Laura is giving away a print copy of The Birdhouse to U.S. postal addresses and an e-copy to all others!
Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.
Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as the Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Birdhouse. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press’ Quilts of Love series. Laura is contracted for another three book Amish series set in the Jamesport area, with the first book, The Amish Firefighter, planned for April 2016.
She has indie published a Christmas novella, Christmas Mittens. and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She’s also a professional book reviewer.
Pat: Have you ever considered Indie-publishing? What do you like/not like about it?
Laura: Indie-publishing is a relatively new thing. I didn’t like that authors who aren’t good enough for traditional markets ran with it. It made me leery of it. But recently, it has become more accepted and traditionally published authors are using it to publish books that are out of print or that have never found a home because there’s no “market” for it in the traditional published world. I like knowing that I can get some of my favorite author’s earlier books or that some of mine will be available that way.
Patricia: I like it that Indie Publishing has gained respect in the writing world. How do you market your work?
Laura: I hate marketing, really. My publisher does a lot, but I supplement with interviews, blog posts, and I post daily on facebook, multiple times a day on twitter, and I have a street team that helps me out.
Patricia: Oh, I totally am with you on marketing. It’s harder than writing! What is the name of your latest book, and how would you summarize it in less than 20 words?
Laura: The Birdhouse – A New Challenge … An Old Lover … Estranged Forever?
Here’s the blurb for The Birdhouse:
Twenty–year–old Greta Miller’s daed has been injured in a farming accident during the summer. The supportive Amish community tries to help out, but Greta and her sister must work outside the home to make ends meet, and so Greta rents a booth at the farmers’ market.
Because Greta is still in her rumspringa and free to explore the world, her family selects her to sell her homemade jams, jellies, and preserves to Englischers. Josh Yoder wants to court Greta, but years ago, he made the mistake of rejecting her during a seemingly innocent game; which resulted in him leaving the Amish.
Three years later, he’s back, but Greta wants nothing to do with him. Josh struggles to fit in and rebuild relationships he destroyed. Knowing Greta’s family needs help, he steps in, hoping to win her back. When Greta admires one of his birdhouses, he gives it to her, hoping that it will open the door to more. But as their friendship begins to grow, a series of unfortunate events pull Greta away from the Amish, leaving her rejected by those she loves.
Will Greta get beyond her family’s distrust and return home? Will she prove her innocence? Or will she remain outside her Amish community?
Patricia: That sounds so interesting! How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to hitting send?
Laura: I have written a book in a month, but generally it takes closer to three months.
Patricia: Oh, Wow! I wish I could do that. What genre do you like to write in most?
Laura: Contemporary romance. I mostly write Amish, but that is considered contemporary romance.
Me: What’s on your TBR Table?
Laura: Suzanne Wood’s Fisher, The Imposter, Beverly Lewis’s The Photograph, Kelly Irvin’s The Beekeeper’s Son and The Bishop’s Son. Just to name a few. I read in most genres but the top five books in my pile right now are Amish. The one under them is a historical romance.
Patricia: I wish I had more time to read! Do you have another project in the works?
Laura: I have been contracted for a new Amish series, also set in Jamesport. The first book is called The Amish Firefighter. It is written and turned into the publisher and will release in April 2016. The second book is the one I’m currently writing.
Patricia: Congratulations on the new contract! How can people contact you?
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit my blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/
Links to purchase Laura’s books:
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/laura-hilton?store=allproducts&keyword=laura+hilton
Deeper Shopping http://www.deepershopping.com/index.php?query=laura+hilton&x=0&y=0&module=productsearch&_logmode=Y&querymodule=SPX
If we have eight separate entries in the Rafflecopter, Laura is giving away a print copy of The Birdhouse to U.S. postal addresses and an e-copy to all others!
Readers–what’s on your to-be-read table?
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Comments 30
My TBR list is long but I am currently getting ready to read Friends of Jesus by Karen Kingsbury
An Amish Cradle is on my TBR list.
Great interview! 🙂
That sounds good!
I’m waiting on Lynn Kurland’s new book to come out.
Hi Pat — here’s a test comment from IE. 😉
This one is Microsoft Edge (Windows 10 browser). Everything still looks good.
Right now i am reading now and forever by mary connealy.
I have too many on my TBR list to enumerate in the space available here.
I read this! I was good. 🙂
Laura, I’m intrigued by the inner-circle of rejection in the story. Sounds like a great read!
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Yes it does, Elaine!
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Laura Hilton has tried to respond to the comments, but for some reason WordPress is not recognizing that she’s a real person! The same goes for Sara R.! Once I get the comments issue straightened out, hopefully their comments will appear. But we have enough comments for the book giveaway!!
I haven’t read very many of Karen’s books. Just a few. She’s a good writer
I just finished that. Good book~
Thank you for sharing this great interview and giveaway! My TBR list is always growing; Forgiven by Terri Roberts is up next!
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Thanks for stopping by, Britney!
Sounds like a great book!
Testing comments.
Enjoyed the interview. Would love to add this book to my collection. On my TBR list is Made with Love by Sherry Gore and Tricia Goyer. Thank you.
I predict another winner.
“The Birdhouse” is, and has been, among many, many other books.
wfnren at aol dot com
It sounds like a wonderful book!
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I love getting all these new books to look over! Thanks for stopping by Mary Ellen!
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Me, too, Carol!
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I agree, Wendy.
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It is a great book, Ann.
I just finished Beth Wiseman’s A Tide Worth Turning. Next up are My Brother’s Crown (Leslie Gould,) Anna’s Healing, and a sweet looking YA called Whippoorwill by Joseph Monninger. If you’re a dog lover, you just have to check out the cover and Joseph’s note on why he wrote this book. The note is on Amazon’s product page, as well.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QPIEGUG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1XOKBZV4V3K3O&coliid=I3D1XLROLL3AOC
Laura, I hadn’t realized that this was a third book in a series when I saw an interview about a month ago. Even if they can stand alone, my brain just has to read them in order. I’ve already ordered the first two from the local library.
test 5
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Terrill, I know what you mean about reading them in order. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!