Monday, November 18, 2013

Christmas Release 2013 Series: The Christmas Quilt by Vannetta Chapman



Vannetta Chapman
Hi, fellow writers! How is your holiday season going so far? We're continuing our Christmas Release series today with another interview. Vannetta Chapman is here to share about her latest release, The Christmas Quilt. Enjoy!

An Interview with Vannetta Chapman

Welcome, Vannetta!

How did this project take shape?

Abingdon was looking for authors for their Quilts of Love line, and they approached my agent and asked if I would consider writing a book to follow up on A Simple Amish Christmas, which was my first published book and a stand-alone.

So this began as a book that centered around the making of a quilt, but like most things in our lives it turned in an unexpected direction and became a story about faith and grace. In particular, Annie's quilt reflects the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5. As each block of the Christmas Quilt is sewn, Annie and Leah share a story based on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It's a romantic story, set in the heart of the Christmas season and focusing on the gifts that God so freely gives to us. 

Please share some themes of your novel.

I would say that the theme is confidence in God's grace and provision. Even when we're in the midst of difficult situations, our God can be trusted. 

What makes your project stand out from other Christmas titles?

The Amish address the Christmas season in a different way than most people in our society, which makes this story different. There's less focus on the preparation for a holiday and more focus on the reason that we celebrate this special day.

Tell us one interesting fact about your book.

A friend of mine, whom the book is dedicated to, made me a hand-stitched, hand-quilted nine patch quilt to go with the book.

What’s next for you as an author?

Murder Simply Brewed, my new Amish mystery series will release in March. I also have a novella coming out in May titled, Where Healing Blooms, which will be in the collection, An Amish Garden.

What else would you like to share about this project?

We all can use a little more peace, joy, and grace, especially during the Christmas season. My prayer is that you will be filled with these things, with God's love, after reading The Christmas Quilt.

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New from Abingdon: The Christmas Quilt
The Christmas Quilt

Your favorite characters return in this highly anticipated follow-up to A Simple Amish Christmas.

Annie's life is deliciously full as the Christmas season approaches. She helps her husband, Samuel, attend to the community's minor medical needs. She occasionally assists Belinda, the local midwife, and most days, she finds herself delivering the buggy to her brother Adam. Annie’s sister-in-law Leah is due to deliver their first child before Christmas morning, and Annie is determined to finish a crib quilt before the boppli arrives. With six weeks to go, she should have no problem . . . but God may have a different plan. Leah is rushed to the English hospital when the infant arrives early, and Annie discovers the Christmas quilt may hold a far greater significance than she ever imagined.

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Vannetta Chapman is the author of several novels, including A Promise for Miriam and Falling to Pieces. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. Vannetta is a Carol award winner and a multi-award-winning member of Romance Writers of America. She was a teacher for 15 years and currently resides in the Texas Hill country. For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com.