Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Mary Ellis' "Sarah's Christmas Miracle"


We're happy to have Mary Ellis with us today talking about her book, Sarah's Christmas Miracle. To learn more about Mary and her book, read on!

• How would you describe your book?
Sarah’s Christmas Miracle is a tale about an Amish woman on the cusp of changing her life. She’s courting a serious beau, and is at the age expected to join the church and get married. But Sarah loves her job at the B&B and isn’t sure she’s ready to settle down and raise children. Before she commits to anyone, she must find an older brother who left the Amish for the big city and never came back. What was so appealing that it was worth breaking his parents’ hearts?

• What message do you hope it conveys?
I hope it conveys a message of hope and love for the Christmas season. The story is also told through the eyes of Sarah’s mother, who’s already lost one child to the English world, and fears she might lose another. She must trust that the bonds of family love will be strong enough to keep her daughter from falling away from her faith.

• What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I set the urban scenes in the city where I went to college and met my (future) husband. We had
a ball “researching” a once familiar city, seeing things from a fresh perspective. It’s very uplifting to be a tourist in your own hometown.

• What did you dislike most about writing this book?
I was held to a strict word count and told not to go much higher. I would have enjoyed exploring emotional avenues from more characters’ perspectives.

• What inspired you to become a writer?
As a dedicated reader, I reached a time in my life where I couldn’t keep myself from sitting down and writing. Every writer arrives at a point when he or she must write.

• Tell us about your writing process.
Uh, oh…there is a process I’m supposed to follow? For the first ten years, I also maintained a day job. My writing had to fit in wherever I could squeeze an hour or two. It’s hard to remember who has blue eyes and who has brown, besides the various plot twists when you create in fits and starts. It’s somewhat easier now that I write fulltime, but publicity demands fill in for my former day job. I still haven’t developed much of a schedule…maybe next week.

• What are you working on now?
I’m working on a story about an Amish midwife who runs afoul of the law when a birth goes horribly wrong. It’s a tale of growth within a marriage, dealing with grief, and staying true to your convictions when the road becomes rocky. But it also includes a romance between two people no one would expect to fall in love. The title is Abigail’s New Hope and it will be released on March 1st, 2011.

• What books do you enjoy reading?
I enjoy reading romantic suspense and family sagas.

• Where can readers buy your book?
Reader’s can find Sarah’s Christmas Miracle at http://www.christianbook.com/ or www.barnesandnoble.com or from my publisher http://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/

• Where can readers find you online?
I hope readers will drop me a line at my blog: http://www.maryeellis.wordpress.com/

22 comments:

  1. I have a copy of this book and have devoured it. Thinking that you could have expanded it makes me want to read more!!
    Thank you for your Blessings you have shared through your writing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mary, wonderful posting...your book sounds wonderful..when I researching my family I found that my great grandfather's parents were amish. my Grt Grandfather and a few brothers became seperated from the rest when they were moving to Lancaster. They never went back.
    I do have a lot of Amish friends.
    My mother reads all of Bev Lewis's books o the amish so you are a new author to me and her. But beleive if we don't win, I will still go get it for her for xmas.
    And one for me...I will make sure to follow you for any new updates and books.
    Thanks again, Congrates.....

    heidijohnjeff@verizon.net

    Heidi

    ReplyDelete
  3. Christmas time books are such a delight to read!
    Also, I adore reading Amish fiction. This book is one I would love to read during the holidays in front of the fireplace...
    Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Any mother with an errant child can relate to the mother's emotions in Mary's story; as well, any adult child who has left the nest for bigger and better things can relate to Sarah's brother. We all can relate to Sarah with her mix of problems. This sounds like a heart rendering story of love, hurt and hope. We'll expect a very happy and miraculous ending for a Christmas story and I don't think we'll be disappointed. Thank you Mary for offering this for giveaway; and thank you KD for the chance to win. I hope I do!

    Sharing Christ's Love,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. thanks for the chance to read this fabulous christmas story.

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Would totally love to have this book! Great interview!!!

    laneysdesk[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, both of these books sound so good. I've just started reading a few Amish books and the descriptions of both of your books really piques my interest. Thank you for the chance to win "Sarah's Christmas Miracle" and blessings to you and K. Dawn.

    Beverly
    bgrider2@cox.net

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love reading Christmas stories. They are so peaceful and life-affirming.

    Thanks for offering this one.

    Lmaria23@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds very interesting!

    Sarah
    sarahsantanablogs@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have been enjoying all of the amish books out there. Thanks for offering this one.
    wsmarple/at/gmail/dot/com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great interview.Sarah's Christmas Miracle sounds wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.Thanks for the chance to read this fabulous christmas story.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am a subscriber. I love christmas and Amish books so would love to win this book. I've read some of Mary's other books.

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sarah's Christmas Miracle sounds like a really good book. I would love to win a copy!

    morningdove1961@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have read some of Mary's books, I truly enjoyed each storyline. I love Christmas, so this is another ideal story for me to read. Please enter me to win...:D

    Linda
    strgth4yu@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Mary, your book Sarah's Christmas Miracle sounds like a great read. I also enjoy reading romantic suspense and family sagas, and a Christmas story would be my cup of tea.

    rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm a subscriber and would love to be entered in your giveaway of Mary's book. I've read several of Mary's books and thoroughly enjoyed them all.
    I can't wait to read this one! I'm always looking for books with a Christmas theme for my Holiday reading. Thank you for the entry and the interview.

    Blessings,
    Sandee61

    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot[com

    ReplyDelete
  17. This interview was very timely for me. I'm in the midst of prereading Christmas books for our book club. I'm now going to have to see if I can locate this one to add to my pile. Our club has not yet done anything Amish and this may be a good one to introduce that with. Thanks for doing the interview!

    Brandi
    vi2005@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would love to win this. I love Mary's work! Thanks for this chance. I am an email subscriber.

    Thanks!
    Molly
    Mollydedwards AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I like that Mary and her fiance toured around New York City to see it in the light of another's eyes and experiences. I really want to read this book. It is full of inspiration because it is a Christmas story with a miracle. Makes for happy reading. Please enter me in the giveaway and thanks for the chance to win. I hope I do!!

    Blessings
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thank you for pointing out another great Amish holiday book to read. Annette

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you for the opportunity to win this book. Sounds like a wonderful story.

    csjgriffith@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Enjoyed reading the interview and will look forward to reading the book . mrhpets@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

Interview with Barbara M. Britton and spotlight of Lioness...

We're happy to have Barbara M. Britton with us talking about her book Lioness . To learn more about her and Lioness, please read o...