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When you were little, what did you like to do on car trips?
I usually read. Every once in a while, we’d play the license plate game, but mostly I had my nose in a book.
It’s funny how some things never change! Last night at our book signing, I bought Serena Miller’s new historical, The Measure of Katie Calloway. I’m looking forward to reading something new-and actually holding a book instead of my Kindle for once!
I’ve also got tons of work to do. So far, I’ve been pretty good about keeping up with my writing. But sometimes there’s nothing like sitting and enjoying a good book.
When we drove to Holmes County, it took us about two hours longer than expected. A lot of the places we’re going are a ways off the Interstate, so it’s easy to get turned around. And then there’s the bathroom breaks. (Five women) And the coffee breaks (five women) and of course….snack time! (I know! my husband would never put up with this!)
Our trip today is supposed to last 7 hours. Our reward for getting there on time? Ice cream with Amy’s Amish friends.
Speaking of which~I better go cart my bag down to the lobby!
Shelley
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 Getting ready to sign books at the beautiful Carlisle Inn Dropping in this evening for a quick hello. We just finished a book signing at The Gospel Book Store in Berlin. We’re back at the hotel for a few minutes before we meet several Amish couples for dinner.
~thought I’d share a few highlights from our time in Berlin and Sugarcreek before I run off to eat more broasted chicken and pie:
1) I seem unable to pronounce ‘Berlin’ correctly. Last night, Rhoda (owner of the The Gospel Shop in Sugarcreek) tried unsuccessfully to help me for at least a half hour. I won’t give up! (For those of you interested, emphasis is on the ‘Ber’ in ‘Berlin’
2) I also have finally figured out the side door button on our van. For days I’ve been locking us in, or out, or well, you name it.
3) I can still eat pie anytime, anywhere. Now I’ve learned I can’t eat so much of it.
4) I also can’t seem to stop buying books.
5) I sometimes get as nervous to meet readers as they do to meet me!
6) Being on the book tour makes me anxious to write an Amish historical romance! Who would’ve ever thought?
oops…got to go, or I’ll be late!
Tomorrow, it’s off to Lancaster County. Let’s all hope our 7 hour drive doesn’t turn into 9 hours…
hugs to you, and thanks for stopping by my page on FB! I hope you’ve been enjoying the photos!
Shelley
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 Our Tour...and Christmas in Sugarcreek...are highlighted in this week's Budget! I’m feeling a little giddy this morning. Okay, truthfully I’m feeling pretty tired, but I’m so excited, too. Our tour is spending the day in Sugarcreek! This morning, I’m taking Amy and Vanetta to meet my Amish friend. She invited us to breakfast. I’m so looking forward to giving her a couple of small presents, too-my Christmas in Sugarcreek book, a new Christmas puzzle that I bought for her in Shipshewana and an advanced copy of Karen Kingsbury’s latest novel! My Amish friend just loves Karen Kingsbury-and Zondervan publishes Karen-so I asked them if there was any way I could give just one copy as a gift. <g> Last night Alicia told me one was in the van, ready to go!
The ladies from Zondervan really are miracle workers!
Last night we went to a signing at Berean Christian Store in Canton, and met a very nice group of Very Enthusiastic Ladies! We held raffles, and the winners who got T-shirts slipped them right on over their clothes. They looked awesome! Then our tour group went out to eat at Bravos.
When we were done, it was raining. Actually, it was POURING! I told my husband it was ‘raining like Houston’. Have y’all ever been driving in rain that seems to fall in sheets from the sky? It was a hairy drive-both on the highway, and on the back country roads.
Then Alicia, our driver (and Zondervan’s executive marketing director), then had the best idea. She asked us all about our faith journeys. Now, I don’t know about y’all, but that isn’t something I talk about much, and especially not in the middle of a thunderstorm. But as I heard everyone’s stories, I began to the think it was the absolute perfect time to think about faith.
Sometimes it’s really all in God’s hands, as it has been all along.
If you’re in the Sugarcreek area, I hope to see you either at the Carlisle Inn from Noon until 3:00, or at the Tuscarawas Library from 5:00 to 7:00 pm tonight.
wishing God’s many blessings for you~
Shelley
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 Our beautiful carriage for the light parade Boy, already I’m not doing a very good job of keeping up with all that’s been going on! I promise to try to do much better!
It’s been so busy since I last wrote.
First off, Shipshewana is absolutely charming! Now I can completely understand why fellow author Vannetta Chapman has set her Amish mysteries there. I’d live in ‘Shipshe’ if I could!
I posted lots and lots of pictures on my Facebook page of the signing, parade, and tree lighting this morning. Please visit me there to see all the photos! I’m going to have to wait to get home to post more pictures here.
Here’s some of the highlights from Shipshewana:
* Meeting a ‘Shelly’! She stood in line with three copies of Christmas in Sugarcreek for me to sign.
* Eating coconut cream pie AND chocolate toffee pie after the parade! Katie, our publicist, and I decided to each order a slice, then neatly divide them in half so we could have both. I think I’ll do this all the time now. <g>
* Waving to hundreds of people during the parade, and watching the whole crowd (5000 people!) light candles as everyone sung Silent Night.
* Hopping in a VERY CROWDED van yesterday loaded with Red ‘Amish Country Tour’ bags, extra books, five women, seven suitcases…and five laptops, too!
* Watching everyone’s smiles when they first saw beautiful Holmes County, Ohio.
And…falling asleep last night. Bliss!
Now it’s off to tour an Amish cheese factory and Amish furniture maker’s shop before today’s booksigning in Canton.
With blessings to you!
Shelley
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Yesterday,after my daughter drove me to the airport, I had to do a last minute shuffle of things in my suitcase (all those pens and bookmarks made my bag too heavy!), then finally I was on my way!
We all met at the Hertz counter in Chicago. I have to say it was so fun to see Amy Clipston and Vannetta Chapman again! I first met Vannetta last year at ACFW, and the last time I had seen Amy was when she and I signed books together at the International Christian Retail Show in Denver. I think that was four years ago! We were met by Katie our super-organized publicist/leader and before we knew it, we were on our way. Somehow I ended up front with Katie and promised to help her navigate. <g>
Traffic was heavy out of Chicago-and, okay, we got lost a couple of times-(yep, not the best navigator!)-but we finally made it to Barnes and Noble with a full 40 minutes to spare! Then it was time to quickly change clothes, grab a sandwich at the cafe, and start the signing!
We met a lot of super nice people, some who were waiting for us to arrive! We met Larry and his daughter who Amy and Vannetta knew from Facebook. I got to visit with Kathy, who I’d been writing to over the years, too.
After the signing was over, we hopped back in the van and got on our way to Shipshewana! As soon as we got off the highway, we started seeing buggies-at 10 at night! Then when we drove through town, we saw all the lovely buildings already framed in white lights. It’s so lovely here!
Of course, I ended up hosting a whole crew of people in my room last night until after midnight! I guess it doesn’t matter how old you are-getting the chance to be on the road with other women means lots of time to talk and chat!
Today is sure to be awesome! We’ll be meeting a tour group from Grand Rapids, visiting the Blue Gate Theater, and participating in the Christmas Parade and tree lighting tonight!
It’s cold here~so glad I brought gloves!
Thanks for stopping by~
with blessings to you,
Shelley
 Vannetta getting ready to sign books! 4 Comments
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Boy, where have the last two weeks gone? Time has flown by as I’ve been getting organized for the trip, shopping for the trip, giving a series of newspaper and radio interviews…and being on the phone way too much!
But most of all, I’ve been writing. I’ve had some projects that had to be completed (like line edits for Missing) and other deadlines I’ve set for myself (like write 120 pages over six days). I’m proud to say that I got everything done, and now I just have to pack for the big trip~and go pick up my daughter today from college so she can take me to the airport tomorrow.
Oh, and figure out how to take everything I *think* I need for a 9 day trip…For me, this is harder than you would think. I don’t pack light. I miss the days of being able to take two suitcases for a weekend trip. Really!
The other day on FB, Amy Clipston was asking folks what ‘necessity’ they always took with them on trips. You know, those things (besides clothes and toiletries) that you need.
My answers?
1) Books! (by way of my Kindle now!)
2) My robe and slippers!
My husband, who travels quite a lot, loves his Ipad. He reads books on it, checks sports updates…plays Angry Birds! Other than that, he doesn’t need much.
What about you? What is something that you need to make your time away from home a success?
See you tomorrow from Indiana!
God bless,
Shelley
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I think it’s safe to say I livened things up at my local UPS Store today. <g> Last night, I received the name of the winner of my Think Pink giveaway, and so today, it was time to send it off. I wrote 20 pages this morning and did two telephone interviews. I was so ready to get out of my office! I was in such a good mood, I asked if the guys at the store if they’d please take a photo of me handing over the prize.
As usual, the folks there were happy to oblige.
Here’s a big CONGRATULATIONS to Lori from Columbus, IN! Lori, we’re tracking your shipment, and it looks like you’ll receive a whole bunch of books, towels, jewelry, and a Target gift card tomorrow afternoon! I hope you’ll enjoy all in good health!
Thank you to the 330 people who entered the contest. Doing something to celebrate survivors and breast cancer research meant a lot to me. Thanks so much for making the contest a great success.
Shelley
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I hop on a plane to Chicago a week from Friday, and from there, will begin the much anticipated Amish Country Tour! Until then, I know I’ll be very busy writing as much as I can and getting organized for the big trip. Just yesterday, I ordered a whole bunch of pens to give away. It’s going to be so much fun to gather everything together-and to see what I have forgotten!
When our kids were little, I used to get so worried that I’d forget something. My husband used to calm me down by saying, ‘If we don’t have it, we’ll buy it’. Now that’s kind of our travel joke. I’m always telling my husband things like, ‘oh no, I forgot a new pair of shoes’. <g> Seriously, I’ve forgotten all kinds of things over the years…from a bathing suit for a week-long cruise, to all my makeup on a weekend in the country. And that’s just me! Our kids and my husband have forgotten toothbrushes, sweaters, books to read…pajamas.
I hope I don’t forget anything too important, but you never know!
Here are some more tour dates, today for the Indiana leg of our trip:
Friday, November 11. 6:30 pm. Book signing at the South Bend, Indiana Barnes and Noble!
Saturday, November 12. 2:00-4:00 pm. Book signing at the Blue Gate Restaurant in Shipshewana, 6:00-8:00 Parade and tree lighting. : )
Today I am hosting my ladies’ Bible study. I love any excuse to bake, so I just put two loaves of Chocolate chip Pumpkin Bread in the oven. Yum!
Thank you for stopping by! And, if you feel like writing a comment today, let me know what you’ve forgotten to pack! I could definitely use a smile today.
with blessings,
Shelley
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This is a picture of Linda and me at the Lifeway Christian Store signing in Orlando. Over the years, ‘Linda from Ohio’ and I have exchanged quite a few notes, so it was so great to get to visit with her in person!
There are so many things I’m looking forward to doing on the tour. I can’t wait to visit Shipshewana, Indiana for the first time. I can’t wait to show off beautiful Sugarcreek to Vannetta and Amy. I really am looking forward to eating lots of pie!
But most of all, I’m so looking forward to meeting readers and seeing friends. I can’t tell you how much your letters and sweet notes mean to me. I really do treasure each email, comment, or quick FB ‘hi’ I receive! Getting to meet someone face to face is just awesome for me!
We’ve been having lots of meetings, getting things finalized for the tour. I thought I’d spend this week sharing a few of the details-today…the Ohio portion!
Monday, Nov. 14 4:00 pm Book signing at Berean Christian Store, Canton, OH
Tuesday, Nov. 15 12:00-2:00 Booksigning at the Carlisle Inn, Sugarcreek. 5:00-7:00 pm, Signing and talking at the Tuscarawas Country Library in Sugarcreek.
Wednesday, Nov. 16 3:00-6:00 pm. Book signing at the Gospel Book Store in Berlin
Finally, fellow author (and friend!) Beth Wiseman is hosting a Party on Facebook tomorrow night (Nov 1)! She’s giving out prizes-it’s sure to be very fun. Here’s the link if you are interested…
Thank you for stopping by, and Happy Halloween!
with blessings,
Shelley
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