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

Diane Craver's "A Christmas Gift"

We're happy to have Diane Craver with us today talking about her book, A Christmas Gift. To learn more about Diane and her book, read on!


Publisher: Whimsical Publications

Cover blurb:  Justin Reeves is a man who has it all: a good job, a loving wife and children who are the center of his universe - or so it seems. Justin also has a secret he's hidden from everyone his entire life or so he thought. Quite innocently his small daughter, Debby, stumbles upon his secret and is shocked by what she finds. She confronts her father with the awful truth, and together they embark upon a journey which takes her father from the darkness of shame into the light of victory.

Drawing from true events in her own childhood, Diane Craver captivates the reader from page one to a stunning climax which will touch your heart and impact your life forever in this must-read story of love’s triumph over adversity.

1) How did this story come to you?
I had thought of writing a story about my father for a long time. His life was hard with his mother’s rejection and being raised by various relatives. Even though both parents deserted him, he had a deep faith in God, and was able to be a good father to me and my siblings.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
A Christmas Gift was formerly published under the title, The Christmas of 1957. When I decided to make it longer and to change the title, I submitted it to a new publisher. The story has also been revised throughout the book. By the way, the main character, Debby, is a 60 year-old woman in the prologue and epilogue. Debby is a child in the rest of the story.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I was a carhop at a root beer stand for 3 years during high school. I’d love to learn how to play drums and be in a band. I met my husband while both of us were teaching at an orphanage.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on a story about a father and daughter, both teach at the same college in Virginia. The father is anxious for his daughter, Lexi, to get married and give him a grandchild. Lexi thinks her father needs to move on with his life. Her mother died three years ago on the way to the bridal shop to pick up Lexi’s wedding dress. I have two releases on November 15, A Christmas Gift and a sweet story, “The Proposal”, which is in A Christmas Collection. Both will be available in print and ebook format.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much 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 Desert Breeze, Whimsical Publications, Samhain, Victory Tales Press, and Booklocker.com. I write inspiring stories filled with memorable characters. I’m giving a signed print copy of A Christmas Gift to one lucky winner! If the winner should live outside of U.S., I’ll substitute the ebook format instead.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.dianecraver.com Blog: http://www.dianecraver.com/blog  and my wonderful Jewels of the Quill group: http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/jewelsofthequill.html
I’m also on Facebook! A Christmas Gift can be purchased at http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/ or other online places.

Diane Craver's "No Greater Loss"

We're happy to have Diane Craver with us today.

Click on the photo to the left to visit the author's website. Read on to learn more about Diane and her book...

"In spite of her friends opposition, Mallory Harrington decides after the end of her marriage that it's time to do something for herself. But falling in love with Dr. Seth Whitman complicates her life."

1) How did this story come to you?
After reading many romances, I decided it was important to have a character with a
physical defect, such as a large nose. Of course, not all heroines in romances are flawless
beauties, but usually the main female characters have smaller noses. I decided that
Mallory would not have a perfect nose. After her marriage ended, she would then decide
it was time to do something for herself.

I have an emotional tie to Mallory – she has a physical flaw that I can relate to on a
deeper level. I got into her mind completely because I know what it's like not to have a
cute, small nose.


2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Last March, I heard about a new publisher, Desert Breeze Publishing, that didn't publish
erotic romance. It was an answer to my prayers. I felt it would be a good fit for the type
of sweet romances I write. I decided to submit my contemporary romance, "Whitney in
Charge." After Whitney was accepted, I submitted my inspirational romance, "Marrying
Mallory" and I was happy to get a second contract from DBP.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I was a carhop at a root beer stand for 3 years during high school. And no, I wasn't
the kind of carhop on roller skates.  I suffer from insomnia, getting only get a few
hours of sleep a night. We were blessed with 6 children, two of whom were born with
Down syndrome.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just finished a novella, which is a contemporary romance and submitted it recently. I
haven't started anything new, but have several story ideas with character descriptions and
scenes written down. I've been busy getting our house ready to put on the market.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for having me on your blog. Readers, if you haven't read any of my
books, I hope you will. My first three novels were published by Samhain. I'm giving a
signed print copy of my inspirational romance "No Greater Loss" to one lucky winner!
This book is a page-turner when Dr. Jennifer Hunter’s radio talk show, "Hour of Healing"
catches the attention of a vengeful arsonist. Luke Brunsman and Jennifer must overcome
the shadows of the past and find the courage to love again.

Click here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx47eTrY8M0)to see the trailer for my
new inspirational romance, "Marrying Mallory."

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.dianecraver.com/
Blog: http://www.dianecraver.com/blog/
And I'm on Facebook!