Just received word that Saving Gideon received 4 stars from RT Reviews!!! Here’s a quote:“A sweet love story with characters who are grieving for different reasons but are brought together by chance and, in the process, help each other get over their pain and deepen their faith in themselves and God. Amy Lillard is a wonderful writer and honors the Amish and their faith with her novels.” RT Book Reviews
Yes, today is my birthday. But you get the present. Right now I’m in Dallas at the wonderful ACFW Conference and the fantabulous book signing that has been set up for 10 writers of Amish fiction. How I got included in this all-star mix is definitely a miracle, but I’m accepting this blessing for what it is and driving on.
But in honor of my birthday, I’m giving away a books! All you have to do is leave me a comment here and like my Facebook page between now and October 1 (the official releas
e day for Saving Gideon). After the 1st, I’ll use a random drawing to determine the three winners*. Fun, huh?
So leave me a comment and head on over to my FB page…https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Lillard-Author/177732292332322 and get entered to win. :)
Mine favorite birthday treat is brownies and ice cream.
What’s yours?
*Only US and Canadian residents can receive print books. If you live outside of the US and still want to enter, you may and then receive an ebook as your contest prize. :)
Just an update to let everyone know that this week (and most probably next) there will be sporadic blogging. The reason? I’m getting ready to go to the ACFW conference this week. Whoop! So excited. So forgive me as I run to the tailor’s, the dry cleaner’s and a number of other places while I get ready to go. Whew!
So I’ve confessed that I love nail polish. You know this about me, right? In getting ready for the conference and book signing (8 days from now!) I went shopping trying to get everything ready. And here’s what I found.
Beautiful huh? The red is Vodka and Caviar and the beige color is Tickle Me France-y. 
Spot on since I’m so in love with the Eiffel Tower and all things Parisian.
Sigh. I so love nail polish.
I’m not sure the red will make it into my suitcase. It’s a little flashy for the ACFW (IMHO) but I know the lighter color will be my staple while there. I’m not worrying too much about my toes since I’m wearing my cowboy boots down, around, and back. They are the most comfortable “shoes” I own. And I’m getting a new pair for my birthday. Haven’t see those yet? Stay tuned!
<>< Amy
I suppose I should confess that during the composition of this blog I found another color of nail polish and ordered it. Say hello to French Quarter for Your Thoughts.
Oh. Yeah.
If you’re my friend on Facebook (and I hope you are), you know that I went to In The Raw to eat sushi this week with a dear friend of mine. See I’ve never had sushi unless you count the bite I spit into my napkin at the Chinese buffet two years ago. But I’m up for something new and I love my friend. Plus we hadn’t gotten to spend any time together this summer since our kids were out of school.
Sushi is…interesting. I was a little put off by the rice (sticky and kind of clumpy) but I got used to it. I couldn’t use the chopsticks, a feat I fear I will never learn and for which I will blame the RA. (Hey, if I can’t use a chronic illness to get me off the hook here, what’s the use in having it?) But I still gave it the old college try and ended up flinging half a bite almost to the next table. Thankfully the restaurant was busy and no one noticed. After that, my friend caught a passing waitress and asked her to bring me a fork. And there was no way I could eat the entire piece at one time like my friend.
So here I am, cutting my sushi in half and scooping the bites up with a fork, while swilling down diet Pepsi like they were about to stop making it. (Our sushi was HOT.)
And I had the best time I’ve had in a long time. My friend was so concerned that I didn’t like the meal that she bought my lunch. But next time, Kel, the sushi is on me.
It’s good to get out of the box and try something new. And after the first bite and I got used to the texture of the sushi, I did enjoy it.
Now I can’t say it’s my favorite. But like I said, trying new things is good for us. It stretches us, gives us life experiences that are important for us to understand each other.
After all, I grew up eating deer meat, squirrel, rabbit, and frog legs. I couldn’t let a little crab put me off. No, I didn’t eat the raw kind. But who knows? There’s always next time.
What did you do new this week?
Back in November of last year, sixteen Amish men and women were arrested for cutting the beards and hair of their Amish neighbors. The sixteen are members of a break away sect led by Samuel Mullet and have been accused of being a cult. (Click here for more information http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/24/us/7-arrested-in-hair-cutting-attacks-on-amish-in-ohio.html?_r=1&ref=us) They are on trial now.
These members of the Amish church aren’t saying that they are innocent, but that they did it out of compassion for the victims, trying to bring them back into the fold. The sixteen are members of a break away sect led by Samuel Mullet and have been accused of being a cult. But the formal charges include conspiracy, destroying evidence, and hate crimes. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/us/lawyers-say-amish-charged-in-beard-cutting-attacks-acted-out-of-compassion.html
I find it incredibly sad that when we hear about the Amish in the news, it is always bad news. I’m certain that people who live in states with a higher population of Amish residents hear more good than bad. But what about the rest of us–those states with small communities or none at all? Could somebody please report some good news? I definitely think it’s time. Or maybe that’s why we love Amish fiction so much. Thoughts? Please leave a comment. I’d love to hear what you think.
To tell you that I’m not excited would be *such* a ‘falsehood’ as my English Lit teacher used to say. I am incredibly excited. In just a little over two weeks, it’ll be time to head to Dallas to the ACFW Conference. For those not familiar, ACFW stands for American Christian Fiction Writers.
Really I’ve got a lot to be excited about. One, it’s my very first conference. I’ve been saying for years that I was going to attend a conference. It’s strange that I’m finally making good on those self-made vows. Two–I’m going as a published author. (God is good.) Three, I’m finally getting to meet some great people who have joined my life in the last couple of years. Like my agent, my editor, and all the great friends I’ve been connecting with online. And fourth, my first book signing. Squeeeeee!!!
9 fabulous authors and ME!
So if you’re going to be around, please stop by and see us. I’d really appreciate it.
Oh, and did I mention that the signing is on my birthday? <BIG GRIN> Yep, there’s a lot to be excited about! <><
As promised, I will do a service to the electronic age. Last week I chronicled the things I *didn’t* like about the information-at-the ready time in which we live. It is only fair, So, let’s do it.
1–would have to be the laptop I am writing on as I watch the opening OU game for the season. (Yeah, I schedule my posts. It keeps me on task. <grin>)
2–Being able to carry 73 books around with me at all times in my Nook.
3 –Social networking. I won’t even cheat and put each of these under its own number. But I do so love Twitter, Facebook, and (sigh) Pinterest.
4–ordering books online.
5–email
6–texting my baby sister quotes from SpongeBob and MegaMind and my older sister jokes of all sorts
7–e-cards. Yes, I’m that paper hoarder who can’t part with any card I’m given. I have BOXES of them. Go paperless.
8–Paypal
9–Wikipedia. Think I may name my next child Wikipedia (okay, okay, my next cat)
10–Google. No explanation needed
What is it about the electronic age that makes you smile? Leave me a comment and let me know. I’d love to hear from you.
<>< Amy
I was poking around the internet as I am prone to do searching out a topic for today’s blog post. I came across a site for the PBS special American Experience: The Amish. I’ve seen the show, found it informative and provoking, but that’s not what I want to talk about today. (for more check out–http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/amish/)
On the site, I found a blurb about the show mentioning how the Amish are “rooted in the past.” But what really intrigued me was this question: “What does our fascination with the Amish say about deep American values?”
To me it says a lot.
I have a friend who believes that values and behaviors are like a pendulum that swings back and forth with the ages. Right now we are flying close to one side and it won’t be long before we swing back 
the other way to a more conservative time. I’d like to think my friend is right and simpler times are coming. The Amish give us hope that we can survive without all the modern conveniences, that we could go back to a simpler time. And that American values are still there, lurking just underneath the surface, waiting for a chance to be re-discovered.
What do you think? Could you go back to a simpler time?
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