Stephanie Reed and Free Books!

A young Amish woman believes balancing relationships between a draft-dodging hippie and the Amish man she’s always loved is difficult until she loses someone forever.

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Hawk, by Ronie Kendig, is:

myersalicem@ . . .

and the winner of the signed copy of Veiled at Midnight, by Christine Lindsay, is:

rdewey17@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing addresses, and we'll get your books to you right away.

I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's revisit novelist Stephanie Reed, author of The Bachelor (Kregel Publications, October 2014).

Stephanie Reed lives on the outskirts of Plain City, Ohio, site of a once-thriving Amish community. She gleans ideas for her novels from signs glimpsed along the byways of Ohio, as for her previous books, Across the Wide River, The Light Across the River, and The Bargain.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

--I wear hearing aids in both ears.

--I worked in a public library for several years.

--I love doughnuts.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Bachelor.

Betsie Troyer is back home in her Amish community where she knows she belongs. Free from the confusing Englisher way of life, Betsie and Charley Yoder have made promises to each other, and her life is back on track—until she agrees to do a favor for the Englisher family she used to board with.

Now the outside world is again threatening her peace and the man she thought she put behind her is back in her life. She will eventually have to make a decision: does she love Charley or Michael . . . or is she craving a deeper love that only God can give?

Set against the backdrop of the turbulent 1970s, The Bachelor is the compelling sequel to The Bargain in the Plain City Peace series.

What is it about Betsie that will make your readers care about her?

Betsie is doing her best to keep what’s left of her family together while waiting for her parents to return. She’s steadfast and true.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

I’m not much of a movie person, so I’d cast from TV stars. For Betsie Troyer, a toned-down Eden Sher from The Middle;




for Charley Yoder, Parker Young from Suburgatory;




and for Michael Sullivan, Jonathan Jackson from Nashville.

How much prep work do you usually do before you actually start writing your books?

It’s all in my head until I start writing. I jot down notes so I won’t forget. Photos of the setting, Plain City, are helpful, too.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

A Surprise for Lily , by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher. I finished Book 4 of the Lily books last night. Mary Ann Kinsinger was raised Old Order Amish but left. She wrote these stories to share her childhood memories of her family with her own children. Reminiscent of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books, but with Kinsinger’s voice and personal stamp. Irresistible.

How cool that she's writing from such a place of experience.

What are you working on now?

Book Three of Plain City Peace, The Bride. An Amish girl chooses between the handsome Amish farmer she's always loved and the English hippie with a heart of gold.

I really like that your series is set during the 1970's. That isn't what I would typically consider for Amish stories, and the uniqueness of the time frame is compelling.

Where else can readers find you online?

The best places are Stephanie Reed Books, Twitter, and GoodReads.

The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:



CBD.com



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

What’s your favorite childhood memory?

Thanks, Stephanie, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Stephanie has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Thursday, November 20. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Stephanie's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Also, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.