Learning from the Amish, part 1

Amish view Comments: 13

Amish farm

One of the first things I learned from the Amish was focus. Now that may sound a little strange, I mean how focused can you be in a house with upwards of 10 children? But when I have visited Amish homes, I am immediately struck by how peaceful it is, and then I realize that’s because there are so few distractions.

  • No cell phone buzzing
  • No computer with emails waiting to be answered
  • No television
  • No radio

Don’t misunderstand me. I have all those things at my house, and to a point I think they’re good things. But when I’ve visited an Amish home, and when I bask in that simplicity, I feel myself start to unwind. Why? Because all of those things calling for my attention are gone. All that’s left are the people I care about, and the things I need to do. I’m able to focus. I’m able to relax.



I live in a small town in the middle of Texas. We do not have an Amish population here. And I love where I live and the people who are my neighbors. But the Amish lifestyle reminds me that I I can choose to silence my phone, sign off from my computer, turn off the television and the radio–not all the time but for a certain amount of time each day. Silence helps us to focus. It helps us to gather our thoughts and connect with each other and also with God. It helps our mind to calm and our emotions to settle.

The Amish lifestyle isn’t a perfect one or an easy one, but I do believe there are things we can learn from the Amish and apply to our own Englisch lives. So what about you? How do you find peace in the midst of your daily life? Comment below. I’d love to hear from you.

Blessings,

V

Announcements for this week:

  • My Remnant Series is still on sale in ebook format through the end of the month.
  • I’ve added some new items to my VC Boutique Store, including my January special–2 Amish mystery books for $10 (shipping included). I hope you’ll check it out!
  • My clean romantic suspense series, Defending America, is now available in a boxed set through Amazon. My inspirational suspense Jacobs Family series is also in a boxed set. Both are $6.99/set or free through Kindle Unlimited.
  • For our next post, we’ll continue with this series on “What I’ve learned from the Amish” – so stay tuned and invite your friends to follow this blog!
  • Are you signed up for my newsletter? On Saturday I’ll share some exciting news and also give you access to a free prequel of my upcoming Amish cozy mystery series.

Another New Year

Author life, Christian living Leave a reply

Happy New Year!

First of all, if you already received this blog–my apologies. I preset it for 2018 instead of 2019. That won’t be the first time I’ll get the year wrong this month … so here goes for take 2. 🙂

Happy new year! I’m one of “those” people who love the thought of a brand new year. I can’t wait to put up my new wall calendar. I start a new journal. I set goals and list projects and make resolutions. And yeah–I take a lot of grief from my family about it because some of those resolutions don’t make it to February…like the year I was going to start with one sit up and one push up and then add one more each day. I made it to like the 15th of January, which was still 15 more sit-ups than I would normally do.

I like goal setting though. It inspires me. That new calendar page that has nothing written on it yet is all about possibilities to me. Here are a few of the things I’m looking forward to this year:

  • Working less, but with more intention
  • Writing 2 more Harlequin/LI books as well as some indie projects
  • Becoming more involved with my church’s music program
  • Finishing a Block of the Month quilting project that I started in 2018
  • Learn to knit something besides a scarf, blanket or hat
  • Be more healthy–with exercise, food choices, rest, and Bible study

Don’t all of these sound fun? So what about you, what are your goals for 2019? Or are you like my husband, whose resolution is always the same–to not have a resolution. 🙂

Either way, happy new year, and blessings through 2019.

V~

Announcements for this week:

  • My Remnant Series is currently on sale in ebook format.
  • My clean romantic suspense series, Defending America, is now available in a boxed set through Amazon. My inspirational suspense Jacobs Family series is also in a boxed set. Both are $6.99/set or free through Kindle Unlimited.
  • For my next blog post, I’m going to begin a series on “What I’ve learned from the Amish” – so stay tuned and invite your friends to follow this blog!

Christmas Blessings

The Writing Life Comments: 5

Just a short blog today. I wanted to wish you a very merry Christmas. Also I wanted to thank you for allowing me into your mailbox this year. You are more of a encouragement to me than you can possibly imagine. Writing is an awesome gig, but it’s also a solitary pursuit, and you each help to make that journey more enjoyable for me.

I’ll be spending time with family the next week, and sneaking in some knitting, quilting, and reading whenever I can.

My prayer is that you enjoy your time with family, pause long enough to consider the Christ child, enjoy the cup of hot cocoa–rest and relax and be grateful. Because Christmas, more than any other holiday, reminds us of how much our heavenly Father loves us, and that is something worth celebrating.

Blessings,

V

Announcements for this week:

  • My clean romantic suspense series, Defending America, is now available in a boxed set through Amazon. My inspirational suspense Jacobs Family series is also in a boxed set. Both are $6.99/set or free through Kindle Unlimited.
  • Amish Christmas Memories is now available in print and ebook, but you might have trouble finding the print book at Walmart as it probably sold out. Of course it’s also available through on-line retailers.
  • We’re having another sale in my VCReader’s Boutique.  Click here to browse my items and remember that I add new items several times a week. Use coupon code HOLIDAY15 for 15% off, and it’s always free shipping. All crafted items now let you CHOOSE which book you’d like to go with it.
  • In January, I’m going to begin a blog series on “What I’ve learned from the Amish” – so stay tuned and invite your friends to follow this blog!

Book Birthdays

Amish fiction, Christian fiction, Christmas stories, Love Inspired Books Comments: 5

Today is my book birthday! I’m so excited that Amish Christmas Memories is now available in stores. (The ebook will release on 12-1, so hang on dear e-readers.)

I can’t say that in 2010 I imagined releasing 30 books in 8 years. At the time, I was thrilled that someone wanted to publish A Simple Amish Christmas. I think it’s fitting and right that my 30th release should also be a Christmas story.

I’m often asked why people read Amish.

“I don’t get it–what’s the allure?”

For me Christmas is a perfect example of why we admire the Amish lifestyle. It’s at Christmas that many of us feel rushed or stressed, financially strapped, tired, lonely, and maybe even a little sad. I think those emotions are all normal, and sometimes it’s because in our minds we imagine a fairy-tale Christmas. For me it’s a cross between It’s A Wonderful Life and Elf.

Amish fiction, and especially Amish Christmas books, remind us that this is a holiday about our faith, that it’s okay to keep things simple, and that the best way to fight loneliness is to be a friend to our neighbor. Those are just a few of the topics I tackle in Amish Christmas Memories. So what about you? What’s your favorite type of Amish story? Leave a comment and one winner will be pulled to received an autographed book. Last post’s winner was Gail H.

Blessings,

V

Announcements for this week:

  • We’ll be celebrating my new release with a “12 days of Christmas” giveaway on Facebook and Twitter. So if you’re on either of those sites, feel free to join us. The giveaways will begin on Monday, November 26th.
  • We’re having another sale in my VCReader’s Boutique.  Click here to browse my items and remember that I add new items several times a week. Use coupon code HOLIDAY15 for 15% off, and it’s always free shipping. All crafted items now let you CHOOSE which book you’d like to go with it.
  • I’m going to Ireland, and I’d love for you to go with me. This trip is for writers, friends of writers, or readers who want to come and hang out with me and Amanda Flower. Details here.

Good Books & Old Friends

Amish fiction, Christian living Comments: 16

As fall settles over the Texas Hill Country, my thoughts turn to good books and old friends. Not such a strange combination, if you think about it.

I love to read in the fall. (Confession–I love to read all the time.) When the weather turns cold, I like to make a hot cup of tea or coffee, grab a book, and curl up in a chair. I can disappear there for hours on end. Sometimes it takes a good friend to tug on my arm and remind me Continue reading →

Church

Christian living, inspiration Comments: 25

If you can’t brag on friends and family on your own blog, then where can you? So fair warning, I plan to do some bragging today.

This past Sunday, My church had a “The Church has left the building” event. It was, in a word, awesome. We even had t-shirts!

On 5th Sundays we have a joint service (contemporary worship and traditional worship at one time in one place). Then we had a big potluck lunch. And after that we broke up into groups.

  • The choir went to the nursing home across the street and sang for the residents
  • Another group went to our local mission and did some painting as well as work organizing donations
  • I went with a group to a different nursing home in our town–we sang songs and played games with some of the residents. I was supposed to play the piano, but most of the keys on their piano didn’t work. No problem–we sang without it!
  • The last group went on a prayer walk. They went door to door and offered to pray with residents.

I loved this event. In fact, I hope we do it every 5th Sunday. After all, what is the church for if not to leave the building and spread the love of Christ? You know I’m going to work this into a story somewhere–so be on the look out.

Comment below on what your church has done to help your community. Or maybe you’ve been the recipient of help from your church–I know I have! I can raise my hand and testify to that. I’ll choose one winner from our comments to receive an autographed book. Our last winner was Lorialex.

Blessings,

V

Announcements for this week:

  • 5 of my Amish novels are on sale this month in ebook format for $1.99 or less. Purchase through Amazon or check your favorite retailer. Always confirm the price before purchasing.
  • We’re having antoher sale in my VCReader’s Boutique.  Click here to browse my items and remember that I add new items several times a week. Enter discount coupon Fall10percentoff for 10% off your entire order now through the end of the month.
  • I’m going to Ireland, and I’d love for you to go with me. This trip is for writers, friends of writers, or readers who want to come and hang out with me and Amanda Flower. Details here. 
  • I have a new rafflectoper giveaway going which includes a beautiful fall-colored afghan made by my mom. Click here and scan down for details.
  • Amish Christmas Memories, my next release, is now available for pre-order.

Celebrating

Amish fiction, Love Inspired Books Comments: 24

Some of you may have seen my announcement on Facebook that I’ve signed a contract with Harlequin/Love Inspired for 6 additional books in my Indiana Amish Brides series. I’m beyond excited and grateful. So today, I thought I’d share with you a peek into what’s Coming Soon …

The following are all working titles and subject to change!

  • Book 3 – Amish Matchmaker
  • Book 4 – Her Amish Cowboy
  • Book 5 – His Second Chance
  • Book 6 – For Richer or Poorer
  • Book 7 – Her Secret Child
  • Book 8 – Amish Blessings
  • Book 9 – Trouble Times Two

All are Amish romances that focus on faith, family, and God’s grace in our lives. They’ll release over the next 4 years. I want to thank each of you. The fact that you read quality Christian fiction helps publishers choose to promote that type of fiction. We couldn’t do it without you!

Comment below with the first Amish book you remember reading, and I’ll draw one winner to receive an earlier release from my book closet. Our winner from the last post was Pamela Bain, who I’ve already been in contact with. (If your name is Pamela and you didn’t receive an email from me, it was a different Pamela.)

Blessings,

V

Announcements for this week:

  • We’re having a sale in my VCReader’s Boutique including autographed copies of my newest release with quilted bookmarks for only $7.  Click here to browse my items and remember that I add new items several times a week. Enter discount coupon Back2School20 for 20% off your entire order now through the end of the month.
  • Three of my Amish mysteries are on sale this month in ebook format for $1.99 – A Perfect Square, Murder Simply Brewed and Murder Freshly Baked.
  • I have a new rafflectoper giveaway going which includes 6 autographed books and a book bag. Click here and scan down for details.