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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Interview & Giveaway: Amanda Flower ~ Author of A Plain Scandal!




Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Amanda!! Will you tell us a little about yourself? 
Thank you so much for having here! I’m a college librarian living in Ohio who spends every free second writing murder mysteries.

What is your new book, A Plain Scandal, about? 
In A Plain Scandal, the Amish in the quiet Appleseed Creek community are under attack. An unknown assailant is cutting off the long hair of Amish women and the beards of Amish men. Computer specialist, Chloe Humphrey, is alarmed over the crimes against the Amish and worries over how the events will impact the Troyer family, especially her housemate Becky and Becky’s older brother Timothy. Her anxiety increases when she discovers the body of an Amish businessman, who had been stabbed in the back and his beard cut off. Now, Chloe and her friends must find the culprit behind the hair-cutting before someone else pays the ultimate price.

What is something the average reader wouldn't know about you? 
I’d love to live by the ocean, but I probably never will. It would be too hard to leave Ohio.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 
I knew I want to be a writer when I read a story I wrote to my sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with my description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. At that moment, I knew I’d found my calling of making people laugh with my words.

How many books have you written/published and do you have a favorite? 
I have published four books and have written four more that will be published in the next year or so. It’s hard to pick my favorite novel, but of all the series I write, The Appleseed Creek Series is my favorite. I’m so invested in the characters.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? 
I rewrite the end of each novel at least twice. I mean completely rewrite it. I don’t salvage a single word. I have a lot of alternative endings saved on my computer.


That is really interesting. Where do you like to write? 
In a big red armchair.

What do you like to do when you're not writing? 
Reading, making jewelry, and being outside when the weather is nice.

What is your favorite genre to read and why?
Mystery. I love to try to solve the crime before the protagonist.

Me too! Is there a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet? 
France. I’ve been to Europe six times, but never to France. Doesn’t that seem weird?

Do you have a favorite Bible verse? 
Psalm 37:4. “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of you heart.”

Love that verse! Do you have a favorite song and/or movie? 
My favorite song while writing the Appleseed Creek Series is “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz. I listen to it a lot while writing those books. I view it as Chloe and Timothy’s song.

Movie: To Kill a Mockingbird.

A few this-or-that questions:

Snowstorms or Thunderstorms? Snowstorms
Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate candy but vanilla cupcakes
Tea or Coffee?  Tea
Call or Text?  Text
Early-bird or Night-owl?  Night-owl
Facebook or Twitter?  Facebook
 
Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you give us a hint? 
Currently, I’m writing the second mystery of my Amish Quilt Shop Mystery Series, which I write as Isabella Alan. The first book will release the first week of September 2013. A Plain Disappearance, #3 in the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series, and my first children’s mystery, Andi Unexpected, will release the same week. That’s three books in the same week. I’m so excited about it!
  
Thank you so much for being here! Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web? 
This was a really fun interview! Thanks again!

Reader can find me at on Social Media at: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Pinterest

Book Giveaway!

Two winners will each receive a copy of A Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower! Giveaway is open to the US and Canada. Ends 4/2

Enter via the Rafflecopter below (it might take a moment to load).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

50 comments:

  1. This book sounds really good! I love amish books as I have cousins who are Amish.... And having an Amish mystery... I can't wait to read it!
    Lisa
    deiselbuffs@yahoo.ca

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  2. Would also love to hear more about Andi Unexpected when it comes out. THe only children's mysteries that we have involve Scooby Doo.

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  3. This book is sounds so interting to read -how did you think of the plot
    vickie
    vmorgan456 (dot) amazon.com

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  4. I'm just curious as to why Amanda has decided to write about Amish people? I actually do live down the street from them and it's difficult to get an interaction with them.

    mestith at gmail dot com

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  5. I haven't read any amish books quite like this, quite the mystery it sounds like! I look forward to reading it.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  6. I can't wait to read this book, it sounds great.

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  7. A Plain Scandal looks like a good Amish mystery novel. I'm looking forward to reading this one.

    Katie J.
    johnsonk133[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  8. I would love to read this book.

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  9. Great interview, Amanda. Happy writing!

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  10. This interview was very informative. I learned some more about Amanda Flower. I have read her India Hayes series, which I enjoyed!

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  11. It sounds as though your "plain" novels are focusing on the "dark" side of Amish communities (which we saw in the media of a court case involving beard cutting this year) or toward the Amish. Interesting. It is hard to comprehend that outsiders would target with hate crimes a community that isolates itself from the world. But is it so hard to comprehend that within such a "peace-loving" community there can be individuals that exhibit such behavior?

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  12. A Plain Scandal sounds wonderful.Please enter me in The contest.Thank you for the opportunity to win.

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  13. This sounds like such a delightful twist on the Amish fiction genre! Thanks for hosting the giveaway. :D

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  14. thanks for another great book giveaway

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  15. Awesome interview and review! I loved the first book in this series and can't wait to read this latest novel! Excited!!
    mommiebethers@gmail.com

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  16. Glad to be here reading about your book. Entered contest. WOuld love to read and review.jrs362 at hotmail dot com

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  17. I loved A Plain Death because it wasn't your typical "Amish novel." I can't bear the ordinary ones, but this series definitely keeps the reader wondering! I look forward to the upcoming books and would love to win A Plain Scandal.

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  18. A Plain Scandal sounds interesting.

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  19. Great interview! I have all of Amanda's books on my TBR list. I love books pertaining to the Amish~ interesting learning about them.

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  20. I haven't read any of these book. They sound really good. Thanks for the giveaway!

    superstarsarah94(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. Thanks for offering a copy of your book Amanda, it's much appreciated. It looks like a mystery that both my wife and I would enjoy.

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  22. Great post...would love to win.Thanks...jackie_tessnair@yahoo.com

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  23. Thank you for offering a free copy of your book, I would love to win it. I have loved all the books I have read by you so far, I know that I will love this one to.
    ajwbear@yahoo.com

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  24. I can't wait to read this book! Thank you so much for this giveaway Amanda! By the way, I loved the interview!

    Blessings!

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  25. How exciting to have so many books published in one year! I enjoyed the interview. Thank you for offering a copy of A Plain Scandal.
    may_dayzee (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  26. Love reading Amanda Flower's book. Would love to win her newest book.

    Karen G
    kmgervais(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com

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  27. I love the concept of Amish mysteries! My two favorite genres combined.

    TCuevas@iccable.com

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  28. Hi Amanda, I really like to read mysteries/suspense novels and do like to figure out who done it! I love your smile and thank you for sharing some of your life with us!
    jennydtipton[at]gmail[dot]com

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  29. would love this book in print. Rhonda Gayle Nash-Hall
    nashhall@aol.com

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  30. Love anything Amish! Thanks for the opportunity to win a book!

    bonnieroof60@yahoo.com

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  31. I'd love to be entered!

    Cbus.blogger at gmail dot com

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  32. I look forward to reading this book. Please accept my entry in the giveaway. Thank you.

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  33. thank you! Sounds like a great read! :)

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  34. I love Amish books this sounds so good thanks for the giveaway

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  35. This sounds like a really good book. Thanks for having the giveaway.

    Rose
    harnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  36. If you need another review, I would love to read and review this. Please enter me in contest.
    jrs362 at hotmail dot com

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  37. I am a big fan of Amanda's books! would love this! Rhonda
    nashhall@aol.com

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  38. I'd love to read this Amish book.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  39. I just read a really good book about the Amish and would love to read another!

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  40. Sounds like a good book! Can't wait to get it.

    strgth4yu@hotmail.com

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  41. This sounds like a really interesting book. I hope I can read it someday.

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  42. Linda Castillo's "Pray For Silence" is currently on my car stereo; I'm listening to the book being read to me, 1 disk at a time over 9 days. I'll be ready for a new mystery soon, and I'd be interested in a different perspective on the Amish lifestyle from Miss C's.
    Thanks for your generousity of time and your talents, Amanda

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  43. Sounds like a fun book!

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  44. This sounds like a very interesting read. It sounds like a very serious genre to be writing about and you said that you wanted to insert your sense of humour in your characters? Thanks for the great interview
    Helen
    hmmbailey@live.ca

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  45. This sounds like a really interesting book and read.

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  46. Loved this book enough to go back and read book 1 in the series.

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  47. Awesome! I look forward to reading this. I hope I can win as well!

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  48. I haven't read any of the books you've written yet, but I love Christian Bookshelf and I'm so excited I found this review blog!!! <3

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  49. I enjoyed the interview...........I love reading mysteries. They are so much fun trying to figure out who did it

    dowelljanet@hotmail.com

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  50. We have the first book in the series in the church library. I can't wait to read this one to add to our collection.
    Thanks!
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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