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Dear Readers,
Thank you so much for visiting my website! Here, you can learn a little bit more about me and my books. If you’d like, I hope you will also become my friend on Facebook.
 Just the other day, my husband and I were driving around Geauga County in northern Ohio. The weather was absolutely perfect and the countryside almost glistened under the summer sun. We saw Amish buggies and shoppped right alongside some Amish families at Walmart. We went in cheese shops and other ‘touristy’ places. And of course, I ate a piece of coconut cream pie, one of my all-time favorites.
Then we visited a family-owned store on a farm that catered to the Amish, not tourists. It was dark and warm inside-no electric lights or air conditioning. On tables were fried pies and cinnamon rolls. On shelves were handmade baskets, the craftman’s name neatly printed on each. Quilts of all sizes were stacked on a bookshelf. And at the counter was a twelve-year-old girl~it was her day to work at the store.
Right when I was buying my items, the store’s clock, adorned with pictures of birds, chimed. Actually, it chirped. “Interesting clock,” I said.
The young girl rolled her eyes. “At least it’s noise,” she replied.
We looked at each other and smiled. The connection I felt between us made my trip seem all the more worthwhile.
See, I like to write stories filled with characters who just happen to be Amish. People who are just like you or me…or your kids or your parents. I like to write stories about people who have a strong faith, a quieter way of life, but aren’t perfect. Who sometimes would rather be out in the sunshine than in a family store on a beautiful summer day.
If you’ve given my books a try, thank you. And I hope you have a blessed day.
Shelley
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Filed in: blog
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First, THANK YOU to everyone who entered the Autumn’s Promise drawing! I loved hearing about what characters you liked and I loved reconnecting with so many readers who have really become my online friends.
This past weekend, two ladies who won the books had time to actually read Autumn’s Promise (thank you, thank you!) and wrote to tell me what they thought. I don’t want to give anything away, but here are two quotes (with their permission)
I just finished Autumn’s Promise. I could not put it down I enjoyed it so much.
I could not go to bed last night until I finished the book.
YAY! Talk about being relieved. I really do get nervous when a book releases!
Autumn’s Promise will hit the bookstore shelves Next Week, on August 3rd.
In other book news, I finished revisions on The Caregiver, which will be released in March, 2011, and I’m currently writing The Protector, release date still to be determined.
Finally, I am Happy To Announce that I sold a historical western series to Abingdon Press. I’ll be writing for them as ‘Shelley Gray’. I *think* the series is called Texas Heroes. The First Book is titled “The Texan’s Promise’ and will be released in November, 2011. These books all are set in Texas and Colorado, and take place just after the Civil War. They’re inspirational, too, and I’m very excited about the opportunity. As of right now, I’ll only be publishing one of these books a year.
Of course I plan to keep writing Amish Romances for Avon Inspire as long as my publisher wants me!
Well, that’s the book news for now! Currently, the wonderful publicist at Harper Collins is helping me set up some book signings~including visits to Lancaster, Sugarcreek, and Middlefield. As soon as everything is set up, I’ll post that information.
Happy Monday!
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Where to Find Shelley
American Christian Fiction Writers
September 17-20
American Christian Fiction Writers
Presenting workshops with Leanna Ellis
Booksigning, to be announced
Indianapolis, IN
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