I am so happy to share with you my newest release, The Baby Next Door. I want to thank everyone who has ordered or downloaded a copy. The Baby Next Door was an instant Publishers Weekly bestseller, landing on the list at #12. Many times I’m asked where I come up with ideas, and what inspires me, and who is the book dedicated to … so let’s get to those questions.

Where do I get these ideas? My main guy in this story is operating an animal refuge of sorts. I came up with this idea when I saw an Amish farmer in Indiana who was raising camels. A camel on an Indiana farm is a pretty funny sight. It turned out that he was selling camel milk and making a nice profit–camel milk is good for people with Crohn’s Disease. Unfortunately for this farmer, camels are difficult to milk. That started me thinking … what do you do with a camel if you decide you don’t want it anymore? Thus, Adrian’s refuge for animals.

As far as Grace’s half of the story, I’ve visited enough Amish communities and met with enough families to know that they deal with many of the same issues that we Englischers do–single moms being one of them. I wanted to show how that might be handled. I was so pleased when an Amish woman told me, “We like your books because you don’t put us on a pedestal.” I took that comment to heart, and I try to show their lives as they are–full of joys and hardship and grace, just like ours.

What inspires me? I began writing this book in 2020 when COVID first appeared on our world scene. It was an alarming time, and like most people I felt a good bit of stress worrying about the older folks in our family and those who are vulnerable due to other conditions. I knew God was in control, but I still clicked over to the news and case numbers a bit too often.

As I wrote The Baby Next Door I realized that I needed a story that would make me laugh, one that would help me forget the stress of the day–and hopefully it would do that for my readers as well.

Tweet

Book dedication. This book is dedicated to my good friend Tracy Luscombe. Tracy proofreads my book (along with my fabulous virtual assistant, Kristy). She’s also my Sunday School teacher. I love this picture of her and her husband at our Community Garden.

At the first of the year, Tracy started walking with me. We meet up 2 or 3 times a week. It has helped me tremendously, especially when our case numbers rose and I started to worry again. Walking always helps, as does having a friend to talk to.

I hope you enjoy The Baby Next Door. I hope that it makes you laugh, helps you to forget your worries, and reminds you of the grace of our Lord. If I can do all of that in one book, I’ll consider it a success.

Blessings,

V