Getting to Know Amy Clipston + 2-book GIVEAWAY

It is an honor to come alongside other Bakery Bunch team members in support of Amy Clipston – and also downright fun! We’ve put together a “Getting to Know Amy” tour this month and all the tour stops are listed at the end of this post.

Amy has also graciously offered a double giveaway that includes her latest release, The Courtship Basket, and also the upcoming collection, An Amish Harvest – plus swag!!

Amy and I hope that you enjoy this interview and maybe learn some things you didn’t already know about her.


Q:  A few of Amy’s favorites . . .

Favorite way to relax or unwind . . . Watch movies with my family
A recent movie that I loved . . . “Captain America: Civil War” (We’re huge Avengers fans at my house!)
Favorite family vacation . . . Walt Disney World
A great book that I read recently . . . The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Favorite snack . . . Popcorn and Diet Coke
Favorite hymn . . . “Beautiful Savior”
Favorite holiday . . . Halloween

Q:  You and I have a love for cats in common, Amy. Please share an incident or something about one of your kitties that has touched you.

I have four cats, and my most outgoing is Lily, our little tabby. She’s approximately 7 years old, and she “talks.” You can have a conversation with her because she will answer your questions and comments with a very loud “meow.” Lily loves to sit in my son Matthew’s window while he plays video games. The other day, my husband walked outside and found Lily asleep on her back in the window. It’s rare for Lily to be quiet, and the sight was so funny that he took a photo and texted to me. Here’s the photo. Lily is a hoot!  The house would be too quiet without her!

Q:  I enjoyed your latest book, The Courtship Basket, book #2 in the Amish Heirloom series. Please tell us a little about this story and why it is so personal for you.

The Courtship Basket is a book that’s very close to my heart. The story touches the topic of kidney disease, and my husband, Joe, has had two kidney transplants. Joe received his second transplant through a swap, where I donated to someone and Joe received a kidney in exchange. In The Courtship Basket, Raymond Lantz suffers with kidney disease and is on dialysis. This is the first time I used kidney disease in one of my books, and I hope the book helps to bring the topic to the forefront.

I dedicated this book to Nyeisha and Eric, who were part of our kidney donation swap. Both Joe and Nyeisha struggled with kidney disease similar to how Raymond Lantz does in the story.

Q:  What stories can we look forward to in the months ahead?

My next release is a novella called “Love and Buggy Rides,” which is part of An Amish Harvest, a new anthology featuring four Amish novellas set in the fall. My story features Janie Lantz, who is a character in The Courtship Basket. I had fun telling her story, and I hope readers enjoy learning more about Janie. This book release Aug. 16.

My next Amish Heirloom book, The Cherished Quilt, will release on Nov. 29, and readers will get to read Emily Fisher’s story.  Book #4, The Beloved Hope Chest, will follow in May 2017, and readers will find out how Mattie and Leroy Fisher met and came to marry.


Q:  How can we pray for you, Amy?

I’m currently researching and plotting a new series. I can’t share too much at this time, but this series will take place in Bird-in-Hand, PA. I would appreciate prayers of inspiration and confidence as I begin working on book #1. I always worry my next book won’t be as good as the last.

Thank you for having me on your blog!

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Amy, it has been an honor to host you and I hope you’ll come back soon. And because of the love for cats that we share, I couldn’t resist sharing this drawing . . .

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GIVEAWAY

To enter the drawing, please click on this link and share my Facebook post, then leave a comment here. If you’ve read Amy’s books before, do you have a favorite story or series?

BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on Monday, August 29. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by e-mail.

Eligibility: US residents

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“Getting to Know Amy” Tour Stops . . .

8/6 Lane Hill House
8/8 Eat, Read, Teach, Blog
8/12 A Baker's Perspective
8/14 Cheryl's Book Blog
8/15 The Power of Words
8/18 Ida's Books
8/19 Stamping, Books, and Amish Country Ramblings
Later in August - Buy, Borrow, Skip