Laura Hilton - The Amish Firefighter

Good Monday Morning Readers!

Today, Laura Hilton visits Lagniappe to discuss her latest release, The Amish Firefighter.

Welcome, Laura!

Please tell us a little about your novel, The Amish Firefighter.

Can they overcome their past?

Abigail Stutzman’s life is about to change – whether she wants it to or not. Her mamm is getting remarried to a widower with a large family. Abigail is sent to live with her aenti and onkle in Jamesport because she and her new step-brother had dated and their parents anticipate problems. (Her step-brother is needed on the farm.) Abigail launches a full-scale plan to return home to her family—and Mark—when she finds herself in over her head…and heart. When Abigail and her new “wrong crowd” get into significant trouble, her punishment includes helping a collection of crazy old maids with housekeeping. In the midst of her atonement, Abigail uncovers family secrets that run deep, and realizes she’s not the only one with a pain-filled past. Abigail must decide if she’ll continue her messed-up legacy or embrace a new beginning with the man who’s stolen her heart.

Sam Miller has trouble of his own. When Sam and his close friend Ezra Weiss are in a drug/alcohol-related car accident in Pennsylvania, Ezra is killed. Though Sam survives, he is deeply affected by the tragedy and vows to help other victims. Now a new Christian, Sam is a volunteer firefighter and a college student working to earn his EMT and paramedic license. But Sam has a past. When it comes time to confess his crimes, he finds that the truth may set him free—but it might also land him in some uncomfortably hot water. Will Sam and Abigail be able to find a future together? 

If you could have dinner with one person from today or history (except Jesus) who would it be? Why?

  

My mom. I’d like to ask her questions about things I don’t remember and ask her advice about things. I really miss her.

What is your favorite Bible verse? 

I have so many favorite Bible verses, it is hard to pick just one. But for today, the one that is coming to my mind is “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

What do you enjoy most about writing?   

Almost everything. I love the creating process, getting to know new friends (in my mind) and learning their story.

What can your readers expect from you next?  

The Amish Firefighter is releasing in May and it will be followed by three more Amish books.

What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful? 

Review on your favorite online retail sites, tell your friends, libraries, and book clubs, and others about it. Word of mouth is the best way to support an author. 

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as the Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard,  and The Birdhouse. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press’ Quilts of Love series. Laura is contracted for another three book Amish series set in the Jamesport area, with the first book, The Amish Firefighter releasing in May 2016, followed by two more Amish books and a Christmas story releasing in Fall 2016, Spring 2017 and Fall 2017 respectively.

She has self-published a Christmas novella, Christmas Mittens.

Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer and blogs for Putting on the New and Seriously Write. 

Where can readers find you online?

http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q 

visit my blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/  & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/ 

twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

Where can readers purchase The Amish Firefighter?

Amazon   http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q 

CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=laura+hilton&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/laura-hilton?store=allproducts&keyword=laura+hilton

Deeper Shopping http://www.deepershopping.com/index.php?query=laura+hilton&x=0&y=0&module=productsearch&_logmode=Y&querymodule=SPX

Laura, thanks for sharing!


Readers, thanks for visiting Lagniappe.

I pray you find 

"a little something extra" 

in each of your days.

Marian

Janetta Fudge-Messner - Early Birds

Good Monday Morning Readers!

Today, Janetta Fudge-Messmer visits Lagniappe to discuss her latest release, Early Birds.

Welcome, Janetta!

Tell us a little about Early Birds

Betsy Stevenson is praying fervently for a change. But when a big part of

 her prayer is answered she asks the Lord, “Is this really You? An RV, of 

all things.”

According to Ben (her hubby and a workaholic), he thinks retiring at 60, 

buying an RV and traveling is a grand idea. He says, “I’ve been talking to

Matilda (their pooch) and the Lord and I feel it’s a go.

After much more prayer and preparation Betsy agrees and they begin the 

journey to downsize into a 38 foot 5^th wheel. Then their RV adventure begins. Their best friends Rose

and Larry Wilford tag along and the four get On the Road Again.

Yes, Willie Nelson joins them – if only in song – on the highways and byways of this great country called the U.S.A. While on the road the foursome encounter a near miss with a lamp post, a not-too-happy proprietor at an RV Park, and a 100 year flood that hits Colorado.

Can the four of them survive their travels together and learn to live, laugh and love more and grump less? Or is the Lord taking them on this path to learn about more about themselves than they ever wanted to know? And in the end, do they find it is better to give than receive? 

Follow along with the Early Birds on their adventures and I’m sure you’ll want to join up with them ASAP. All you need is a sense of humor, willingness to change, And, of course, a recreational vehicle. Any size will do.

What Bible verse speaks to you the most?

Philippians 4:8-9 – (8) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. (9) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (This is the verse I used in Early Birds – the main theme of my book. The reason the verse speaks to me – I hear voices in my head. :) And sometimes the ones I listen to are the wrong ones. This verse reminds me of the One voice I should listen to.)

Give readers your brand/tagline and share how you came up with it.

Explore…Embrace…Enjoy life’s journey. I came up with this tagline to basically say – whatever we’re going through, we MUST enjoy life to the fullest. There’s no guarantee to tomorrows. Yes, Early Birds is about two couples traveling together, but their individual journeys on the road take them down different roads. Each are changed in their own way through prayer.

What led you to choose the genre in which you write?

I’ve always loved to write (poems, short stories) but it wasn’t until we rescued Maggie (our pooch) did I get the idea for Early Birds. A Christian comedy/romance. We joked that our dog wanted us to quit our jobs, sell everything, buy an RV and hit the road so we could spend more time with her. We took her advice and I thought this was such a great idea for a book – I ran with it. Fictionalizing everything, of course.

What is your hope for the readers of your books?

This is back to my tagline. Enjoy the journey you’re on. I want my readers to know that my characters are human and have struggles. But with the Lord help and lots of prayer, they can overcome anything.

Give us the description of the ideal person you wish would read your book.

A Hollywood mogul who would clamor to make it into a movie. J

What can we expect from you in the future?

More RV adventures with the Early Birds. Sequel in the future.

Please include buy links and your website/FB/Twitter etc links.

Amazon link:  https://goo.gl/qCkT45

Website:  www.janettafudgemessmer.com

Blog: www.nettie-fudges-world.blogspot.com

Facebook: Janetta Fudge-Messmer

Twitter: Janetta Messmer@nettiefudge

LIGHTNING ROUND   

Biscuits or Dinner Roll?

BISCUITS

Vacation: Beach or Mountains?

Mountains, of course.

Birthday Card: Email or Snail Mail?

Snail mail

Coffee or Tea?

COFFEE

Dogs or Cats?

Dog, for sure. Maggie rules

Janetta Fudge-Messmer is an inspirational author, editor and speaker who resides in Florida. Or wherever the wind blows with her husband of 34 years. She's received Honorable Mention for fiction and nonfiction articles from Byline Magazine. She also received Honorable Mention for a fiction article from Writer's Digest Magazine. Her article, "A Working Relationship" was published in Guideposts Magazine. Guideposts Books published, "Shorthaired Miracle”. Along with writing, Janetta enjoys editing, and helping others get their manuscripts in tip-top shape. Janetta, her husband Ray and precious pooch Maggie, became fulltime RVers in 2012 and travel the USA in their Minnie Winnie.  

My tagline includes, Enjoy life’s journey. 

How do you ‘enjoy’ the journey you’re on?

Janetta, thanks for sharing!


Readers, thanks for visiting Lagniappe.

I pray you find 

"a little something extra" 

in each of your days.

Marian