Monday, October 25, 2010

Ann H. Gabhart's "The Seeker"

We're happy to have Ann H. Gabhart with us today talking about her book, The Seeker. To learn more about Ann and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
In my research into Shaker history, I found many stories about how the Shakers in the village near where I live were affected by the Civil War. The Shakers were noted for their generosity and hospitality to all who came to their village and that included the Civil War soldiers, both Union and Confederate, marching through their village. The Shakers put out trestle tables by the road and kept them filled with food so the soldiers could grab something off it as they passed by. Once that image stuck in my head, I knew I had my time period and so I came up with characters who would fit into a Civil War story. I went with a Southern Belle for the heroine and then instead of a soldier, I made my hero an illustrator for the newspapers. After that of course I had to find a way to get them to the Shaker Village. It’s not exactly easy to write a Shaker romance since the Shakers were very staunch in their belief in celibacy.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The Seeker’s journey to publication was ordinary since I had a contract from Revell for The Believer and this story following the success of my first Shaker book, The Outsider. That book is the one with the interesting journey to publication since it sat on my closet shelf for many years before the right time as well as the right editor and publishing company came along. An interest in the Shakers by the editor, Lonnie Hull DuPont and an offhand remark from me started that journey that eventually - a couple of books later - led to The Seeker.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
One, I grew up on a farm helping my parents in the fields and with the animals. I loved feeding the baby lambs and taking care of baby chicks. And I still live on a farm.

Two, I have nine beautiful – and extra smart, their grammy adds ;o) – grandchildren.

Three, I sometimes lead the song service at my very small country church even though I’m not much of a singer. We average 40 in attendance.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’ve just finished my fourth Shaker novel titled The Blessing that will be released in the summer of 2011, and I’m getting ready to do final edits on a 1930’s novel titled Angel Sister. Next up is my fifth Shaker novel, perhaps to be titled The Shaker.

5) Parting comments?
I love to write and I love to make reading friends, so I appreciate the opportunity to talk to your readers and friends. My writing goal is to create characters who will crawl up into the readers’ hearts and find a home. Happy reading, everybody!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Come on over to my website for a visit and to sign up for my occasional newsletter at http://www.annhgabhart.com/. Or you can read about my writing journey and things down here on the farm on “One Writer’s Journal” at http://www.annhgabhart.blogspot.com/. Last I like to keep in touch with readers on my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-H-Gabhart/132862247566

21 comments:

  1. This book sounds really interesting! Please enter me!

    pinkdaddysgirl[at]msn[dot]com

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  2. I loved The Outsider! Can't wait to get my hands on this one :-)

    julia(at)thouartjules(dot)com

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  3. I would love to win the book! Please enter me.
    Thanks for the contest!

    dancealert at aol dot com

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  4. Hi Anne, I would love to win your book. I love Amish stories and shaker stories are along the same line. I have not read any of your books but am adding to my wish list. Thanks for stopping by to chat.

    Thanks K Dawn for hosting this giveaway.

    misskalliee2000 at yahoo dot com

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  5. I read the Outsider and really enjoyed it. I haven't had a chance yet to pick up "The Seeker" so I would love to win a copy of this one! My email is morningdove1961@msn.com.

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  6. I love reading about the Shakers as much as the Amish. Cannot wait for the new book next year.
    kmgervais@nycap.rr.com

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  7. I get a Shaker catalog and have bought various items from it. I therefore would like to win and read this book. The first chapter and seen on Amazon certainly piques my interest.
    Kaye Whitney
    kayewhitney@bellsouth.net

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  8. I really don't know much about the Shakers and I love learning new things, so this is a book I'd like to read.

    sbmarkle@eastlink.ca

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  9. Thanks, Julia and Anonymous for reading my first Shaker book, The Outsider. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. And Miss Kallie, Ariel and Brenda, I'm glad you think The Seeker looks like a book you would like to read. The Shakers had some different beliefs - that no marrying one for starters - but they were a unique and interesting group. I'm looking forward to sending a copy of The Seeker to one of you who took time to come over and read about my book and make a comment. Thanks. I love making new reading friends.

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  10. I subscribe to your blog via e-mail.The Seeker sound wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com Thank you.

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  11. I've always enjoyed stories in the Amish tradition, The Shaker's would be a new genre for me. Please enter me in the drawing!
    cw4jesus[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  12. I am a subscriber by email and at Facebook. Thanks. gahome2mom/at/gmail/dt/com

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  13. Sounds like a great book. Please enter me to win.
    trisha dot davis at gmail dot com

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  14. Oh my, I hope I'm not too late to put a bid in for this terrific book! As many others, I so enjoy Amish stories but don't know much about the Shaker communities. I'm sure this story is wonderful as well. Thanks for this giveaway and the chance to win it. I hope I do!!

    Blessings,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  15. I'd love to be added to your giveaway for Ann's book. I've read the first two books and loved them. Thank you for the entry!

    Many Blessings,
    Sandee61

    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

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  16. This sounds like an amazing book - one I'll find a way to read, regardless! I'd certainly love to win it, though! Now I'm out to get the first two! Thanks for letting me know!

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  17. I do so appreciate all of you who have read some of my books and especially since you are ready to read The Seeker too. For those of you who haven't read anything about the Shakers yet, you're going to find out about a very different group of people. And Kaye, the Shakers did make some beautiful things and the reproductions of those items are great.

    I like to learn new things too, Bobbie, and that's one of the best parts of writing historical fiction. It gives me the chance to delve deeply into a particular era or time and in the case of my Shaker books a group of people.

    Midgie, that so great to hear that you're ready to read my first two Shaker books too. Hope you enjoy them.

    It's so much fun to meet new and old reading friends. I'll look forward to sending one of you an autographed copy of The Seeker.

    The Shakers had so many practical sayings and worked so hard, but they enjoyed "laboring" their dances in order to bring down the spirit. Hope you will enjoy reading about my characters and how the Shakers and the Civil War changed their lives.

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  18. A friend gave me a copy of "The Seeker" to read about a month ago. I really enjoyed it. Now I've got to back up and read the first and then continue on to the third.

    This was the first fiction book about the Shakers that I had read. We homeshooled our children and studied briefly about the Shakers, so natually I had to pass the book on to my grown daughter. We both found it fascinating.

    Thanks for writing such an interesting story about such interesting people. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work.

    Amazed by Grace,
    Brandi
    vi2005@aol.com

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  19. Thanks, Brandi. Glad you found the Shaker history interesting. Sunday night I'll be picking a winner at random from all of you who took time to read my interview and leave a comment. It's so much fun talking with readers.

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  20. Hi everybody. Thanks so much to all of you for reading my interview and leaving a comment so you could be in the running for a free book. I wish I could send you all a book, but alas, they make me buy my books and I'm sure you've noticed how postage keeps going up. So I drew one of your names out of a hat - well, really an envelope - and the winner is Sandee61. I'll be getting in touch with you to get your mailing address.

    The rest of you come by my website. (You can come too, Sandee.) I'll be posting a giveaway before Christmas and maybe you can win a book there. Or could be you're like me and never win anything. Maybe I'll host a giveaway for people who have never won a book ever. LOL.

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  21. Love Ann H Gabhart's books. Such refreshing stories, since I am already intrigue with the Amish. I find the shaker stories very interesting, to know how the shakers existed and perceived God. Beautiful stories...please put me in the contest to win a book :D

    Linda (strgth4yu@hotmail.com)

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