Amy Lillard's Blog, page 15

Fall Has Arrived

Went to Braums and got a pumpkin ice cream. Yum. Pumpkins, caramel apples, and football. Fall’s my favorite time of the year.

What’s your favorite part of fall?

SYTYCW Contest Has Begun!

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, let me fill you in. Each year Harlequin hosts a contest to find the next big writer for them. And this year, I’ve entered.

Those of you out there who know me well also know that I have *always* wanted to write for Harlequin. Now, don’t get me wrong. I LOVE my publisher, but there’s this little part of me that wants to see Harlequin on a book cover with my name on the front. :)

So here it is, my 100 word pitch and the link to my submission, TAKE ME BACK TO TEXAS, which is targeted toward Love Inspired. I hope you can stop by and check out the entries (please read mine) and vote for your favorite (pick mine, pick mine, pick mine). There’s only one vote per person per day. So make your vote count (vote for me pleasepleaseplease).

Thanks! Amy <><

TAKE ME BACK TO TEXAS: What would you give for a second chance at your first love? Elizabeth McGee is shocked to discover she owns her grandmother’s house in Texas. She leaves LA for Loveless to prepare the house to sell, only to find that the renovation is headed by JD Carmichael, her high-school sweetheart. JD never thought he’d see Bethie Grace again, not after breaking her heart so long ago. As they work side-by-side, they are swamped with memories both good and bad. Only their faith in God and each other can help them right past wrongs and look to the future.

http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/series/love-inspired/page/3/

Celebrate Pink

I’m turning my website pink for the month of October.

How fitting that Saving Gideon is released in October since it is dedicated to my mother who is a breast cancer survivor.  Ruth Fisher, Gideon’s mother, battles cancer through the book and series. So here’s to all who have been touched by breast cancer.

Release Day!!!

I really can’t tell you how excited I am! Today is the release day for Saving Gideon!!
It’s also the last day to enter to win one of three copies of Saving Gideon. Just leave me a comment. Tell me how excited you are that it’s October. Or who your favorite football team is. I don’t care.;) Just let me know you stopped by.

Happy Release Day, everyone!

4 Stars from RT Book Reviews

Just received word that Saving Gideon received 4 stars from RT Reviews!!! Here’s a quote:

“A sweet love story with characters who are grieving for different reasons but are brought together by chance and, in the process, help each other get over their pain and deepen their faith in themselves and God. Amy Lillard is a wonderful writer and honors the Amish and their faith with her novels.” RT Book Reviews

Yep. You got it. I’m walking on clouds!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Yes, today is my birthday. But you get the present. Right now I’m in Dallas at the wonderful ACFW Conference and the fantabulous book signing that has been set up for 10 writers of Amish fiction. How I got included in this all-star mix is definitely a miracle, but I’m accepting this blessing for what it is and driving on.

But in honor of my birthday, I’m giving away a books! All you have to do  is leave me a comment here and like my Facebook page between now and October 1 (the official release day for Saving Gideon). After the 1st, I’ll use a random drawing to determine the three winners*. Fun, huh?

So leave me a comment and head on over to my FB page…https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Lillard-Author/177732292332322 and get entered to win. :)

Mine favorite birthday treat is brownies and ice cream.

What’s yours?

*Only US and Canadian residents can receive print books. If you live outside of the US and still want to enter, you may and then receive an ebook as your contest prize. :)

Conference Time!

Just an update to let everyone know that this week (and most probably next) there will be sporadic blogging. The reason? I’m getting ready to go to the ACFW conference this week. Whoop! So excited. So forgive me as I run to the tailor’s, the dry cleaner’s and a number of other places while I get ready to go. Whew!

<>< Amy

This Week’s Colors

So I’ve confessed that I love nail  polish.  You know this about me, right? In getting ready for the conference and book signing (8 days from now!) I went shopping trying to get everything ready. And here’s what I found.

Beautiful huh? The red is Vodka and Caviar and the beige color is Tickle Me France-y. Spot on since I’m so in love with the Eiffel Tower and all things Parisian.

Sigh. I so love nail polish.

I’m not sure the red will make it into my suitcase. It’s a little  flashy for the ACFW (IMHO) but I know the lighter color will be my  staple while  there. I’m not worrying too much about my toes since  I’m wearing my cowboy boots down, around, and back. They are the most comfortable ”shoes” I own. And I’m getting a new pair for my birthday. Haven’t see those yet? Stay tuned!

<>< Amy

I suppose I should confess that during the composition of this blog I found another color of nail polish and ordered it. Say hello to French Quarter for Your Thoughts.

Oh. Yeah.

Sushi and the Country Girl

If you’re my  friend on Facebook (and I  hope you are), you know that I went to In The Raw to eat sushi this week with a dear friend of mine. See I’ve never had sushi unless you count the bite I spit into my napkin at the Chinese buffet two years ago. But I’m up for something new and I love my friend. Plus we hadn’t gotten to spend any time together this summer since our kids were out of school.

Sushi is…interesting. I was a little put off by the rice (sticky and kind of clumpy) but  I got used to it. I couldn’t use the chopsticks, a  feat I fear I will never learn and for which I will blame the RA. (Hey, if I can’t use a chronic illness to get me  off the hook here, what’s the use in having it?) But I still gave it the old college try and ended up flinging half a bite almost to the next table. Thankfully the restaurant was busy and no  one noticed. After that, my friend caught a passing waitress and asked her to bring me  a fork. And there was no way I could eat the entire piece at one time like my friend.

So here I  am, cutting my sushi in half and scooping the bites up with a fork, while  swilling down diet Pepsi like they were about to stop making it. (Our sushi was HOT.)

And I had the best time I’ve had in a long time. My friend was so concerned that I didn’t like the meal that she bought my lunch. But next time, Kel, the sushi is on me.

It’s good to get out of the box and try something new. And after the first bite and I got used to the texture of the sushi, I did enjoy it.

Now I can’t say it’s my favorite. But like I said, trying new things is good for us. It stretches us, gives us life experiences that are important for us to understand each  other.

After all, I grew up eating deer meat, squirrel, rabbit, and frog legs. I couldn’t let a little crab put me off. No, I didn’t eat the raw kind. But who knows? There’s always next time.

What did you do new this week?

It’s Time For Some Good News

Back in November of last year, sixteen Amish men and women were arrested for cutting the beards and hair of their Amish neighbors. The sixteen are members of a break away sect led by Samuel Mullet and have been accused of being a cult. (Click here for more information http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/24/us/7-arrested-in-hair-cutting-attacks-on-amish-in-ohio.html?_r=1&ref=us) They are on trial now.

These members of the Amish church aren’t saying that they are innocent, but that they did it out of compassion for the victims, trying to bring them back into the fold. The sixteen are members of a break away sect led by Samuel Mullet and have been accused of being a cult. But the formal charges include conspiracy, destroying evidence, and hate crimes. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/us/lawyers-say-amish-charged-in-beard-cutting-attacks-acted-out-of-compassion.html

I find it incredibly sad that when we hear about the Amish in the news,  it is always bad news. I’m certain that people who live in states with a higher population of Amish residents hear more good than bad. But what about the rest of us–those states with small communities or none at all? Could somebody please report some good news? I  definitely think it’s time. Or maybe that’s why we love Amish fiction so much. Thoughts? Please leave a comment. I’d love to hear what you think.