Author: Amy

Christmas Cards for Servicemen and Women

| Amy

Every year I vow I’m going to do my part to help those people who are less fortunate. I’ve bought gifts for the Angel Tree, helped with the food drive, provided warm accessories for the Cozy Tree at the elementary school, and a host of other projects. Anything to help. So this year, when I saw this post on Facebook I decided I would do just that–address a card to a wounded serviceman and send some Christmas cheer their way. Perfect!

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I always believe in the good in people, but I’m married to a deputy who only sees the bad, day in and day out. His experiences have made me a bit cautious, so I poked around a little and discovered that the information is incorrect.

The address is not valid and hasn’t been for five years. Any mail sent there will be returned to sender.

But it’s such an awesome idea!

So I poked around a bit more and discovered a few things you can do to help our wounded heroes.

You can send blank holiday cards that they can use to send home to their loved ones. Here’s how:

Gather 3 blank holiday cards (same holiday per bundle and no glitter) along with 3 blank envelopes with postage stamps and 1 short message to the service member (do not include contact information, only first name). Bundle them all together with a ribbon and send to:
American Red Cross in the National Capital Region
ATTN: Holiday Mail for Heroes
8550 Arlington Blvd
Fairfax, VA 22031
Don’t forget Hanukkah and Kwanzaa!
If you still want to send a Christmas card to a wounded or hospitalized service hero, contact your local Red Cross office, Military Treatment Facility, or VA Hospital to obtain the local guidelines. You can also call the  American Red Cross at 301 295 1538 if you have any questions.
(https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossWRNMMC/)
When I went to the site for the Warren Reid National Military Medical Center,  they mentioned that the meme usually goes viral. It just shows how big the hearts of Americans really are, but mis-information is ineffectual to the cause. Here’s a meme if you’d like to share.
And for everyone who wants to bless the servicemen, get the bundle together and take a picture of it. Post it to my Facebook author page and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a copy of Heartland Christmas Brides which includes my Christmas novella, The Gingerbread Bride.
Giveaway ends November 30, 2016, which is also the deadline to send the cards. (This giveaway is in no way endorsed or supported by Facebook.)
Good luck! And thanks for supporting our service men and women!
christmas-cards-for-service-men

Blog Tour

Link | | Amy

Have you had a chance to read Loving a Lawman? Well, even if you have, here’s your chance to win an autographed copy of LaL along with a cowboy-themed gift bag and a $25 Visa gift card.

What do you have to do?

Pick a website below, go over to the site, and sign up with the rafflecopter. Don’t forget to leave a comment, so we know you’ve visited!

Thanks! And good luck!!

Amy

You know You’re Country If…

| Amy

We’re coming up on the anniversary of my father’s death. I can’t believe he’s been gone four years. It seems like I just saw him and yet it feels like forever. I was writing Gabriel’s Bride when Daddy died. That’s why I dedicated the book to him.

But I prefer to remember good times. Like the time I dropped the homemade ice cream (which hadn’t set up yet) in front of the open side-by-side freezer. He helped me “clean it up” with the towel my stepmother had used as a cape when she cut his hair earlier. The freezer was full of splattered, re-freezing ice cream and hair trimmings. What a mess!

And I love all the things we did together. He used to let me help him reload shotgun shells. I thought I was so big! And all the times he would give me a dime to buy a NuGrape, then tell me he needed to try it–to make sure it was good enough for me, he would say. He would guzzle the entire bottle. Time and again. Once I got teary eyed, he would actually let me have it. He was quite a character!

This week I ran across a blog post I wrote just after he died. And I wanted to share it. One of my favorite memories for sure. And perhaps Jeff Foxworthy could add it to his You Might Be a Redneck bit in his stand-up. But for now, I’ll call it You Might Be Country If…

Funny story. Some of you may know that my father passed away recently. (This is not the funny part. Just bear with me.) You may also know that I was raised in the *country* and my daddy was a big hunter. He didn’t want a funeral service (he’s just that kind of ‘Simple Man’) but we knew that we would need to do something for us to help us accept that he was gone. The decision was made to cremate his body and spread his remains at his two favorite hunting sites. (Still not funny, I know; I’m getting there.) So my family and a few close friends got together to take his ashes into the woods.

While there my sister was stung by a bee. I’ve been told my entire life the best thing to do for a bee sting is to place tobacco on it to draw out the poison. Now at this redneck service there was–of course–chewing tobacco. Remarkably enough, no one in the group actually had it in their mouth, so they wet it with a beer. Yeah, no one had water, but there was beer. My sister was having trouble keeping the tobacco in place on her hand. So someone kindly offered to secure it–with duct tape! Yes, folks, they duct taped beer-saturated chewing tobacco to my sister’s hand during what was essentially our father’s funeral. I have only one thing to say: Dad would have been so proud!

I used to say that Foxworthy could use my father as inspiration for You Might Be a Redneck. But if you have a recliner in your deer stand, you must be a redneck, and my daddy surely did. But if no one believed it before his memorial service, they definitely knew it was true after!

But being country ain’t so bad. I mean, it isn’t. We certainly have lots to laugh about! Even when times are sad. I miss my dad, but I remember the good times, every chance I get!

And if you ever wonder why I write books about ordinary, small town people with everyday problems and real relationships, well, now you know. It’s what I know. And

yall-for-blog

Thanks for reading!

Amy

And don’t forget to leave a comment. Tell me, are you country or city? At the end of the month, I’m giving away an autographed book to one lucky commenter.

Amish Blog Today

| Amy

blogging Amish

Just put up a new blog over at Amy’s Amish Adventures. There are a lot of new pictures to see from my travels this summer. Hope you can pop over and check them out. One lucky commenter will win an autographed book at the end of the month!

And while you’re over there, be sure to follow that blog to keep up with future posts. In order to keep people who follow both blogs from getting a double dose each blog, at the end of November, I will stop posting notifications here that I’m blogging over there. Clear as mud? I hope so! Happy reading!

Amy

Reading Challenge update–September

| Amy

Ah, September…my favorite month! Yeah, I’m partial. After all, this is my birthday month. But this is about the Reading Challenge. Have you been reading? I thought it might be a good idea for me to take inventory of my reading. Especially since everything I’ve read in the last few weeks I’ve written myself. Here’s where I stand:

1- #13 A book about another century 50 Ways to Ruin a Rake by Jade Lee

2-#10 A Book published before I was born 4:50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie

3-#6 a genre I don’t normally read Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline

4- #8 A book you’ve been meaning to read for a while True Grit by Charles Portis

I do believe it’s time to step it up or I won’t make the 10 book challenge. Just a reminder, here’s the list. And the object here is not how many books you can read, but to stretch a bit and read books that you might not normally read.

reading challenge

1o book reading challenge

  1. A book recommended by a book seller or librarian
  2. A book published in a different decade
  3. A book you’ve already read before
  4. A book you should have read in school
  5. A book that has been banned before
  6. A book from a genre you don’t normally read
  7. A book that intimidates you
  8. A book you’ve been meaning to read for a while
  9. A book you quit reading once before
  10. A book published before you were born
  11. A book recommended by someone close to you
  12. A book published this year
  13. A book about another century
  14. A book you’ve never heard of before
  15. A book recommended by amazon/internet/cyber friend

Right now, I’m editing the next two Wells Landing books, but after that… I’m going back to Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. What are you reading?

The Casual Vegetarian

| Amy

So I’m getting all registered for the RT Convention in 2017. And by ‘getting all registered’ I mean that I gave Stacey the link and told her to sign us up. She calls me back and tells me that we’re all ready to go. Hotel reservations, conference fee, registration for the Giant Book Fair. “And,” she says, “I put you down for a vegetarian meal.”

Wait…what?

“I’m not a vegetarian,” I say. “I just don’t eat meat.”

She laughs. “That is a vegetarian.”

Well, I suppose. I mean not really. Right?

So I googled the definition for vegetarian.

Vegetarian (n) a person who does not eat meat, and sometimes other animal products, especially for moral, religious, or health reasons.

Well, dang! Stacey was right! (She made me write that!)

casual-veggie

I quit eating meat recently and only because my doctor recommended that for me, uhum…like two years ago. But better late than never right? After giving it a trial run, I discovered that I do feel better and more energetic when I cut meat from my diet–no pun intended. But I don’t consider myself a vegetarian. I just don’t eat meat. See?

Vegetarianism is serious. You know, save the whales, Green Peace, and vegan leather (which is just a fancy way of saying vinyl).

Let me tell you, no meat is no small thing in a town that was built on oil and beef.

Now I grew up in the Deep South. I can eat veggies with the best of them: squash, beans, greens, okra. Yum. But there isn’t a good alternative when it comes to fast food. Sure most places have salads on the menu, but it’s a hit or miss–sometimes they’re edible, sometimes not.

But today I went to my favorite fast food Tex-Mex place, Taco Bueno. After all, it’s pretty easy to eat meatless Tex-Mex. This is how the order conversation went.

Me: Can I get a Muchaco with no meat, please?”

Bueno: A what?

Me: I would like a Muchaco but I don’t want the meat on it. Just beans.

(A muchaco is a pita taco with beans, meat, cheese, lettuce and tomato. Really good!)

Bueno: Do you want the lettuce on it?

Me: Yes, just leave the meat off.

Bueno: You want me to put the cheese and tomato on it?

Me: Everything but the meat.

Bueno: You want me to leave the meat off?

Me. Yes!

He just couldn’t believe that I didn’t want the meat! And he gave me the strangest look when I went to pick up my food. And believe it or not, they actually got my order correct! I had no idea ‘without meat’ would be so complicated.

It might have been a little easier if I said, I’m a vegetarian. But I’m not. I just don’t eat meat. Oh wait…Right. The definition places me firmly in the vegetarian camp. So I guess I am. But only casually. I like milk and eggs, and leather shoes. Just call me The Casual Vegetarian.

And if you’re going to be in the Atlanta area next May, be sure to check out the Romantic Times Convention! I’d love to meet you there!

 

 

Why Apple Pie?

| Amy

If you’ve cruised around my website or even hung out with me on Facebook, you’ve probably heard me talk about apple pie. More specifically, that my books are ‘sweet as apple pie.’  And some of you out there are scratching your head and asking yourself, “What do romance novels and apple pie have in common?” Maybe more than you think.

What does Apple Pie mean?

sweet as apple pie meme 2016Apple pie is my explanation of how all my books tie together. So in a sense, apple pie is my voice. All my books whether they are cozy mysteries, Amish romances, or even wacky romantic comedies have the same tone.

What is Apple Pie?

When I say Apple Pie what’s the first thing that comes to mind? American, oh yeah. Warm absolutely. And sweet. You got it.

Once upon a time when talking about romance sweet meant without love scenes. But now, “clean” is taking sweet’s place as the description for a book that doesn’t contain sex. And although only about half of my books are ‘clean,’ they are all ‘sweet.’

What is sweet?

Ever been watching a movie and it’s hard to see because it all happens at night, in the rain and there’s a serial killer on the loose who’s chasing the babysitter at a lonely house on a cliff-side overlooking the ocean? Yeah, well, that’s not my books. That’s not Apple Pie.

I say sweet. Others use warm, heart-warming, cozy, but they all mean the same thing: the warm-fuzzies. My books make you say, “awhhh…” And that’s just the way I like it.

How do you know what’s right for you?

apple blog meme 2Welcome to the Apple Pie Rating System! When it comes to my books, you have three choices: Green Apples, Yellow Apples, and Red Apples.

Of all of these, Green Apples are the most straight forward. Green Apples are clean reads with a Christian world view. In a nutshell, they are inspirational.

Yellow Apples are a little trickier. These books contain no described love scenes. This means either the characters don’t have this type of relationship or it’s off camera, so to speak. These books can also contain a bit of innuendo and maybe a little pillow talk. So if this sort of thing makes you uncomfortable, maybe the Yellow Apples aren’t for you.

Red Apples. Ah, the Red Apples. Yes, it’s true. The Red Apple books contain detailed (or described) love scenes. But to leave it at that is a disservice to my stories and to you, the reader. I jokingly tell people that my books aren’t 50 Shades, but there is still a great deal of sensuality levels between my books and E.L. James.

In a world that keeps getting sexier and less shamed to ‘show it all,’ I pride myself in writing books (yes, even Red Apple Books) that aren’t so much about the physical relationship but the emotional one instead.

If you’re completely against love scenes in books, Red Apple Books aren’t for you. But I hope that the rest of you might give one of my sexier reads a try and see what they are all about.

Where should you start? Love Potion Me, Baby is my suggestion. It’s a shorter book, it contains one love scene, and it’s all wrapped up in a charming romantic comedy. Oh, and did I mention that it’s only $2.99? Hope you’ll give it a try!

Happy Reading!

Amy

CLICK BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LOVE POTION ME, BABY

LOVE POTION meme blog

And don’t forget to leave a comment on this blog post for the drawing. I’m giving away a copy of one of my books at the end of the month. All you have to do it leave a comment.

Not sure what to say? Tell me your favorite color apple. And whether it is for eating or reading! :)

 

The New and Improved Yellow Apple Rating

| Amy

I’ll be the first to admit that my writing across several genres and heat levels can present a bit of a problem for readers. Especially those readers who prefer one heat level over another. That’s why I came up with my Apple Rating System, to help readers navigate through the choppy waters of my website.

yellow apple meme for blogRed Apples and Green Apples are pretty straightforward. Red Apples are secular and sexy reads. There are open door love scenes between the main couple, who may or may not be married at the time. Green Apples are inspirational and have no love scenes. Most of my inspy books contain at least one good kiss but that’s where it ends.

And then there are the Yellow Apples.

After having some readers come to me after reading The Trouble with Millionaires (formerly a green apple) and Loving a Lawman (a definite red apple) I made some adjustments to the yellow apple definition.

Yellow Apples are now sweet, secular reads. This means a book like The Trouble with Millionaires which doesn’t contain love scenes (closed or open door) is now classified with a book like Take Me Back to Texas which in the sweet version has no described love scenes, only one that is implied.

Now is that as clear as mud?

Let me see if I can explain a wee bit better.

Red Apples contain love scenes, but also may contain a few curse words and sexy banter between the characters. (Just a note here…though these books contain sex, the descriptions and actual writing is very mild by today’s standards. My books aren’t about only the sexual relations between the main characters. It’s just one part of the story.)

Green Apples are inspirational and have a Christian world-view. And no sex.

Yellow Apples do not contain a detailed love scene, but may have sexy banter and a little bit of language.

Hope that clears things up for everyone. Most likely you’ll be seeing a few more Yellow Apples coming through. And as always, feel free to shoot me an email at amylillard918@gmail.com if you are confused about a title. I will do everything in my power to help you decide which of my books are right for you.

Thanks for reading!

Amy

 

I’m Blogging Amish

| Amy

Today I’m blogging over at Amy’s Amish Adventures about my recent trip to Pennsylvania. Hope you can join me! And it wouldn’t hurt my feelings any if, while you are over there, you sign up to follow that blog. Many thanks!

blogging Amish