Beth Vogt's "Wish You Were Here"

Title: Wish You Were Here
Publisher: Howard Books (May 2012)

Cover blurb: Kissing the wrong guy days before her scheduled wedding leads Allison to become a runaway bride. But can it also lead to happily ever after?

Allison Denman is supposed to get married in five days, but everything is all wrong. The huge wedding. The frothy dress. And the groom.

Still, kissing the groom’s brother, Daniel, in an unguarded moment is decidedly not the right thing to do. How could she have made such a mistake? It seems Allison’s life is nothing but mistakes at this point.

Daniel’s adventures—chronicled through a collection of postcards—have always appealed to Allison’s well-hidden desire for something more. But how can betraying her fiancé’s trust lead to a true happily ever after?

Can Allison find her way out of this mess? Recognizing she doesn’t have all the answers won’t be easy because she’s used to being in control. To find her way again, she will have to believe that God has a plan for her—one outside her carefully defined comfort zone—and find the strength to let Him lead.

1) How did this story come to you?
At first, all I had was one scene: an unknown woman standing at the back of a church, waiting to walk down the aisle to be married. Then I realized she was saying, “I do. I can’t. I must.” And that her attention was focused not on the groom, but on the best man. I had to figure out how she got here – to the brink of marrying the wrong man – and if she was going to go through with it. Of course, if she went through with the wedding, all I had was a short story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Wish You Were Here was written because God took a season of burnout in my life and turned it into a bend in the writing road. He moved me from the nonfiction side of the writing road over to the “Dark Side” of writing fiction. I had a lot to learn – and I learned all about writing a novel during the three years I wrote and rewrote Wish You Were Here.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1.) I said I would never write fiction. It’s one of the many things I’ve said I’d never do that God clearly showed me was part of my life journey. I now believe God’s best is often behind the door marked “Never.” 2.) I’m a gluten-free gal.
3.) I met my husband in a karate studio when he knocked me down … I mean, when he swept me off my feet.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am in the final editing stage for my second novel, Catch a Falling Star. It’s also a contemporary romance set in Colorado and tackles the question: What do you do when life doesn’t go according to plan? Do you keep pushing Plan A? Do you pull Plan B out of your back pocket? Or do you settle? Next? More novels.

5) Parting comments?
Take a closer look at the doors you’ve marked “Never.” That just may be where you’re headed next.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: bethvogt.com (http://bethvogt.com)
My blog, In Others’ Words, is embedded in my website. It’s all about quotes.
Twitter: bethvogt

Diane Craver's "A Joyful Break"

Title: A Joyful Break (Dreams of Plain Daughters, Book One)

Cover blurb: After her mother’s untimely death, a twenty-year-old Amish
woman has a difficult decision to make: Choose to break from the Plain community and her boyfriend...or live in the English world permanently.

Rachel Hershberger wants to get away from her Amish home in Fields Corner, Ohio. For a year she’s been trying to fill her mother’s shoes by taking care of her father and siblings. She quit her job at the bakery so she could have more time to clean and cook at home. Before her mother died, Rachel was positive she wanted to marry Samuel Weaver, but now she can’t think about wedding plans. She blames her father for her mother’s death. If they had installed a phone in their barn or a shanty, her mother might have received medical help in time to save her life. Her mother’s death has made Rachel question if she should be baptized and join the church. She wonders if non-Amish women live longer and have less stress. Maybe her forty-four-year old mother would still be alive had she left the Amish lifestyle like her sister Carrie did.

When her Aunt Carrie invites her to go to the beach, Rachel decides the time away will help her to decide whether to join the Amish church or to live in the English world instead. She is conflicted because she loves Samuel and her family. Instead of a relaxing time away, disturbing events happen while Rachel’s in Florida. A photographer snaps troublesome pictures of Rachel because of her famous senator uncle, and a handsome and charming college student falls in love with her.

1) How did this story come to you?
My inspiration for this story came from my mother. Her grandfather was a Mennonite minister, and she shared stories about his faith. Even though, she wasn’t raised in the Mennonite or Amish faith, some of her values were similar to a simpler way of life.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I did extensive research to portray this wonderful faith as accurately as possible. I didn’t start writing A Joyful Break until I visited an Amish community and felt like I had absorbed enough information about this faith.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’d love to learn how to play the drums and be in a band. (I don’t see this happening but girl can dream. LOL) My husband and I have lived in three different houses on the same street. I have six children with four delivered without any medication. No, I didn’t have short labors. The fourth and sixth babies were born by C-sections.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on the next story in my Amish series. It’s mainly about Rachel’s friend,vKatie Weaver. Also Rachel’s father becomes interested in Sarah, the co-owner of the yarn shop in Fields Corner.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for having me on your fantastic blog. Readers, if you haven’t read any of my books, I hope you do! I’m published through a variety of houses, including Whimsical Publications, Samhain Publishing, Victory Tales Press, and Publishing by Rebecca. I’m looking forward to meeting your blog visitors. A JOYFUL BREAK is available in paperback and electronic formats.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.dianecraver.com
Blog: http://www.dianecraver.com/blog
I belong to this wonderful group of talented authors, Jewels of the Quill. Here is their link: http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/jewelsofthequill.html
Facebook: www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Diane-Craver/153906208887