3/27/2012

Getting Lost with Vannetta Chapman

A PERFECT SQUARE
Zondervan
ISBN: 0310330440
There’s more to the quaint northern Indiana town of Shipshewana than handcrafted quilts, Amish-made furniture, immaculate farms and close-knit families. When a dead girl is found floating in a local pond, murder is also afoot. And Reuben, brother of Deborah’s best friend’s fiancé, is in jail as the suspect! Reuben refuses to divulge any information, even to clear himself of a crime Deborah is certain he didn’t commit. So, with her English friend, Callie—fellow sleuth and owner of Daisy’s Quilt Shop—Deborah sets out to uncover the truth. But the mystery deepens when an elderly man seeks Callie’s help in finding his long-lost daughter, missing since the days of the 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes. An old man who has lost his past. A young man who may lose his future. Once again Deborah and Callie find themselves trying to piece together a crazy quilt of lives and events—one that can bring unexpected touches of God’s grace and resolve the tragedy that has shaken this quiet Amish community.

FALLING TO PIECES
Zondervan
ISBN: 0310330432

When two women---one Amish, one English---each with different motives, join forces to organize a successful on-line quilt auction, neither expects nor wants a friendship. As different as night and day, Deborah and Callie are uneasy partners who simply want to make the best of a temporary situation. But a murder, a surprising prime suspect, a stubborn detective, and the town's reaction throw the two women together, and they form an unlikely alliance to solve a mystery and catch a killer. Set in the well-known Amish community of Shipshewana, Falling to Pieces will attract both devoted fans of the rapidly-growing Amish fiction genre, as well as those who are captivated by the Amish way of life.
WHO IS VANNETTA CHAPMAN?
Vannetta Chapman has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather's birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her first novel, A Simple Amish Christmas, quickly became a bestseller. Vannetta lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.
THE Q&A
ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?
VANNETTA: Honestly, if I don't get lost in a story, I give up on it after the first 50 pages. There are a lot of good books out there, so read the ones that make you feel like you've had a cup of coffee with the characters! 

ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?
VANNETTA: You're going to roll your eyes if I say my husband, but it's true. I didn't believe there were any men like him left. I didn't believe he was "for real." I was a single mom at the time, and it took over a year for him to convince me . . . 

ANGI: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?
VANNETTA: She's Country (Jason Aldean), If I Knew Then (Lady Antebellum), This Kind of Love (Sister Hazel), Grace Like Rain (Todd Agnew), LaBoeuf Takes Leave (Carter Burwell).

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?
VANNETTA: I read a lot ... like even when I'm sitting in the car waiting on a train or at the post office waiting for my turn. I read all the time. Keeps me from growing impatient. : )

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
VANNETTA: Snoopy

ANGI:Fairy Tle or Action Adventure?
VANNETTA: Action fairy tale. 

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?
VANNETTA: When Denzel is bad, he's very bad. : ) 

ANGI: What is your biggest vice?
VANNETTA: doing too much. 

ANGI: How is it working with hot guys and sexy women all day?
VANNETTA: Well. I'm glad you asked. Folks laugh when you tell them you write Amish romance or Amish murder mystery, but in MY mind, Officer Gavin from my Shipshe series is Matt Damon, so you know ... 

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: Hey girl, Congratulations on your series. I’ve seen you around the contest circuit for a long time and was so pleased with your three book series !!  So, I’ve been poking around your website and noticed you have a PINTEREST page. I have been forbidden to get onto Pinterest account by my daughters. (I love crafts and they’re afraid it will take over my writing time.) My real question: How do you work Pinterest into your writing?
VANNETTA’S GOTTA ANSWER:  Ha! My marketing person at Zondervan suggested I join Pinterest and I literally rolled my eyes at her--NOT another thing to do! But I always do what Alicia Mey tells me to, so I joined. What fun it has been, especially for murder mysteries. I have a clue board for each book. Doesn't that sound like a hoot? Now it's leaked over into my Amish romances. As I edit a book, I keep a pad and paper close by and make a list of images I want to post on my board. I'm telling you, it's a hoot.
FINDING VANNETTA & MORE RELEASES

A Promise for Miriam (Amish romance, Harvest House)
July 2012

Material Witness (book 3 in my Shipshewana Series, Zondervan) 
August 2012

And I recently signed another 3 book contract with Zondervan for an Amish Artisan Mystery series. Plus I'll be writing a follow-up to A Simple Amish Christmas (Abingdon).
Website  Facebook  Goodreads  Pinterest  Blog
A SIMPLE AMISH CHRISTMAS
Abington Press
ISBN: 1426710666

A FREE BOOK? YES !!
Vannetta is choosing two winners today: one for Falling to Pieces and another for A Perfect Square.
Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America (US & CANADA) addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter (#GetLostStories) or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join me tomorrow when I host RITA finalist Jessica Andersen. And come back Thursday when Cat hosts Alexa Borne. ~Angi
 
VANNETTA'S QUESTION FOR TODAY
Where is your favorite place to read once the weather turns warmer?



57 comments:

  1. Hi Vannetta,
    Great interview and I love Snoopy too. I love Amish stories too. My favorite place to read is in bed, but I also like to read by the pool when I am on vacation.

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  2. I am lucky and have a screened in porch... wonderful place to sit and read during the summer.

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  3. I love to read on my big back covered porch, although I'm going to have to go to war with the wasps that are out already.

    I thought "must buy!" the second I saw your covers, and know I will now that I've read the blurbs. Congratulations on your newest release!

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  4. Good Morning Vannetta ! And welcome to GLIAS.

    I just like the opportunity to read. I have every intention of taking my books to the beach this May and not looking at the laptop (okay, maybe a little). My biggest problem is that I get inspired to write when I'm away from home. So relaxing...down time...usually means I want to write.

    ~Angi

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  5. I love to read in my Hammock that I set up each summer, as long as the mosquitoes are not too bad.

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  6. I love to read on my front porch.
    cindy flynn
    cindyflynn2001@aol.com

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  7. I love to go to the park and just sit on one of the benches to read.....but I read anywhere I am :)

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  8. Love to read on my deck where my hammock is set up.

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  9. On my front porch rocking and looking at the trees across the street. So peaceful.

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  10. I truly love to read anywhere!!! I love to read while soaking up the sun, or in my tub soaking in the hot water! I love to read when I am happy/sad/mad/joyful to pass the time!
    I love reading while my husband drives me to my newest found Amish Settlement or just to the store! I am never without a book or 3!!
    Vannetta you are a gifted writter and it would be a blessing to read anything you write!

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  11. I love to read in the fields and watch the horses :) definitely relaxing

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  12. I like to read on my screened in back porch till it gets too hot then I'm inside with the AC & my soft chair.

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  13. I love your books, keep up the good work, also keep on crocheting, it is so relaxing....

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  14. Oh. All those good places to read. Could we have a national reading day? Hmmm that might already exist. :)

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  15. Would really like to win this for my momma. She loves your books and always has one laying around.
    April
    acro78@yahoo.com

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  16. where do I like to read? When we lived in South Carolina, I loved going to the beach to get lost in a book. But now that we live in Arizona, anywhere there is shade will have to do. I do enjoy getting lost in a book at the pool as long as there is shade. But since we mostly hibernate in the very hot summers here, the best place to read then is on my comfy couch in the cold a/c! One of my favorite places to read though is in a very hot bubble bath! :)

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  17. The front porch. My house is crappy but I love the porch.
    kwilliams77@hotmail.com

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  18. I read at night sitting in my recliner. Love, love to read. Debra B. debsredbirds@yahoo.com

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  19. I go out in our sunroom and sit in the window seat with legs stretched out, the windows opened, and read and listen to the birds at the feeders right outside the window. Doesn't get much better than that. Pat Hines - pshines@frontiernet.net

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  20. Great Interview, I also thing my Husband is a real life Hero, he is to me :)
    I love sitting on my Swing under our big Oak tree out back and just read, I could stay there all day. When it is cold out I love laying in my Bed and read. :)
    I love your Books and would love to be included in your Giveaway (smile)
    Blessings

    ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  21. Curled up in a chair in the shade of a tree with a nice tall glass of sweet tea.

    Cheryl Baranski

    Baranski1987@gmail.com

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  22. Would LOVE TO WIN!!!!! I have one of these too. I would love to win A Perfect Square, I have Falling To Pieces. Love my Amish Books!!!!!!! crochetsandi@hotmail.com Thanks & God Bless You All...

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  23. My favorite place to read is in my recliner in the morning. Every morning my doggie has to have mommy time and she climbs up on my lap while I read for 1/2 an hour. Once summer is here I like reading in my porch swing and the dog climbs up in my lap then also. Nothing like a 64 lb. lap dog. :)

    Alecia Ernst

    greatdane@citlink.net

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  24. Right now, on the couch while I am feeding the baby.

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  25. I love to read on the deck during the summer because I live in northern Iowa. However, I can rad and get lost in a book in almost any place I land.

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  26. kathleen greffin poppMarch 27, 2012 at 5:48 PM

    My favorite place in summer is on the porch with a nice cool drink and the water falling in the water fall, birds chirping and a nice summer fragrance candle burning and an Amish book. Would luv to win.kathibud5038@yahoo.com

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  27. I have a swing out in the yard,I love to read there,but the best place is in my bed at night,thank Vannetta

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  28. I love to read on my back porch until the afternoon sun starts hitting it.

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  29. I love to read on my deck at my umbrella table while I'm eating my lunch on a beautiful day and sneak some sunshine.

    Carole Frye

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  30. I love all Amish related books, romance, mystery, etc...I love to read in bed at night when the house is peaceful and in the nicer weather I will sit out on the porch with a bottle of water and read, read, read!! I take my books everywhere we go:) I would love to win these as I have not been able to find your books anywhere and I can't seem to get them for my Kobo yet..from Ontario and been wanting to read yours for a long time already:)

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  31. I like to read someplace quiet because I won't have to worry about distractions and hence it's easier for me to fully get lost in a story. I like reading in my bed all year round. It's comfortable, though when it gets warmer I don't mind reading on my backyard steps. I have a big yard and there are mature fruit trees so sometimes I'm underneath one of them as well.
    Cambonified{at}yahoo{dot}com

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  32. I love reading Amish books any were and all the time. But my favorite place in the summer is on the first porch just about dusk. Loved reading Fall to pieces. Love the store line. Can't wait to read Perfect Square.

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    1. Anonymous above is me forget to leave email address vickieschneider@yahoo.com. I meet you in Shipshewana at Blue Gate Theater on your book tour.

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  33. I Have a shed outback of my house, i cleaned it out , so thats my get away to read, I love to read all Amish Books!! I also read at work on my brake!!, lunch break, Before i go home for the day, I work the 3rd shif so its hard too sleep, so i read myself to sleep!! Big fan of the Amish!!

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  34. I love to read on our back deck at our house with my dog right beside me. Love it!

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  35. My favorite place to read in the summer time is on the back deck...ther is lots of shade......and its such a wonderful place to relax and put your feet up and just get lost in a wonderful book..........babyruthmac16@yahoo.com

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  36. I love to read on my front porch, just me and the birds.
    anicka2178@yahoo.com

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  37. i would love to win a book. my favorite place is sitting outside alone and reading
    p_cowans@yahoo.com

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  38. I love to read. Anywhere, any time. The season doesn't matter. However, I might be snuggled up with an afghan in the winter. Give me a good book and I'll read it. If a book isn't availeable, I'll read the cereal box. :-)

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  39. I love to read, anywhere. I guess my favorite place -- no matter time of year -- is my recliner -- just because it's comfortable and familiar.

    Would love to win a book!

    pamburke74@gmail.com

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  40. My favorite place to read a book is in bed when the whole house is quiet!


    bjcoopers5@gmail.com

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  41. I love reading Amish fiction. I can read most any where , My favorite place to read is covering with my blanket in my bed ( thats when it is cold) or On top of my blanket in bed (thats when it is hot outside ). I would love to win some more of your books. Karen Wozniak
    tagon@mi.rr.com

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  42. Mary Ellen AshenfelderMarch 27, 2012 at 7:58 PM

    I like to read anywhere I can find a spot to sit and enjoy the book -- lol.Please enter me in your contest. Thank you :)
    Mary Ellen Ashenfelder
    meashy@verizon.net

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  43. My favorite place to read is just about any where. When the weather is nice I like to read wherever I can feel a nice breeze and I would say listen to the sounds outside but I useally get lost in whatever I am reading I quit hearing other things.

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  44. Congratulations on the contract! I enjoyed the interview and excerpt. I like to ready anywhere.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  45. I don't really have a special warm reading weather spot. But I do like to sit near the volleyball court at church on a Sunday while my friends play after I've had enough.

    barbarabeers (at) verizon (dot) net

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  46. I love to read by the river in the spring, summer n fall. The gentle breeze and birds singing is a calming.Peaceful time. angel4go@charter.net

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  47. My favorite place to read is in my bed at bedtime. I simply cannot relax without reading. If the book is a real goody as yours are, I read all night long. Judith Cooper


    gran1942@gmail.com

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  48. I love to read outside on my chair amongst the bzzybee & blossoms or by the pool...I could spend hours doing so!

    angeldove7dt@gmail.com

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  50. Lets see I love to read manly in the car-I am usually waiting on my daughter who is in the puppet ministry at church. Or to and with my hospice patients. If I am at home- usually under a tree, outside somewhere.

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  51. Great interview, loved it. My favorite place to read is my back patio until it gets a little sunny...but other then that I love to read anywhere.

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  52. I loved the interview and would love to win a book thank-you.

    Geri Kelley :)

    Gkkel@aol.com

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  53. WOW !!
    THANKS to everyone who left a comment for Vannetta.

    I've drawn the names through Random.org.

    CONGRATULATIONS !!!
    FALLING TO PIECES goes to MARY ELLEN (meashy@verizon.net)

    A PERFECT SQUARE goes to CHERYL (Baranski1987@gmail.com)

    We appreciate everyone who stopped by and hope you'll come back to "Get Lost" soon.

    ~Angi

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    1. Mary Ellen AshenfelderMarch 28, 2012 at 7:54 PM

      I am so excited about winning the book. Thank you very much. Looking forward to reading it. I called my daughter to tell her that I won and she asked to borrow it. She can at least wait until I get it and read it myself -- lol.

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  54. Thank you so much. I can't wait to read this book. I will be enjoying it outside with my nice tall glass of ice tea, with this georgous weather we have been having.

    God Bless,

    Cheryl B

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  55. Oh Vannette. time is getting closer to this book being released but if I get a chance to receive a signed one I will go that way also. I love reading laying in bed where no one disturbs me and I can really concentrate and get into the story.

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