Author Interviews

Writing the Days of Redemption Series by Shelley Shepard Gray & Giveaway

Posted Michelle Dawn

Thank you to everyone at Destination Amish for the invitation to visit!

shelleyshepardgray2013-240x300I thought y’all might be interested how the days of redemption series came to be, especially since most of my inspiration came from a visit to Holmes County.

Basically, it all started when I was visiting the area in November, 2011, as part of the Amish Country Tour I did with my author buddies Amy Clipston and Vannetta Chapman. While we were in Berlin, I had two conversations that stuck with me, and consequently became the basis for this series.

The first took place over at the Farmstead Restaurant. The folks at the Gospel Shop were kind enough to set up a dinner with several Amish couples in the area. We enjoyed a great meal (of course!), but even better than the coconut pie I couldn’t resist eating was the conversation I had with the gentleman sitting across from me. He was an older man and New Order Amish. He had such a fresh perspective about his faith and the way others view the Amish that I was immediately transfixed. But when he started telling me about his mission work in Mexico,

I knew I had to include a missionary in my new series, as well as feature characters who were New Order Amish.
Soon after that, I was speaking with a reader about some of the beautiful Amish farms in the area when she smiled said, a little tongue-in-cheek, that she’d always wanted to be Amish because then her life would be perfect, too. That conversation inspired me to write about a family who looked perfect on the outside but was falling apart on the inside.
My last bit of inspiration came from an issue of The Budget. I happened to be glancing through the pages, looking for scribes discussing missionary work in foreign countries, when I came across two ads-one advertising a treatment center for folks struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, another was for a Mennonite retirement home.

So, there I had it-almost all the components of a new series: New Order Amish, a picture-perfect farm filled with imperfect people, missionary work in foreign countries, an alcohol treatment center, and a retirement home. When I sat down with all my ideas and notes and a blank notebook, I wondered how I was ever going to make all of these things into a cohesive story…and how I was ever going to be able to interweave the three romances into the mix!
Then, the last, important element came into the mix. While skimming through a book our Bible study group was using, I came across the following scripture verse:

And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the EVENTIDE was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. ( Mark 11:11 )
I liked the word ‘eventide’ and it made me think about how so much of life is like a really eventful day~days sometimes starting with unexpected things, filled with chores and business and highs and lows, and then finally settling into yet another evening of rest. And that was how I named the books, daybreak, ray of light, and eventide.
After that, all the books came together! (eventually! <g>)

So, as you can see, I owe a lot to my visit to Berlin and Holmes County! So much so that I’m anxious to visit again this fall and talk to as many people as I can~I have a feeling more inspiration is just around the corner!
I sincerely hope you have enjoyed the days of redemption series, and especially eventide. I have to admit that eventide is my favorite of the series..maybe because when I finished it, I truly felt I had given all those characters a day of rest…after an especially busy trilogy of books!

Blessings,

Shelley

 

Thank you so much for stopping by Shelley! Readers love to know about an author’s inspiration for their books. I have never been able to resist coconut cream pie either:) I am happy to announce that HarperCollins Publishers is giving away a copy of Eventide to one lucky reader…how about that?

Eventide-252x377

 

To enter leave a comment below. If you would like an Extra chance share this link on Facebook or Twitter. Remember to leave another comment if you did.

**Contest starts today Tuesday, September 3rd and ends on Tuesday, September 10th. Winner will be announced on Wednesday.Good Luck!**

71 thoughts on “Writing the Days of Redemption Series by Shelley Shepard Gray & Giveaway”

  4. I would love to win this book and any other book you give away. Love all your books. Can’t wait to read this one.

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  6. Can’t wait to read the third book of this series. I love all of Shelley Shepard Grays’ books and have read all. Keep writing and I will keep reading. Thanks!

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  9. I read and enjoyed your blog here. It was interesting to read how you came about writing this series. Beginning Ray of Light today and then it will be on to Eventide. Thanks for a chance to win this book. Judy F

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  13. What a Wonderful Series of Books… I can’t wait to read them. You are a Wonderful Writer, and I loved Reading the Article Above… When I read books about the Amish it makes me Realize that they aren’t that much different than us English. We are all families who have various problems and Joys in our lives and must deal with them..Thank you for Writing Your Books..

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  19. I really enjoyed reading about Shelley’s writing perspective!
    It is so interesting how authors come about with their inspiration
    before writing their stories…
    Many thanks, Cindi

    Reply

  29. I love Shelley’s books and would love to be gifted this one. It would add to my wonderful collection of her books that I’ve just begun.

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  33. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book. Love how the series all came together and where the ideas for them originated. Love the Amish authors!

    Reply

  38. I love Shelley’s books and would love to win a copy of eventide. I am so looking forward to meeting her on the 11th of this month!!

    Blessings!
    Judy B

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  41. Oh, I would love to win Eventide. I love reading Amish fiction stories and I’m just now reading her Sister’s Of The Heart Series and enjoying it very much. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  45. I love all her books and would be proud to win or all that she has written. I love amish books they are so inspiring. A friend laned me some to read when my daughter who had moved in to take care of me, tragically died in my arms when a blood clot went to her lungs. She died just four days after moving in.the pain and depression are so bad. I read the books and got lost in them and for a little while i could deal with my loss. Thank you and God bless. babscorbit@ gmail dot com

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  49. Thanks to Destination Amish for having Shelley here today. I would love to win this book of hers since reading this interview. Please put my name in the drawing. I have also shared this on my Facebook page to invite my friends to enter. Thanks for the chance to win this book. MAXIE mac262(at)me(dot)com

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  54. I enjoyed hearing how your series came about, Shelley. I love anything Amish & would love to read your books! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of your book!

    bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  58. I really enjoyed Shelley’s explanation of how she came up with the idea and components of her series. I’ve never aspired to be an author, but have always wondered where s writer gets his ideas.
    I’ve always felt that no family, and no life, is perfect. There is a lot more going on behind those closed doors than one can see from the outside. Even when a family life is good, there’s always some ‘dysfunction’ – some behaviors and dysfunction more harmful and hurtful than others.
    I will be adding the redemption series to my TBR list, and hopefully will get started on the first book soon.

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  64. I love reading Shelley s book about the amish. When she mentions a specific restaurant or town. I am like I know exactly where that is, for I grew up in the area

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  69. Love your books and the title EVENTIDE. Sounds like peaceful and complete. Love to win. sharon, CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

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