of struggle or another. Each chapter made me think about what I would do if I had their challenges to deal with. People face problems in all kinds of ways, and I was happy to see that these folks relied on the power of prayer.

Darlene is a great wife to her husband Brad, and she is a loving Mom to her three children. When things start going wrong in the lives of the people Darlene loves,  as well as in her own life, what does she do for answers? Her daughter Grace, who Dad says is "always a good girl..." is coping with her problems in a dangerous way.    I loved the secondary characters in this story—Darlene's best friend and Grace's best friend. Very colorful characters to say the least. Layla, who is the Hendersons' neighbor, captures Darlene's heart…and she totally captured mine.

Brad is 'The Rock' of the Henderson clan. A CPA who loves his wife and children and is completely devoted to them. When things go wrong in his family, the real human side of Brad comes out. He wants to put an end to the problems that attack the family he cherishes, but finds that it's not an easy task.  Brad is a great provider, sensitive to the people around him, and a great listener.  You'll see he is always trying to do the right thing, given the challenging circumstances he faces.

This book has a lot of mystery in it, and you'll be tempted to read it all in one sitting. I was always wondering what was going to happen next! There is nothing phony about this story, it's very 'real life'.   Beth does a super job describing Round Top, Texas, with the scenery outdoors, the heat, and small town living. Beth can take something small like old jewelry in the story and make real significance out of it.

This book will grab the reader's attention and beautifully touch hearts whether you are a man or a woman. It has a tremendous, tremendous ending to it.  I will admit it...I pulled my reading glasses off and cried a couple of times. There is much thought and intelligence that the writer invested in this well-done masterpiece. I absolutely loved reading this story, which is SO typical of Beth's work. Yes, you will see how divine guidance is a real benefactor for sure here! A must read.

Thanks Beth Wiseman and thanks everyone for reading my review!

Truly,
Larry Knopick

Recipe Friday, December 9th - Monkey Bread

Yes, I missed Recipe Friday the last couple of weeks.  I've got two books due to my publisher next month and lots of other requests that have kept me super busy. What can I say except that I do my best to fit it all in?    I love my fans and hope you enjoy trying these yummy Amish recipes. 

Holidays can mean our homes are full of visiting friends and families.  Here's an easy dish to serve at breakfast time.


Monkey Bread
2 cans bisquits                    
1 c. sugar mixed with 1 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. vanilla

1 c. brown sugar
1 c. oleo (margarine)

Quarter biscuits and roll in 1 cup sugar and cinnamon mixture.  Drop biscuit pieces into bundt or angelfood cake pan; make level.  Sprinkle any remaining sugar mixture over, then melt last three ingredients and pour over biscuits.  Bake at  350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Turn upside down on a large plate for serving. 

It looks really sticky!  Serve with plenty of napkins.  Does anyone know why they call this dish Monkey Bread? 

Peace and Blessings to you,
Beth

Recipe Friday, November 18th - Pumpkin Roll

I bet this would make a great dessert for Thanksgiving, especially for those who don't care for pie.  For folks that must avoid wheat flour, I'm guessing that gluten-free flour would work well in this recipe.  I can't wait to try it!

Pumpkin Roll

1/1/2 c. sugar                1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. pumpkin                    1 12 tsp. soda
1 1/3 cu. flour                    4 eggs
1 1/2 sp. salt                    powdered sugar

Mix ingredients together  (except powdered sugar) and pour into a large waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.  Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees.  Place on tea towel and sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Roll up and cool completely.  Unroll and fill with filling then roll up again. 

Filling:
3 Tbsp. oleo (margarine)        1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
12 oz. cream cheese                1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Wishing you a great weekend!
Peace and Blessings,
Beth

Recipe Friday, November 11th - Funeral Pie

What an unusual date we have today!  It only comes around once in a hundred years!   11-11-11  Wow!

A huge thank you to all our veterans today.  Thank you for making us the "land of the free". 
Hmmm.... a patriotic Amish recipe, is a challenge.  The Amish are pacifists and refuse to bear arms.  In compliance with their doctrine of non-resistance,  the Amish are forbidden to take part in violence and war; therefore, typically, would not give homage to the war dead.  Displays of patriotic fervor is just not the Amish way, but this doesn't mean they aren't deeply appreciative of the religious freedom this country gives them.  

This a pie seen quite often in Amish homes because it is easy, quick and made from non-seasonal ingredients.   It is often taken to the family of those grieving over a passing.

Funeral Pie

2 cups raisins

2 cups water, civided

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1 pinch salt

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 prepared pie crusts 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a pie pan with one of the pie crusts and chill. Place the raisins and 2/3 cup of the water in a saucepan and heat over medium heat for 5 minutes. Combine the sugars, cornstarch, spices, and salt in a bowl and , mixing all the time, slowly add the remaining water. Add this mixture to the heating raisins. Cook and stir this until the mixture starts to bubble. Add the vinegar and butter and heat until the butter is melted. Cool until just warm. Pour into the prepared shell and top with the second crust. Bake 25 minutes or until golden. Cool.

Peace and blessings,

Beth


  

Recipe Friday November 4th- Amish Corn Casserole

Time to start planning our Thanksgiving meals. Does your family descend on your home making you the chief cook and dish washer?  Do you take a covered dish to someone else's home?  Or are you not planning anything special for the annual harvest celebration?  The Amish do celebrate Thanksgiving, but not as enthusiastically as the rest of us do. "We give thanks every day"  is the Amish sentiment.  Well, here's a side dish that sounds like it will go well with a variety of main dishes, whatever your plans.




AMISH CORN CASSEROLE

1 cup milk                                                 

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 eggs, beaten

2 tablespoons sugar

1 can creamed corn

1/2 tsp. salt

Freshly grated black pepper to taste

Mix cornstarch with milk, stir until no more lumps exist. Warm milk mixture, pour in butter. Mix beaten eggs and sugar with corn. Add milk mixture, salt and pepper, stir well to combine all. Put into greased 9 X 13  or round casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Personally, I think this dish is seriously lacking something....... CHEESE!  I think I would add at least a cup of shredded Cheddar or Monteray Jack cheese so it'll toast in the baking and give it a warm crusty look. 

Have a great weekend!
Peace and Blessings,
Beth

Guest Blogger Ruthie Dean

I'm a terrible blogger.  As each new year approaches, I tell myself that I'm going to do better...blog more often and about things that matter.  So, when I find someone who is already doing that, I like to share.  Ruthie Dean is young enough to be my daughter, but her wisdom, compassion, and words exceed her age.  I love reading her blogs.  They make me think, appreciate, and want to be a better person.

Today, I'm excited to share with you a post from Ruthie! She works for my publisher, Thomas Nelson, and I asked her to write this post about different cultures because she lived in China for two years as a missionary before working for Thomas Nelson. She talks about similar emotions I first experienced when engaging in and writing about the Amish culture. She blogs about truth, joy, and abundant life at RuthieDean.com. Enjoy!

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New Cultures, Standing Out, &Life-Long Friendships

I stepped off the plane, my head still spinning from the rough landing, as the smell of fried noodles and strong spices wafted over me; instantly taking note of what appeared to be thousands of black eyes staring at my differences. I nervously pulled my hair back behind my ears and bit my fingernails-- just 14 hours ago I was sitting in the Atlanta airport speaking English. I felt as Lucy must have when she discovered Narnia. The wardrobe was behind me as I was standing in an unknown world of fascination and intrigue—one where everyone stared at me like I was a life-size doll and the words consisted of intricate pictures. I was certainly not in Kansas anymore. I arrived across the globe in what would be my new home for the next two years: China.

I moved to China to tell a primarily atheist nation about the one true God who sent His Son to die for them. I was there to be the hands and feet of Christ—in a city where brokenness and sorrow reigned because a recent earthquake buried thousands of children underneath their schools. Overwhelming does not even scratch the surface of the emotions I felt walking around my new city of 12 million. The most daunting task was to learn to communicate in their heart language.

The honeymoon phase with my new home ended rather quickly. I grew frustrated with the people staring at me on every street corner, some touching my hair and face as if I was an artifact. The general hurry of everyone in public seemed unjustified, especially when elbows would find their way into my sides or worse when I was pushed off a bus one time. Pushed! I didn't understand why the Chinese stood in line touching each other or why people would cut me in line if I didn't press my body against the person in front of me. And why the hurry at the train station? I have never before experienced such massive chaos and panic as the train doors opened and we were allowed to find our (assigned, mind you) seats. Grocery shopping in China on a Monday morning felt like Y2K was looming. And everywhere I went, people snapped pictures of me (without permission) and school children giggled and pointed.

The language came with great difficulty, many embarrassing moments—the word napkin and menstrual pad should not be confused, esp. in a crowded restaurant—and many tears over the frustration of the large communication barriers.  With time, I began to form deep friendships with Chinese women. The cultural barriers came down, brick by brick, as I was able to truly recognize that while they looked different, talked different, and had different customs, we were in essence the same in longing for love, acceptance, and belonging. They needed a Savior just as much as I did. My housekeeper Xiao Li and I loved to laugh and share a good meal with friends. My friend Zhou Qiu Yu and I both loved to sit up late and eat 'snacks' and watch a movie (however her 'snack of choice' was chicken feet). One night, I invited my Chinese friends over for a sleepover. And guess what we did? Danced, sang, laughed, ate way too much candy, went to bed at 4am, and talked about boys. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Each day as I lived among the Chinese, spoke their language, and became closer friends with natives, the unfamiliar with the culture grew familiar. They laughed, desired acceptance, fought with their relatives, struggled with selfishness, loved deeply, had their hearts broken, wanted to be thinner, experienced anger, wanted more—just like us. While there will always be language & cultural barriers between me and the Chinese, my two years spent in their midst was the most rewarding time in my life. Hard, yes. But richly blessed with friendships and experiences that forever change the way I view others.

Beth said she had a similar experience when beginning to learn about the Amish. What grace God gave her to dive headfirst into their culture and bring beautiful stories of love, life, and faith to us!

Have you ever experienced life among people from a different culture or background? How did it challenge your faith?
 

Beth here -- I know Ruthie would love to read comments from you.  She is building her blog, and I encourage you to check out her past posts and subscribe at www.ruthiedean.com.

Hope you all have a fabulous week!