Today we have author Laura Bradford stopping by with an interview. Laura’s newest book is Shunned and Dangerous, which hits shelves March 4th. She is giving one lucky reader the chance to win the first two books of her Amish Mysteries series, Hearse and Buggy and Assaulted Pretzel. How awesome is that? Let’s all welcome Laura to Destination Amish…
Why don’t we start by you telling us a little about yourself?
First and foremost, I’m a mom which is the greatest honor of my life. And while I feel like my kids’ baby-hoods went by in the blink of an eye, I’m proud of the people they are becoming.
When I’m not busy writing, I love to travel (Amish country is a favorite destination, as is Disney World and the beach) with my family and read lots and lots of books.
Can you tell us about your latest book?
SHUNNED AND DANGEROUS, which is the 3rd book in my Amish Mysteries, will release on March 4th. I’m super excited for my readers to get a hold of this book because it really showcases the series’ main characters, especially Detective Jakob Fisher (former Amish).
As for a the best way to tease all of you about the story, I think the back jacket copy does a nice job:
Living in the small town of Heavenly, Pennsylvania, Claire Weatherly has come to admire the Amish for their wholesome, honest way of life. But she also knows that nothing is as simple as it seems—especially when murder disturbs the peace.
Claire has always been game for a good puzzle, so when she hears that Mose Fisher has made one of his famous corn mazes, she can’t wait to walk the paths and test her skill. But she’ll have a much more serious puzzle to solve when, deep inside the maze, she discovers the body of Amish dairy farmer Harley Zook.
It won’t be easy for Detective Jakob Fisher to investigate a murder on his own father’s farm—not after being shunned by the man for leaving the Amish community and becoming a cop. With Mose himself as a suspect, and old family secrets cropping up, it’s up to Claire to help catch the killer before she finds herself at a dead end.
This might be hard, but who is your favorite character that you have written?
Wow, that’s a tough one. Since we’re talking about my Amish Mysteries, I’d have to say my favorite character in this series is probably Aunt Diane. She’s the voice-of-reason for my main character, Claire. Then again, as soon as I say that, I instantly think of Jakob and the challenges he faces as a detective in the town where he grew up. The fact that he was once Amish, but left after baptism (and is now ex-communicated), makes his story all the more fun.
Which character can you identify the most with?
Another tough one. I think I’ll have to go with my main character, Claire Weatherly, for this one. Claire moves to Heavenly to re-start her life. She’s anxious to meet new people, but also wary from the broken heart that brought her to Heavenly in the first place. She has a lot of room to grow (just like we all do) and I like that.
What inspired you to become an author?
Originally, back when I was ten, I fell in love with the notion of writing books during a playdate with a friend. We’d played Barbie’s during the first half of a particularly rainy day and were looking for something different to occupy our time. My friend pulled out stacks of plain white paper, a box of crayons, and some pencils and our imaginations took over. Before long, we were writing children’s books and I was hooked.
I still have that book…and the one I wrote on its heels. Sometimes I even bring them with me when I go out on signings.
Have you ever visited an Amish community to do research for your books?
Before I begin writing each new book in this series, I head town to Lancaster County, PA, to do research. While there, I spend my days roaming the Amish countryside, taking tours, and asking questions. And then, in the evening, I head back to my hotel to type up my notes and identify any answers I might need to track down the next day. My trips usually last two or three days, but I’d love to be able to spend a whole week sometime in the future.
What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview?
Hmmm. I always think it’s fun to give a little window into the final week or so of a deadline. Every writer is different in this regard. Some don’t eat, some hole up in a hotel room, some drink lots and lots of coffee. Me? I have an insatiable need to consume large quantities of candy corn (with large glasses of milk) during the final deadline dash. And, some nights, when I’m nearing the climax of the story, I can write for as much as a 16-hour stretch. Crazy, I know.
If you couldn’t be a writer, what would your ideal career be?
Teaching kids the joy of creating a whole new world with pen and paper. It’s a way to combine my two greatest loves—writing and kids.
Do you have anything else that you would like to share?
I love to get letters and emails from readers…and I do respond! You can email me at: [email protected]
If you just want to check in from time to time and see what’s happening (in terms of the next release, upcoming events, etc.), you can do that on my website: www.laurabradford.com. There, you can sign up for my e-newsletter, read first chapter excerpts from each of my Amish Mysteries, and even download a printable book list with all of my titles—Amish and otherwise.
On Facebook? I have an author page where I occasionally host little giveaways for my fans, so be sure to stop by and “like” my page!
Oh…and one more thing. I also write the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries (under my pen name, Elizabeth Lynn Casey). TAKEN IN, the 9th book in that series, will be out in August. You can learn more about that series on my website.
What’s next for you?
The 4th book in my Amish Mysteries is already written and in the hands of my publisher. I’m super excited about that book because it delves into the tragic way in which Benjamin Miller’s wife died. Benjamin is one of the members of Heavenly’s Amish community and he’s another one of my favorites (I can’t stop myself). I’ll start work on the 5th book in a few months.
To enter leave a comment below and tell me your favorite Amish fiction book. If you would like an Extra chance share this link on Facebook or Twitter. Remember to leave another comment if you did. The winner will be chosen using Random.org. Contest is only open to US residents.
**Contest starts today Monday, February 24th and ends on Monday, March 3rd. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 4th. Good Luck!**
While spending a rainy afternoon at a friend’s house more than thirty years ago, Laura Bradford fell in love with writing over a stack of blank paper, a box of crayons, and a freshly sharpened number two pencil. From that moment forward, she never wanted to do anything else. Today, Laura writes the Amish Mysteries and the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries (as Elizabeth Lynn Casey) for Berkley/Penguin. She lives in New York with her family.