Monday, July 28, 2014

Author Spotlight + GIVEAWAY: Vannetta Chapman


I am so glad to again welcome Vannetta Chapman to The Power of Words because not only is she a talented writer, but she loves to interact with her readers. Besides that, I've really enjoyed getting to know her. There's just something about Vannetta's writing that clicks with me, so I hope you'll try one of her books if you haven't already. And Vannetta's fans will be thrilled to learn all that she has in the works for us!

Vannetta is graciously giving away an ebook or print book to one of The Power of Words' readers, simply by answering the entry question she suggests in her interview. Giveaway details are at the bottom of this post.

Now let's enjoy what Vannetta has to share about Murder Simply Brewed and the Amish Village mystery series - and maybe learn something new about Vannetta!


Q:  What is your favorite genre in which to write? to read?

I was an English teacher/professor for 15 years, so I read absolutely everything. And I also like to write in different genres. For me, it's all about the characters, and I can put them in any "frame" a publisher wants. Romance, mystery, suspense, women's fiction--they're all wonderful genres to explore.


Q:  Is quilting something you've enjoyed learning?

Yes! Funny story, I wasn't much of a quilter before the last year. Then I started attending quilt shows to promote my book, The Christmas Quilt. At the Tyler quilt show I met a wonderful woman who owns a quilt shop in East Texas. She encouraged me to attend a quilting retreat - from that moment on I've been hooked!



Q:  Tell us about the Amish Village Mystery series and the book we are featuring today, Murder Simply Brewed.

For this book I visited the Essenhaus in Middlebury, Indiana and interviewed as many people as I could, including the general manager. It's a lovely setting where Amish and Englich work side bv side. Of course the murder and the mystery are pure fiction!


Q:  Please share a little about the main characters, Amber and Hannah.

They're rather polar opposites who do not expect to become close friends. Amber is the manager of the Village, Hannah is an hourly employee. Amber is older and unmarried. Hannah is young and being courted by several boys. The death of Ethan Grey pulls them together, and then God uses their friendship to restore peace and harmony to the Village (after some rather exciting events of course).


Q:  Is there anything we can learn about death based on the way the Amish view or accept death?

I think so. In Englich society, we keep aging and death at arm's length. We see both as something to be avoided at all costs. But the Amish embrace the later phase of life as well as our rebirth into our heavenly home. Of course people still mourn loved ones, but they also trust that God has a purpose for each of our lives, and sometimes that purpose is going home to be with our Father.


Q:  What faith elements did you weave into Murder Simply Brewed?

I try to emphasize God's grace in every story that I write. Without it, where would we be? I fall on that grace daily, and I want to show my readers that God is waiting, arms open, ready to give them the comfort and rest they need.


Q:  Do you enjoy reading in your spare time? Any favorite authors?

I have been on a reading frenzy this summer! I recently discovered Richard Paul Evans, and I read his 5 books of The Walk in 4 days. Isn't that fun? They're not necessarily mysteries but they are a good read.


Q:  What other stories can we look forward to in the near future?

I'm so glad you asked! My first romantic suspense, Hidden, will release in September. Murder Tightly Knit (book 2 in my Amish Village series) will release in December. And I'll participate in another Amish collection--An Amish Cradle, which will release in February.


Q:  How can we support and/or pray for you, Vannetta?

If you enjoy reading my books, please tell someone. The #1 way people find new authors is someone tells them about a book!

I'm happy to give away an ebook or print book to one of your readers. How about we discuss summertime. Comment below with your fav summertime activity.

Thanks for having me!

____________________


GIVEAWAY

To enter the drawing for Murder Simply Brewed or your choice of books (ebook or print), simply answer Vannetta's question and leave your e-mail in a safe format. I'll contact the winner for book title and format. Here is a complete list of Vannetta's books:  Vannetta Chapman book list.

If you're willing, it's also helpful to share about this giveaway on Facebook. Also, please "like" my Facebook page, The Power of Words Book Reviews, if you haven't already. And new followers of this blog are always welcome!


  • E-mail required, one entry per person. Odds of winning are based on number of entries.
  • Contest ends at midnight PST on Sunday, August 3. No purchase necessary.
  • Winner will be chosen by Random.org and contacted by e-mail on Tuesday, August 5. Respond within 48 hours of notification or another winner will be chosen.
  • Eligibility: US residents, 18 and older

57 comments:

  1. Hi Vannetta and hi Carol!
    I have had the pleasure of meeting Vannetta and she is a delight! I am so glad to see her here and there is just one of her books that I don't have so I am really keeping my fingers crossed!!!!!

    My favorite summer time activity is fishing! I love to reel fish after fish in and when they are not biting, I have a trusty book at hand!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  2. I love the beach most of all. Enjoying the sand and the water lapping on the shore. A small piece of heaven. Congrats on the book!

    Diane
    dianemestrella at gmail dot com

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  3. My favorite summer activity is taking my little ones swimming. They are so funny in the water. Nothing like hearing a child's laugh.
    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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  4. Thanks so much for having me on your blog!

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  5. Fav summertime activity?
    relaxed reading time on the verandah!! cool drink in hand and time to enjoy the writer's world offered in story..
    Many thanks for the generous offer, Vannetta! and Carole, for hosting =)
    faithhopecherrytea [at gmail.]com
    I've pinned the giveaway HERE

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  6. My favorite summertime activity is to go on evening walks (and eating watermelon, too!).

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    1. Bree, please leave your e-mail address if you want to be entered in the drawing. I like evening walks and watermelon too!

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  7. WHOOO HOOOO! :D I'm SO happy for this giveaway! I REALLY want to read Murder Simply Brewed! Let's see fav. summer time activities...camping on the Pecos river, fairing both County and State fairs, reading of coarse, and VBS is always looked forward to in the summer! :)

    Hope to get a chance to get, read, and review Murder Simply Brewed Vannetta! :) I wish Zondervan had a way I could get review copies like they used to, but God always gets me the books He wants me to read some how so it all works out! :)

    Thank you for the giveaway!!!!

    Many Blessings, Amada (pronounced: a.m.a.th.a) Chavez
    amada_chavez{AT}yahoo{DOT}com

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  8. My favorite part of summer is having my grandchildren with me more. True, so far it just been kindergarden but this year my oldest starts first grade with the younger one in 5K.

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    1. Loretta, be sure to leave your e-mail address! I love your answer about having your grandchildren with you more.

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  9. My favorite summertime activity is walking on beach and collect shells

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    1. Don't forget to leave your e-mail address!

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  10. I live in Michigan pretty close to the beach, so my favorite thing to do in the summer is to take a good book to Lake Michigan and soak up some sunshine while reading. Murder Simply Brewed sounds like a good book for that very thing!

    My e-mail is dlkamstra(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. After you have liked Vannetta's Facebook page, leave a comment on her Facebook saying "I came from Chat With Vera & entered the #giveaway for Murder Simply Brewed." THEN leave a comment on my blog review comments saying you commented on her FB page with your FB name. (Winner's entry will be verified)

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    1. Ronna, I think you're referring to a different giveaway. All you need to do here is answer Vannetta's question.

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  12. Ops!! Forgot to leave e mail--ronnalord(at)msn(dot)com. I definitely enjoy your books!! Material Witness was one of my favorites. Listened to it on a Audible which added a lot to my enjoyment!!

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  13. My favorite summer activity is curling up in the shade with a good book and a tall glass of iced tea!

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    1. Be sure to leave your e-mail address, Theresa!

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  14. Favorite summertime activity - Being out of school for the summer (I'm a teacher), my favorite thing to do is help out my elderly parents and have time to read and spend time with friends.
    susanlulu@yahoo.com

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  15. Commented in Vanetta's facebook page and have liked for some time My face book name is Patricia Bond (ptrc_bnd@yahoo.com)

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  16. My favorite summer activity is a good book Patricia Bond ptrc_bnd@yahoo.com

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  17. Been wanting to read this book for awhile!!!!!!

    sierrafaith327(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. Go to beach. Dawn mysterybks @ yahoo . com

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  19. My husband and I live in Central Florida and summer here can be quite HOT,! We are both West Virginia mountaineers, born and raised there but in 1984 (for me) and 1986 (for my hubby and his family) Florida became our home. Now to tie this all to your Summer question, we use Florida summers just like we used to do our West Virginia winters...inside reading. Email address: misslinda4wv (at) gmail (dot) com

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  20. My favorite summertime activity is the same as my favorite year-round activity - curling up with a cup of flavored coffee, one or two of our cats, and a good book! jeaniedannheim(at)ymail(dot)com

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  21. As Vannetta knows, it is HOT in Texas in the summer, so my favorite summertime activity is staying under the air conditioner with a good book.
    susanmsj at msn dot com

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  22. My favorite summertime activity to share with my family is taking in a good old fashion baseball game. We enjoy little league, high school, minor league, or major league games. Just like apple pie, baseball is our favorite pass time.

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    1. Robin, be sure to leave your e-mail address!

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  23. So far this summer, my favorite activity has been working in our vegetable garden. It's so satisfying to be in the fresh air and put healthy, tasty food on the table! :)

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    1. Laura, be sure to leave your e-mail address!

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  24. If anyone is following the comments here, I have to apologize for not responding before now! This post has been up for over 24 hours and I've been wondering why no one was commenting, as Blogger always sends me e-mail notifications and I had not received a single one. Finally I decided to look at the blog overview section and saw over 30 comments awaiting moderation! Guess I shouldn't rely on Blogger to faithfully do its thing!

    So thanks to all of you for visiting and being interested in Vannetta's writing. Summer is not my favorite season, but I'm enjoying reading about everyone's favorite activities!

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  25. My favorite summertime activities are spending time at the beach and sitting on the porch reading a book.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Merry

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  26. Favorite summertime activities hands down is sitting on a porch swing watching the thunder and lightning, oh and throw in a few fireflies.
    jnut1atyahoodotcome

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  27. I enjoy sunrises more than sunsets so one of my favorite summertime activities is to enjoy daylight saving time. Longer days and warmer weather seems to put people in better moods-me included, so I am enjoying a little more kindness from others.
    My email: gracegwhite@yahoo.com

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  28. Since I've gotten older and most of my family, kids and grandkids, live out of town we don't do a lot in the summertime. The heat gives me a migraine so I stay inside pretty much.

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

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  29. Besides being asked a million times of going to the beach or park I like going to the fair.... kinda hard to do any activity when you are fair skin and burn easily.

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  30. We tend to hibernate as much as possible over the summer while living in San Antonio. When we do get out I enjoy jogging with my daughter in the mornings. I enjoy going on different adventures like exploring a cave, mini road trip to other Texas towns, and going to theme parks.

    Njclark8203@aol.com

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  31. What a wonderful and fun interview. I have a difficult time picking one summertime activity, I really enjoy traveling to visit my children and grandchildren, going to the beach, or sitting out under the stars in the evening with my hubby.

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  32. Summertime is very hot here & I stay inside & enjoy reading....love your books Vannetta. Thank you for the opportunity to win! I do enjoy going to FL for a month or so in May to visit with my son & grand-daughter & watch her dance recital.

    lorrainealx (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  33. The beach, sailing and picnics, although I haven't been able to do this for a long time. Thank you for your work. My email is janngrogan@yahoo.com

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  34. Thanks Carol, for another visit with Vannetta. Always enjoy your interviews, blogs and reviews. I have the Murder Simply Brewed bookmarkers but NOT the book!! Would certainly enjoy winning any of Vannetta's books, but that one especially gets my interest! Thanks for a job well done and for the giveaway opportunity.
    ratsmith140(at)gmail(dot)com

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  35. Our favorite summertime activity is definitely BBQ and swimming of course. The kids would live in the pool if we let them...and i love it when the sun goes down and the breeze comes through...

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  36. You can never have too many of vanetta's books!!

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  37. My favorite summertime activity, for many years, has been traveling. I've loved all the places I've traveled during the summer months. Some of my favorite memories are of my trips to Alaska--definitely the trips in the summer, not the winter :^)
    may_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  38. my most favourite summertime activity is: reading on the front porch in the early morning, sipping hot coffee

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  39. Golfing is my favorite summer time activity, but running in obstacle course runs like Tough Mudder are starting to get higher on my list.

    bsml dot 10 dot ausphiwvwc at spamgourmet dot com

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  40. Murder Simply Brewed sounds like a good read. I love all seasons, but for me summertime is when I tend to find more time for reading. I also just love being outside and fun to sit someplace cozy and read a good book.

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  41. I love having cookouts with the family. I also enjoy taking weekend trips with my husband. Thank you for sharing and a chance to win! ~ Blessings ~ lisastifler(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  42. Bicycling is my favorite summer activity, providing there are no clouds of gnats.
    tlw131 [at] gmail [dot] com

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  43. My favorite summertime activity is going to the beach. Fortunately, I only live 2 hours away but unfortunately, I don't get to go as often as I would like.
    Thanks for giving me the opportunity to win your book.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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  44. My favourite summer activity is spending time with family and friends while enjoying the beautiful weather and outdoors - which would include time to relax while reading a great book! Reading is my favourite all year round activity :)
    Kathy - khsa(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  45. My favorite summertime activity is reading crocheting and cross stitching

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  46. My favorite summer activity has changed as I have moved locales. I used to live on both the West and East Coasts. When I lived on the coasts, I loved spending as much time on the beach as possible. I love swimming and collecting sea glass when I am at the beach. Now I live in Arizona so the beach is not remotely close. I now really love to go to the park and picnic or lake and canoe or kayak.

    Thanks or sharing the interview with Vanetta with all of us and the giveaway opportunity.

    KellysShining(at)gmail(dot)com

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  47. My fave summer activity has been driving out of state to see my family, also to be able to read some delightful Christian fiction books! Enjoying the summer! (sallydav45@gmail.com)

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  48. We love summer and having our little grandchildren with us and planning special days with them.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  49. My favorite Summer activity has been our family gatherings.

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