Welcome to the Blog Tour for Shielding the Amish Witness by Mary Alford, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
Title: Shielding the Amish Witness
Author: USA TODAY Bestselling Author Mary Alford
Publisher:
Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: April 1, 2021
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub
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Hi Mary! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and
giving my readers the chance to get to know you and your new book- Shielding
the Amish Witness a little bit better! I like to start these
interviews the same way with something fun to break the ice: can you share 5
random facts about yourself that we will NOT find in your bio?
Absolutely.
1 – My one and only attempt at riding a horse ended with me upside
down in the saddle on the horse’s stomach. I was around ten at the time. I’m
sad to say as a Texan that was it for me. Haven’t been back in the saddle
since.
2 – Growing up, I was a huge tomboy. I loved being outside—especially
during the summer months. I’d play from morning to dark. Sometimes with the
neighborhood kids, but mostly with my older sister. We’d climb trees, explore
the world around our home, or simply dig in the dirt. For me, it didn’t matter
what I did as long as it involved being outside. I still enjoy digging in the dirt
today in the form of gardening and exploring the world around me. I guess some
things never change although I no longer climb trees.
3 – As a teenager, I played the piano at my brother’s church. He
was a minister, and my sister led the music. I guess you could call it a family
ministry. His church was small and rural—maybe a dozen members and most were
elderly. But the memories I have of being part of the church are some of my
favorites. I still remember the lady who taught our Sunday school class. Her
name was Cleo Taylor, and she was a writer as well. She was always so encouraging.
4 – My husband and I once owned ostriches and emus. They were a
lot of fun to watch, but not all that profitable to raise and so we eventually
sold them all.
5 – Several years back my husband and I went to Breckenridge
Colorado. We rented a house there for about a month. Though early spring, everything
was still covered in snow. It was fun watching the snow move in over the
mountains while sitting in the hot tub. And then, one day, we got the bright
idea to climb one of the mountains outside of Breckenridge. That was one of the
scariest things I’ve done and probably not something I’ll try again anytime
soon.
When did you first discover you had a passion and talent for writing?
I’d say it was after I wrote my first book as a pre-teen. I grew
up reading mysteries and suspense books and decided, “hey, I can do that”. My
first book was set in Hawaii and filled with so many cliches. It was terrible,
but the writing spark was lit although it would be many years before I realized
my dream of becoming a published author.
What drew you to the Amish suspense genre (or the suspense genre in general)?
I’d always gravitated toward suspense books as a reader. I grew up
reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys then moved on to Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney,
and Mary Stewart. So, when I started writing seriously, it was in the suspense
genre. A few years later, I read The
Shunning by Beverly Lewis. I loved the combination of the simple Amish ways with
the hint of suspense she wove through her story. I started reading everything
in the Amish suspense genre and decided I’d try my hand at it. Shielding the
Amish Witness if my 4th Amish Suspense published through Love
Inspired Suspense. I have two more to follow. Dangerous Amish Showdown comes
out in August and then I’m currently working on a second Amish Suspense.
What type of research goes into creating this type of story and keeping true to
the Amish community?
Research is particularly important to do justice to the Amish
people and their community. Yet each community is a little different and finding
information about the West Kootenai Montana Amish community isn’t easy because
it is remote. I spent hours online researching the community and the
surrounding countryside. I am blessed to have a friend who lives nearby who
helps answer questions as well.
Can you tell us a little bit more about Shielding
the Amish Witness?
Shielding the Amish Witness features Faith
Cooper, a former Amish woman whose father took his family away from the faith
when she was a child. Faith grew up and became a nurse in New York where she
married a cop, never realizing her husband and his detective brother were
working for a gang leader in the city until her husband is killed, supposedly
in the line of duty. Faith discovers a note
written by her husband telling her if he’s dead it was his brother who killed
him.
Faith can think of only one place to go to escape
her brother-in-law’s attempt to silence her. Her former Amish community of West
Kootenai, Montana, and her Amish grandmother’s home.
Vincent tracks her there and tries to kill her.
Faith is rescued by her former childhood friend, Eli Shetler. Together Faith
and Eli must try to avoid Vincent long enough to retrieve the evidence Faith
brought with her that proves Vincent’s guilt.
What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
I hope readers will see how God brought Eli and
Hope through the struggles they faced. Alone, they were not able to overcome
the danger coming after them, but God brought them through it and gave them a
happy future together. In our lives, we don’t always understand why bag things
happen and we can’t see God’s hand in our circumstances, but if we keep our
eyes on Him, and let God carry us through, He will use the bad things we’ve
gone through to His glory and He will see us through.
Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Before you go,
are there any other projects you are currently working on that you can share?
Yes, I am finishing up my first Revell book
right now. This Amish suspense is set to release in June of 2022 and I’ve extremely
excited about being part of the Revell family.
I’m also working on another West Kootenai,
Montana story featuring Hunter Shetler. And, this November, More Amish
Christmas Miracles releases. This is the second collection of Amish Christmas
stories that will feature 10 Amish authors. The first collection, Amish
Christmas Miracles, made the USA Today Bestsellers list.
When did you first discover you had a passion and talent for writing?
What drew you to the Amish suspense genre (or the suspense genre in general)?
What type of research goes into creating this type of story and keeping true to the Amish community?
What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Before you go, are there any other projects you are currently working on that you can share?
(1) winner will receive a $40 Amazon gift card and winner's choice of print or ebook copy of Shielding the Amish Witness!
Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 5, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 12, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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Thank you for sharing! - JustRead Tours
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