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A Million to One Chapter Two

| Amy

Claire sucked in an astonished breath.

Wait.

No.

She must have misunderstood him. She wasn’t sure exactly what he’d said, but it had sounded like a proposal. But that couldn’t be right. “Excuse me?” She paused, hoping Mr. Anderson wouldn’t get mad at her for not paying closer attention.

“He wants you to marry him,” her boss said calmly.

“Just for a year,” McFarland interjected. “No longer.”

Claire looked from one man to the other. Surely she had heard them wrong. Men like Tristan McFarland didn’t ask women like Claire Campbell to marry them. It simply didn’t happen.

“Mr. Anderson,” she started, doing her best to keep her tone level and unaffected, “is this some kind of joke?” She looked at each of them again. They both shook their heads.

“And please, call me Ian.” She nodded. Ian.

This really couldn’t be happening. Impulsive proposals were exclusive to beauty queen types, not plain girls.

Tristan McFarland was a…well, a McFarland, an American prince. Right up there with the Kennedys.

“Let me get this straight. You,” she pointed to Ian “want me” she pointed to herself “to marry Mr. McFarland?” She pointed toward him.

“Call him Tristan.”

Nobody moved for what seemed like hours, or maybe it was only minutes, only seconds.

Then Claire burst out laughing. Seriously? They didn’t honestly expect her to believe this, did they?

Perhaps they did. After all, she was the only one chuckling. She abruptly stopped.

“It’s not a joke, Claire—may I call you Claire?” Ian continued without waiting for her answer. “My client has a business proposition to make.” Ian grabbed her arm, settling her into Tristan’s vacated seat.

“A business proposition?” She sank into the chair, thankful to be off her feet. Her knees had suddenly gone wobbly. The rich brown leather was still warm and the spicy air teased her with the scent of his aftershave.

Ian pressed a tumbler of brandy into her numbed hands. “Tristan needs a wife and quickly. Speaking as his counsel, I can assure you this arrangement will be strictly business and strictly legal. If you consent to be his wife, the terms of the agreement will be signed, witnessed, and notarized. You would be required to remain married to my client for one year and keep the terms of this union to yourself for the said time and beyond. You will be well paid for your services. Say, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars?”

Claire wasn’t sure whose gasp was louder, hers or Tristan’s.

“A quarter of a million for twelve months?” he barked, echoing her thoughts. “I have senior vice presidents who make less than that.”

Ian smiled a little too politely at Claire then grabbed McFarland by the arm. “Will you excuse us a moment?” Without waiting for her answer, he dragged Tristan to the far side of his office where Claire couldn’t hear their muted conversation.

She stared down into the brandy tumbler resting precariously in her trembling hands, then took a sip. The smooth warmth slid down her throat then burned her stomach, the sensations proving this situation was real. Dreams weren’t this vivid, this tangible.

She looked back to the men. Ian spoke, Tristan frowned. Claire took another sip of the brandy, resisting the urge to toss it back like they did in the movies. It would only make her cough and muddle her thinking even more.

Ian spoke again with a stern nod. Tristan’s frown deepened as he shook his head. After many more nods and frowns, both men returned to where Claire sat, still shaking, still dumbfounded by the entire situation.

“Is five hundred thousand more reasonable, Claire?” Ian asked.

Her mouth gaped open as she stared incredulously at the men towering over her. “Are you serious?” This situation was quickly slipping out of her control. Okay, who was she trying to kid? She had lost control the minute she walked in the door.

“That’s more money than you’re likely to see in your lifetime,” Tristan said baldly. “And it’s my final—” He didn’t get to finish his sentence.

Ian pulled him back into their little conference corner again where they spoke in muted, but nevertheless, heated undertones. After a few minutes, Ian approached while Tristan remained in the corner. “My client advises me that his final offer is one million dollars. For that sum he expects complete and utter discretion.”

Claire’s gaze swept from Ian to Tristan, who moodily stared out the expanse of windows at the whole of Dallas spread resplendently before him.

“What do you say, Claire?” Ian pressed.

“Can I have some time to think this over?”

“No!” Both men spoke in unison. Ian shot his client a wilting look, then turned his midnight-blue eyes back to her. “Time is something we have very little of.”

“And you want me to marry Tristan McFarland?” Claire asked, needing to hear it again. Just to make sure she wasn’t delusional.

Ian nodded. “Under the terms I mentioned previously.”

She glanced over at her prospective groom. “What’s wrong with him?”

“What?” Tristan exploded, turning his blazing hazel eyes on her.

She hadn’t meant to say the words aloud. Never in a million years would she want to intentionally insult him. After all, he seemed pretty chummy with her boss and she needed this job with Anderson, Terence, and McKay—for however long she could manage to keep it.

“I’m sorry,” Claire quietly said. “I didn’t mean to be rude…it’s just—”

Ian blinked once, but otherwise his expression remained the same. He held up one hand to silence them both. “I got this.” Then he turned his attention back to Claire. “Nothing is wrong with Tristan. I can assure you, he’s perfectly normal. Disease free.”

Tristan coughed. Or maybe he choked.

Ian frowned. “He just needs a wife—and very quickly.”

Claire stared at him dumbfounded, still trying to make heads or tails of the situation. When she didn’t respond, Ian continued. “It’s a very good opportunity. Countless women would jump at the chance without blinking.”

Claire wanted to ask him why they didn’t go find one of those jumping women instead of bothering with her, but she bit her tongue. One insult a day was enough.

She studied Ian’s expression. Maybe this whole thing was a joke after all. Maybe after Tristan left, her boss would explain that his client was crazy and this sort of thing went on all the time. But Ian looked serious.

“So, Claire?” Ian pressed again. “What would convince you to agree to this proposal?”

Claire glanced over to where Tristan stood, once again staring out the windows. From where she sat, all she could see was his back. It was a nice back. Normal enough. Perhaps even perfectly normal. Strong, broad-shouldered. He was tall and his hair from this view was a dark wavy mass. The view from the front wasn’t so bad either. Better than perfectly normal, it was almost perfect. She’d seen enough pictures of him in magazines to know that he was drop dead gorgeous. Not that a mere photograph could do justice to the real thing. In the magazines he’d always looked suave and debonair, but in person he was irresistible.

“What about the bedroom?” Claire asked. She hadn’t meant to be so blunt, but she needed to know what she was getting herself into before she got herself into it.

“What?” Tristan whirled around. She couldn’t tell if he was offended or shocked that she had even brought it up.

Ian cleared his throat. “What my client means to say, Claire, is that an intimate relationship is not the nature of this agreement. We’ll write it into the contract,” he assured her.

“Of course,” Tristan said as a muscle in his jaw twitched. “We’ll phrase it in such a way that neither of us is obligated to perform our spousal duties unless mutually agreed to by both parties.”

Whether it was her intention or not, it seemed that she had offended him once again. And he didn’t look like the kind who took well to insults fished out by others.

She should tell him no right now before this went any further. The money didn’t matter. It was crazy to marry for money anyway. She should get up, get her things, and go home. To the home she would have for a least one more night. And then what?

You don’t have to leave until you have another place to live. Maddie’s voice resounded inside her head.

Claire would continue her life the way it was. That’s what she would do. She would find a new place to live—somewhere. She would keep on scrimping and scraping. She could keep on being plain-Jane Claire Campbell, eating TV dinners off TV trays and watching re-runs of Wheel of Fortune.

Or, the tiny voice of the dreamer she kept hidden deep inside of her interrupted, she could marry the handsome, exciting man in front of her and embark on what would surely be the greatest adventure of her life. Why, if she married Tristan McFarland, she would almost be royalty herself. She could spend her days drinking pink daiquiris by crystal blue swimming pools while she traveled the world.

She probably wouldn’t have to spend much time with him anyway. Wasn’t that how it was with society wives? Maybe they’d go to a few charity dinners together or something of the like, but that would be it. He’d do his thing … she’d do hers.

“When do you suppose we could have your answer?” Ian asked, but both men waited. Both men hovered over her again.

Tell them no! her inner voice warned again.

Claire looked from Tristan to Ian and back to Tristan again.

You know we can’t all three stay here forever, Maddie’s voice countered. It would be awkward since we’re in a relationship and you’re—

“All right,” Claire said, surprised to hear her own voice. “I’ll marry you.”

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.    

  

A MILLION TO ONE

Copyright 2023 by Amy Lillard 

  

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.    

 

They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.  

 

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

previously published as All You Need Is Love copyright 2013 by Amy Lillard

significant changes have been made to the original manuscript resulting in new copyright status

A Million to One Chapter One

| Amy

“So this is it? You’re telling me there’s no way out? That after all this time you’ve come up with…” Tristan McFarland thrashed a frustrated hand through the air “…with nothing?”

Ian Anderson let the file of papers drop onto the top of his desk with an ominous slap. “Save the theatrics, Tristan. I’ve been telling you this for weeks.” He glanced at the small desk calendar and leaned back in his chair. “Eleven weeks, to be exact.”

“I realize that.” Tristan directed his words toward the carpet beneath his pacing feet. “But you’re my attorney. You’re supposed to get me out of this. It’s what you get paid to do.”

Ian raised his own hand in a defeated, but patronizing gesture. “Yes, I’m your attorney. And no, I’m not free. But I’m telling you that there’s not another estate lawyer in Texas who will say differently—your aunt’s will is rock solid. It ought to be. It was drafted by the best.”

“Masters,” Tristan spat the name. “This whole thing was probably his idea.” He thrust his fingers through his hair. “Forcing me to get married!”

“There are worse things.”

Tristan shot him a scalding look, one that usually sent his subordinates crawling away in shreds. Ian didn’t bat an eye. “Sure,” he agreed. “Being disemboweled, drawn, and quartered.”

Ian shrugged. “As I’ve told you before, you can contest, but it’s a lose/lose situation. On the off chance that you do win, you’ll have a dozen or so fifth cousins twice removed crawling out of the woodwork for their piece of the McFarland pie. You’ll be lucky to come out with enough to pay your legal fees.”

Tristan slumped dejectedly into a leather chair and released a weighted sigh as he brooded. “Risking the money’s one thing, but the press…” He rubbed a hand across his face. “It’s like some bad Lifetime movie.”

“The bright side is no one’s been able to find Devin yet. The way he jet-sets, you’ll be bouncing grandchildren on your very wealthy knee before he discovers he could have had the family fortune.”

“It’s beyond insane.” Tristan jumped to his feet and resumed pacing.

She was even making Devin find a wife, pitting them against each other in a contest to see who would inherit it all.

Not that Tristan was overly worried about Devin’s willingness to tie himself to one woman. His brother was more of a commitment-phobe than Tristan was.

“Your aunt made you work for it all these years, Tristan. What made you think she would hand the money to you now?”

Tristan stopped. Ian was right. Patricia had made him work his way through college. She’d forced him to earn his way to the top of the company. She had never simply given Tristan anything, but now that he had a fortune—well, almost had it—he wasn’t willing to let it go easily.

Tristan turned to face Ian. “You know, I’ve never resented her underhanded tactics until now. She’s always been manipulative and controlling, but she was fair. I never thought she would resort to posthumous blackmail.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call this blackmail.”

“Why not?” Tristan shrugged. “Extortion is extortion.”

“Then don’t do it,” Ian said calmly.

“Don’t do it? Do you know what you’re saying?”

Ian nodded. “Let the inheritance go to charity. You’ve made a few nice investments of your own along the way. Let someone else worry about McFarland for a while.”

“You’ve lost your mind.”

“Tristan, it’s Tuesday. You have until Friday to comply with the terms of your aunt’s will. You know your options. Get married or lose it all.”

“The money, the company, the house…they all rightfully belong to me and I want them.”

“Then get married. Get a wife, get the money, and get the dog.”

“Don’t remind me.” Tristian sighed once again. “As if forcing me to get married wasn’t enough, I inherit the dog regardless.”

“How is Bruno?” Ian asked, his expression stoic.

Tristan rolled his eyes. “Small, black, and spoiled. He’s at the groomers’ right now having his weekly doggie massage and manicure. Or is it a pedicure?”

Ian chuckled. “I never thought I’d see the day when you would have custody of a poodle.”

“Tiny toy poodle, if you don’t mind,” Tristan corrected with a derisive quirk of his lips.

Ian chuckled once more, then punched a button on his speaker-phone.

A feminine voice stammered across the intercom. “Yes? Mr. Anderson?”

“Could you bring us a fresh pot of coffee, please?” Ian asked as looked at Tristan. “My friend could use a little refreshment.” Without waiting for her reply, Ian released the intercom. Then he formed a pyramid with his hands and exhaled heavily above them. “In all honesty, Tristan, I don’t consider the amount you stand to inherit unworthy of a few vows, clinging new bride and dependent poodle or not. I could go out on the street and find people who would be willing to do much more than get married to inherit 36.5 billion dollars.”

“Point three,” Tristan corrected. “36.3 billion. And most of that’s not liquid.” Most of it was MacFarland Manufacturing, his family’s clothing company. The company he should rightfully be inheriting.

“Point three, point five? What’s a couple of million between friends? You know I’m right.”

He heaved a deep, resigned sigh. “Fine. I have to get married. Now tell me, just who am I supposed to marry?”

“There’s always Anna.”

Tristan snorted. “Anna? No amount of money would be worth that Besides,” he ran his fingers down the sides of his face, futilely massaging the tension at his temples. “She’s gone to Africa with the Peace Corps and won’t be back for at least another two months.”

“She what?”

“She didn’t actually join, but I still can’t reach her.”

“You mean she didn’t take her sat phone?” Ian laughed. “What business does a bored, temperamental socialite have in some small African country?”

“With the election coming up soon, her father thought it would be a good idea for her to make a mark in the world.”

“I’ll bet you a thousand she took a manicurist and a private chef with her.”

Ignoring Ian’s all-too-accurate description of Anna, Tristan leaned forward and picked up his aunt’s will. “I don’t want to get married.”

“So you’ve said.”

Tristan glared once again.

“There’s got to be someone else you can marry. I’ve seen how women look at you.”

Tristan shook his head. “Find me one who’ll sign the pre-nup, and I’ll marry her tomorrow.”

“Here’s a thought. You make it a business proposition. Be up front about the situation from the beginning. Pay her and in the end, you both walk away richer and neither one hurt from the association. Instead of buying freedom, you buy the bonds of holy matrimony—for a year.”

“Perfect,” Tristan scoffed. But since Neiman Marcus seems to be fresh out of brides, I guess I’ll walk down the street and randomly ask women if they’ll marry me. No, even better. I’ll post it on Instagram. Wife Wanted. No experience necessary. Contact Tristan McFarland.’”

“That’s not a good way to keep the marriage out of the limelight. Besides you don’t have that long. You have to be married by Friday.”

“Then I suppose I’m left with one option,” Tristan said matter-of-factly. “Marry the next woman I see.”

A soft knock sounded and the door opened behind him. He whirled around as the temp secretary he’d blown past earlier inched into the room.

“Here’s the coffee you asked for.” Her voice was smooth and clear, but her hands shook as she set the tray down on the credenza, the china clattering noisily.

Ian walked around his desk, then leaned one hip against it. He folded his arms across his chest as a slow Cheshire-smile spread its way across his face. “Thank you, uh…”

“Claire,” she supplied. “Claire Campbell.”

“Well, thank you, Ms. Campbell. Please stay a moment.”

She seemed hesitant as she slowly nodded, glancing at each of them in turn. She acted almost afraid, almost wary of potential dangers.

“Nonsense,” he muttered to himself, then turned his attention back to the matter at hand. Even if he did buy a wife, where the heck would he find one at this short notice? Weren’t purchased brides usually imported from some third world country? He didn’t have time for all that. He had to be married in three days. Besides, that was more Devin’s speed, not his.

“Let me introduce you to my friend. Tristan, this is Claire Campbell, my temporary secretary. Ms. Campbell, Tristan McFarland.”

At the sound of his name, he jerked to attention, annoyed that Ian was bothering with inconsequential and unnecessary niceties while Tristan’s entire existence was crumbling down around him.

Tristan stood and turned to face the temp, not at all surprised at the flush of pink that stole into her cheeks. She shyly extended her hand in greeting.

He took it into his own. “It’s a pleasure, Claire.”

“Yes,” she murmured a little breathlessly.

Tristan released her fingers and started to return to his seat when Ian cleared his throat. Behind the secretary’s back, he raised his brows and looked pointedly at Tristan. What was Ian up to now?

“I do believe Tristan has something he wants to talk to you about, Ms. Campbell.”

“What?” Tristan frowned Ian.

The attorney inclined his head in the temp’s direction as if to say, Here she is: the next woman you’ve seen.

Was he serious?

He looked serious enough.

But Tristan hadn’t been serious. He’d just been spouting off. And yet…

Was she the answer to his problems?

Tristan had to find a wife.

Today.

Tomorrow at the latest.

It was the only way he’d get his birthright.

Lost in the surreal moment, Tristan turned back to the temp.

The word “mousy” didn’t fit her at all, he decided. He replaced it with medium. She was of medium height and medium weight with medium blond hair of medium length.

She lifted a hand to smooth back her thick, medium bangs, and he noticed that even her fingernails were medium.

Tristan looked up and met her eyes.

He sucked in an involuntary breath and held it. If she were medium, then there were no true words to describe her eyes. Darkly-browed with thick, sooty lashes, the orbs were blue. No, green. Well, somewhere in between, and he didn’t have his wits about him enough to accurately discern their color as he gazed into their depths.

“Tristan. Hello? Tristan?”

At the sound of Ian’s voice, he tore his gaze from hers.

Once again, Ian inclined his head in the secretary’s direction.

Tristan looked at the temp, careful not to meet her gaze. Had it really come down to this? “Uhum, Chloe—”

“Claire,” she corrected.

“Claire. Right. I know this is sudden…Claire. We just met and all, but… do you like dogs?”

“Yes,” she answered. Her expression changed from captivated to puzzled.

“Tristan,” Ian intoned, the word clearly a warning.

Tristan swallowed, trying to ease the sudden dryness in his throat. He had to do this. He had tried every way possible to get out of this arrangement, but deep down he knew, someone from his own social circle would be hard for him to control, but a medium secretary would be different. He could marry her, send her off to a Parisian spa for the summer, then divorce her after the obligatory year. He would pay her and she would surely be grateful for the money. It was a perfect idea.

Okay, so it wasn’t perfect, but it was the best idea he’d had since his aunt died.

He took a deep breath and looked into the medium secretary’s not so medium eyes. “Will you marry me?”

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.    

  

A MILLION TO ONE

Copyright 2023 by Amy Lillard 

  

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.    

 

They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.  

 

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

previously published as All You Need Is Love copyright 2013 by Amy Lillard

significant changes have been made to the original manuscript resulting in new copyright status

A New Book? No, A new look!

| Amy

I won’t confess to being the best blogger, but my intentions are always good. So why am I blogging you today? Again? After not even a week? Well, I have a book that has a brand new look. But there’s more to it than that. Unfortunately for your inbox it just so happened to be taking place at the same time that A Murder of Aspic Proportions was released. (Sorry if you feel bombarded!)

Let’s go back a bit. I’ve written blogs about following God and the directions He gives and how difficult it is to 1) know that you’re doing what God wants of you, and 2) doing it if it’s not something you really have in your heart. This is that sort of tale. (I’m nothing if not stubborn.)

For years I’ve struggled with having a split in my list of books. I’m not talking mysteries and romances; I’m talking sex and no sex in my romances. See, I started my writing career in two very different directions—the Christian market and the secular market at the same time! Folks, let me tell you this is not a good idea. For years I fought and wrestled with the direction of my writing.  

But…I’ve known that I need to change things for a while now. I even tried once before. That was a failure. It wasn’t what I wanted to do. But now here I am following what God wants from me. For real this time! :)

You may have noticed that Love Potion Me, Baby and The Trouble With Millionaires are no longer for sale. They are two versions of the same story. Love Potion Me, Baby being the more risque of the two. I have taken The Trouble With Millionaires (the sweet version of the tale) and scrubbed it up a bit more and rereleased it with a brand new look.

Here’s the new cover for what once was The Trouble With Millionaires/Love Potion Me, Baby:

 

The Trouble With Love Potions will be enrolled in Kindle Unlimited, for a time at least. A paper version is also be available.

There’s no cursing or sex in the book, and I even scrubbed up the sexual tension to make it more appealing to a conservative reader. I feel so good about this book! I love the cover and I also love following what God wants. My heart is lightened.

Welcome Home, Bethie McGee and Take Me Back to Texas have also been removed from sale. This is the next tale I’m cleaning up for you. I’ll be sure to let you know when it’s ready. 

All my backlist is to be changed–new covers, new titles, and a brand spanking shiny new attitude. :) I’m so excited to be doing this.  I’m taking out all cursing–yes, even mild ones– and of course the sex is being edited out as well. Whenever possible, I’m adding the Christian worldview. This is going to take some time. But I wanted everyone to know. I wanted you to be aware of the changes in case you see one of my books you’ve never seen before and think it’s new. I will include the previous title and publication in the book’s details on each retailer’s site. But of course you are always welcome to reach out to me.

Here’s a list of the books that will be changed. They are not in the order that I plan to change them.

All You Need Is Love

Can’t Buy Me Love

Blame It On Texas

Ten Reasons Not to Date A Cop

Southern Hospitality

Southern Charm

Southern Comfort

Loving a Lawman

Healing a Heart

Brodie’s Bride

My other surprise: I’ll be  cleaning up All You Need is Love a chapter at a time right here on my blog. It’ll be a couple of weeks (or maybe three or four) before I have that ready for you, but it’s definitely in the works. I’m doing this so that those of you who have never read any of my contemporary books can get a taste of what my ‘other’ books are like. It’s going to be fun! I hope you’ll join me!

Yes, I’m still writing books about the Amish, but I’m happy to have a cohesive theme to my work. All my mysteries may not be inspirational, but they are all clean. Soon the same thing can be said about my romances!

This means the rating system is going away, but we don’t need it now! How cool is that? It’ll be available until the last book is rereleased.

Also be on the lookout for my new #.

#AKissAndAPrayer

If anyone has any questions, please let me know! I love hearing from you!

Happy Reading!

A Murder of Aspic Proportions Now Available

| Amy

It’s Tuesday! And one of the best Tuesdays of the year. Why? Because A Murder of Aspic Proportions is NOW AVAILABLE!

If you haven’t been keeping up, this is Book 2 of The Sunflower Cafe Mystery Series set in (tiny though) scenic Yoder, Kansas.

Here’s a little about the book:

Twenty-something Sissy Yoder never imagined herself running her Aunt Bethel’s café, but her help is needed, so she’s making a go of it. And she must admit that life in tiny Yoder has been anything but dull–she’s already solved one homicide—after being named the prime suspect in the case!

Enjoying a peaceful respite after all that excitement, Sissy just wants to write her advice column, hang out with her loyal Yorkie, Duke, and procure some of local farmer Walt Summers’ scrumptious “To Die For” tomatoes for the Sunshine Café’s menu. But when the unsavory Summers–resented by just about everyone in town–turns up murdered in his garden shed, it’s up to Sissy to roll up her sleeves, dig for some clues, and weed out the culprit . . .

“A promising new sleuth whose lovable dog and incipient love interest combine nicely with Lillard’s trademark Amish lore.”
–Kirkus Reviews

If you didn’t have a chance to pre-order, here are the links so you can get your very own copy!

         

This is a fun series for me to write! Especially since Stacey and I spent so much time in Yoder. Even the dreaded edits bring a smile to my face with all the memories. If you’d like to know more about our  visits to Yoder, Kansas, check out Amy’s Amish Adventures and the pictures we took!

Happy Reading!

 

Big News, Big Changes

| Amy

Maybe the title should be Big News and a Few Minor Tweaks, but that just doesn’t have the same ring to it. So Big News, Big Changes it is!

First for the Big News…Most of you already know that I’m taking us back to Wells Landing! My publisher just offered on the next three books in the series! Technically it’s a spin-off, but it’s set in Wells Landing so there ya, go! But what most of you don’t know is that I just signed a three-book contract to write (drum roll, please) contemporary cozy mystery!

That’s right! I’m writing a new mystery series set in a small-town Mississippi bookstore. It centers around this unique store, but specifically around the book club that meets there each week. That’s all I can say for now, but I’m so excited for you to meet Arlo (the bookstore owner) and Chole (her best friend and business partner).

With this new contract, one thing became very clear to me. Amy Writes Romance dot com wasn’t covering my writing any longer. Now there’s no way I’m changing that. When I first started my website another Amy Lillard had already scooped up the dot com, leaving me to take the dot net or come up with something different. Amy Writes Romance popped into my head and refused to go away. So my website was born. But at the time, I had no idea I would be writing mystery. I never even dreamed of such a thing.

So how did I go from romance writer to romance and mystery writer? Well, some of it had to do with an editor’s request and some of it had to do with my agent. If you’ve read my posts you probably know that my former agent, Mary Sue Seymour, gave me the best advice of my career: “you’re a writer, write it.” At the time she was talking about me taking the chance and writing Amish fiction, but it applied here as well. I was approached about writing a mystery in a continuation series. They wanted an Amish writer to pen the book since the main suspect in that edition was Amish. Well, why not?

And a new branch of my career began. That book is Unsavory Notions (though I wanted to call it Death and Cherry Pie. Oh, well…) But one book led to another with the same publisher, this one not Amish, and from there the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries came. Then Kappy King and now a new series. Something had to change. But not Amy Writes Romance. That would never change.

So I invite you to join my new website, www.AmyWritesMysteries.com! Yeah, yeah, I know, but it was too cute to pass up. What you’ll find there is everything to do with my mysteries, those already published and those coming up. If you want to know more about these books and all things dealing with me writing mysteries, be sure to pop over there and click the follow button under the NEWS tab. All my Amish mysteries will be here on this new site.

What you won’t find there is romance. Amy Writes Romance will be reserved for all things romance, including the news that goes out in my blog posts—like this one. If you just want to know about my romance novels, you don’t have to do a thing. You already follow this blog and will be receiving updates as I post them. All my Amish romances will be listed here.

All my books about the Amish will also be on Amy’s Amish Adventures along with all my personal “Amish adventures,” like my upcoming trip to Pennsylvania. I’ve got a few more Amish trips planned this year, including a visit to the Clarita School Auction and Choteau’s Black Buggy Days.

Now no one panic. I’ll give everyone time to adjust to the changes, I promise. But you have to promise in return not to get annoyed with double posts until everyone gets their following straight. Deal? I figure until the end of the year. Sound good to you? Don’t worry, that’s not nearly as many posts as it seems. I only have one more mystery coming out this year. So it’s all good.

I hope everyone is as excited about this new opportunity as I am. I understand that some of you only read books about the Amish and that’s just fine with me, but for those of you whose reading choices are a little broader, I hope you’ll join me in this exciting new leg of my career.

Questions? I’m only a comment or email away. Until then, Happy reading everyone!

 

Release Day!

| Amy

I’m so excited to announce that Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper is now available! I’m doubly excited because this is my first Amish mystery that is not part of a publisher’s series!  And I’m thrilled to be introducing you (well, some of you) to Kishacoquillas Valley , PA. If you’ve never heard of Kish Valley, you can check out some pictures I took on my visit there. (See Amy’s PHOTOS) It may be the most beautiful Amish community I have ever visited. It’s like a postcard.

And if you have heard about the Valley, you can find out more about Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper below.

Content to be unmarried and plain-spoken, Kathryn “Kappy” King is an odd-woman-out in the Amish community of Blue Sky, Pennsylvania. But she’s skilled at making the special kapps local women need to cover their hair. And she might be the only one who can unearth the danger hiding in this peaceful valley . . .

When Kappy’s neighbor, Ruth Peachey, turns up dead in her yard, everyone in Blue Sky believes it’s a tragic accident. Until the Englisch police find the gentle dog breeder was deliberately struck down—and arrest her mentally-challenged son, Jimmy, for the crime . . .

Jimmy’s sister, Edie, returns to Blue Sky clear his name, yet no one will speak to a shunned former Amish woman, much less give her information. Determined to help, Kappy starts digging for the truth among her seemingly-innocent neighbors. But suddenly a series of suspicious “accidents” threatens Edie and the Peachey farm—property Edie is determined to protect for her brother’s future.

Now, as danger looms large in the small community, Kappy must bait a trap for a killer snapping hard at her heels. And Edie must decide whether to make a home once more in the town she thought she’d left behind . . .

 

 

               

And as always, thanks for reading!

Be sure to come back and visit. Coming soon, I’ll be giving away autographed copies of Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper. But more on that later…

Until then, spread JOY!

Is Amazon Ruining Publishing?

| Amy

There’s a lot of talk in the publishing world. Most readers have no idea of the conversation. But amazon has changed the way we look at books, the way we buy them, and yes, the way we publish them.

I’ll admit the first time that I heard about e-books I thought they were going to be a flop. (I missed the Build-A-Bear train too. Good thing I’m a writer and not in product development.) Anyway, eons ago one of my computer-savvy, adventurous writer friends took the plunge and put her books out in e-book format. I thought, what a waste of time. Boy, was I wrong.

Like many readers, I prefer paper books. There’s something about holding a book in my hands, looking at the words, touching the paper, smelling the whatever it is that makes print books smell the way they do. Plus, I don’t believe I have ever stayed up all night reading an e-book. I feel a bit removed from it. Like the story is in a glass case. I can look, even read, but I can’t touch. It’s no longer personal for me. Do I read e-books? Oh, yes. I have a Nook and a Kindle. I get my BookBub ad every day and I look at it, every day.

Yet I’m amazed at the people who ask me if my books are available in fill in the blank of their favorite reading format. Usually it’s paper. Do your books come in paper? This seems like an odd question, but the fact of the matter is so many authors are self-publishing these days, or publishing with a digital first or digital only houses, that a great deal of books aren’t in paper.

I feel that most people who read Christian/Amish fiction prefer paper. I think they need the backup of a product they can hold in their hands in order to feel comfortable spending their money. I’ll admit, I sometimes have a hard time buying music I can’t hold (in the form of a CD) or my son’s video games that go directly into his Playstation, but I’m working on it.

Back to books. We all know that we judge books by their cover. Even if only to say, “That looks interesting.” But for me, it doesn’t stop there. I look at the author’s name. Sometimes read their bio—after all, it’s feasible to believe that a man who served in the armed forces would write a darn good military thriller. At least concerning accuracy.  Of course I read the book description. But I always look for the publisher. Stacey tells me this is a writer thing. It’s not that I won’t buy self-published books. I do. And I have published many stories myself. It’s just another way to determine if I want to take a chance on an unknown (to me) author. If the cover is ‘meh’ is it because it’s from self-published author who hired the wrong cover designer? Maybe she has really bad taste, or she tried to make the cover herself. Or maybe she’s published with Well Known Publishing and she got the brand-spanking new intern? If the cover is fantastic and it’s a self-published book, I know the author cares about the details of what she’s putting out there.

From there, I decide if it’ll be my next purchase.

But what about price? The only time I let price sway me is if I’m looking at e-books that are over $2 and I still have 400 unread books in my Nook. Should I really spend that money to make it 401? Why can $3 be a deal breaker? I have no idea.

Amazon has made it easier for authors and wanna-be writers alike to bring out their books and present them to the public. This is both a blessing and a curse, because now, the readers must wade through more offerings than ever before to find something they like.

There are authors out there who blog every week about the perils and pitfalls waiting for authors on Amazon. There are those who back self-publishing 100% and there are those who would never self-publish for a variety of reasons. Then there are those like me who are considered ‘hybrid.’ I have an agent, I have contracts with a large publisher, and I have self-published books. But in the big scheme of things, it comes down to what the reader wants. What’s important to you? Is it price? A great cover? A well-known name? Do you buy everything a certain author writes without question? Does the publisher come into it at all? I’m just curious to know. I have the ‘writer’s mentality.’ Even when I’m playing the role of reader, it’s always there in the back of my mind. Be sure to leave a comment and add your voice to the conversation. I would love to know what you think about the availability of books on Amazon. Has Amazon made it easier for you to find books or harder? How do you find the stories you want to read? What else would you like to share about books, authors, and publishing? Please remember to keep it uplifting. Name no names and point no fingers unless it’s in a positive light. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure applies to books as well. Please don’t ruin an author’s chances with another reader. And as always, remember to spread JOY!

After I wrote this post, I was asked if I would show how to tell who the publisher of a book is. Check out the following screen shot. This is for Titus Returns. This section of Amazon is under the author bio. So when you are on the amazon site and looking at a particular title, simply scroll down to find this info. As you can see from the image, the publisher is Zebra (an imprint of Kensington).

Now take a look at this image. This is for Brodie’s Bride. Under publisher it has A Squared Books which is my own publishing label. Other authors simply use their name.

Hope this helps! And don’t forget to leave a comment.

Everyone who leaves a comment will be entered into a drawing for a copy of Marrying Jonah.* **

 

 

*If you already have a copy of Marrying Jonah, be sure to still leave a comment. If you are fortunate enough to have your name drawn, I have plenty of other titles to share.
**Due to the high cost of shipping, international winners may be offered an ebook. Thanks for understanding. :)

That’s right! Everyone who left a comment on the last blog received a copy of Marrying Jonah! Happy reading and thanks for commenting! A

Let’s talk about THE AMISH

| Amy

So many times I hear people say and see them post on social media about THE AMISH.

Now the reason this post is here instead on my www.AmysAmishAdventures.com page is because it’s not about the Amish. Any of them.

See when people say THE AMISH it is all-encompassing statement. It’s like saying THE OKIES or THE CAUCASIANS. Can you think of anything you can say after this that would be a completely true statement? I can’t.

The more I learn about the Amish the better I understand how much there is to still know. I consider myself learned where the Plain people are concerned, but I am by no means an expert. And honestly, I don’t believe anyone can be.  (Sorry to those who consider themselves experts. There are definitely some who know more than others.) Yet even Sadie, my Amish friend, sometimes can’t answer my questions about THE AMISH. And she’s Amish!

Why?

I have Amish friends who live side by side yet are in different church districts. There has to be a cut off somewhere. These friends are actually siblings. Yet, one is allowed to have solar power and the other isn’t. And this isn’t the only difference. Never mind settlements that are separated by states, different living conditions, and social interaction.

So many times I see readers say “if a book has a mistake in it concerning THE AMISH, I put it down and won’t read anything by that author again.”

How unfair to the author and the reader both! Especially since the author may be correct and the reader misinformed.

The Amish in Wells Landing (Chouteau) use tractors. I have seen Amish girls in Lancaster play with commercially made dolls, with faces! The Amish I met in Tennessee dress all their children in ‘dresses’ until they are potty-trained. I could never imagine Sadie or any of my other Lancaster friends doing this.

I have read true news stories where Amish have been in trouble for fighting, cutting the beards off their neighbors, and have even gotten divorces. This isn’t the norm, but it happens, at least according to Google and MSNBC.

Recently I wrote about tolerance and values. Today I’m writing about tolerance and understanding.

I love to visit the Amish. I love to research Amish settlements, even if I don’t have plans to set book a book there. Why? Because I want to know more about different Amish communities. I want to come back and share with you what I learned, what I saw, and the people I met.

I research the settlements where I want to set books. Sometimes this research occurs before the outlines are even written. Then I come back home, start writing, and have questions I can’t answer despite my efforts.

It’s extremely difficult to research the Amish. Even more so Amish settlements like Pontotoc, MS, and Ethridge, TN. Lancaster is a different matter. Still difficult, but at least they are not as wary of strangers.

Another concept I find interesting is the popularity of Amish proverbs. But that may need to wait until another day.

What about you? Have you found what you thought was a mistake in a story? Did you finish reading it? Or do you read for the story and don’t concern yourself with minute details? Please be as positive and uplifting as possible! If you can’t, then please don’t mention any names or clues that might damage a reader’s opinion of an author. Remember one man’s trash applies to books as well.

Everyone who comments will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Amish Brides. *

The winner will be announced Friday September 8, 2017, on the next blog. Comments will be taken until midnight EDT Thursday September 7, 2017. **

And remember…always spread JOY!

Thanks for reading!

 

 

*If you already have a copy of Amish Brides, be sure to still leave a comment. If you are fortunate enough to have your name drawn, I have plenty of other titles to share.
**Due to the high cost of shipping, any international winner will be sent an ebook. Thanks for understanding. :)

I’m really behind in announcing winners! Congrats to those whose names were drawn!

 

More about Bravery…

| Amy

Every year around Easter my husband, the Major, watches all of those splendid Cold War Biblical movies that had casts of thousands and would be impossible to make today. I tease him about watching them, but I secretly like them too.  Except for that one part in the Ten Commandments where Abraham is asked to sacrifice his son Isaac.  First of all I hate this story in the Bible. Go ahead. Tell me it’s wrong to hate, but it’s disturbing to me as I am sure it is to most of you. Why would God give Abraham a son and then ask him to sacrifice him? I know, I know, I’ve heard all the arguments about devotion and obedience, but it seems unnecessarily cruel. But that’s just me. I’m human. I don’t always understand God. Not in the case with Abraham and certainly not when it comes to writing.

These days I feel a little like Abraham, asked by God to sacrifice his son. Just a smidge. Yes, I exaggerate. I’m a writer; it’s what I do. See, writing a book is emotionally a lot like giving birth. It takes months of worry, prayer, hopes, dreams, and preparations before this tiny miracle comes into the world. Then you have to give it over to the world–editors, readers, critics, and reviewers. Let me tell you it’s no easy feat. Even for the über-confident, there are always doubts.

Then you have me with God whispering in my ear to be brave. I thought I knew what it meant. Now I’m wondering if I was wrong.

Did He want me to change all my books to inspirational? Then why did the thought fill me with dread? Every time I caught sight of my writing schedule, I broke out in a cold sweat. Why?

I made it all the way through Ten Reasons Not to Date a Cop before the solid doubts set in. Was this what I was supposed to do? Or was it hard and that alone was filling me with concerns?

Every writer is warned throughout their writing life that the darlings will have to be killed. Those wonderful beautiful words that were strung together so eloquently will have to go. Be ready for it. Was that what this was about? Hanging on to my words?

Stephen King takes it one step further.

Yes, there is a danger in falling in love with one’s own words. But this was about more than that. I had spent a lot of time working on my rating system and getting it together for readers. Was it going to be confusing for readers to have a couple of my books still secular? And that’s not even completely correct. Some I could only take to the ‘sweet’ level–no bedroom scenes. But would that be enough? It wouldn’t be for the readers who wanted a ‘clean read.’ And it seemed a little…unfinished to me. See, I have a thing about ‘wholes,’ things being complete.

What was I supposed to do?

Ugh! I didn’t know! So I prayed about it, talked to Stacey, prayed some more. I walked, ate too many Rice Krispie treats, and prayed more. I even made my announcement of the changes to come. Then it occurred to me: was my uncertainty a sign? Had I misunderstood? Or was I just hoping that I did? Was this my sacrifice? Did God want me to accept his instructions, but not carry them through?

I’m still not 100% certain. I guess that makes me one of millions. There’s not much many are 100% about. So I’m in good company. But all plans of rewrites have been put on hold. I feel the need to go forward, not back. But more Christian/inspirational books? That’s definitely still on. I’m still not 100% certain what these books will be about. There are a lot of factors to be considered, contracts, time, and the ever-changing market.

Amish, historical, contemporary–I have stories in all three that I could write, but for now, I’m working on my contracted Amish books and Chase’s story. I’m still hoping to get that out before the end of the year. What will its rating be? I don’t know yet. It seems a little counter-productive to make it a green apple book when the others in the series are, and will remain, red apples. See? There’s that “whole” thing coming up again. And I’m not sure how–well, I can’t give everything away. Rest assured, I’ll let everyone know the rating when the time comes.

What about you? Have you ever had this happen, where you have been uncertain of what God wants from you? What did you do? I’d love to hear from you! Remember please to keep it positive and spread JOY.

Everyone who comments will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Amish Brides. *

The winner will be announced Friday September 1, 2017, on the next blog. Comments will be taken until midnight EDT Thursday August 31, 2017.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

*If you already have a copy of Amish Brides, be sure to still leave a comment. If you are fortunate enough to have your name drawn, I have plenty of other titles to share.

I have 2 winners I need to announce today–one from last week and the second from the week before. But…my right hand (you don’t have to tell Stacey I called her that) has been working a lot this week and I have to get with her. Never fear, those winners will be chosen. And even announced. Sometime. Soon. Until then, thanks for reading! :)