Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Shielding the Amish Witness Blog Tour: Author Interview + Blog Tour

 

Shielding the Amish Witness JustRead Blog Tour 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Shielding the Amish Witness by Mary Alford, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!




Shielding the Amish Witness

Title: Shielding the Amish Witness
Author: USA TODAY Bestselling Author Mary Alford
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: April 1, 2021
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Seeking refuge in Amish country puts everyone she loves in danger. 

On the run after discovering her brother-in-law was behind her husband’s murder, Faith Cooper can think of only one safe place—her Amish grandmother’s home. But when danger follows Faith to the quiet Amish community, her childhood friend Eli Shetler is her only protection. And their survival depends on outlasting a relentless killer…one who has nothing left to lose. 

From Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

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Mary Alford

USA Today Bestselling Author, Mary Alford, loves giving her readers the unexpected, whether it be in a rugged mountain setting or a peaceful Amish community.

Her titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestselling List, Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling List, and have been finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier award of excellence, The Beverly, The Maggie, and The Selah Awards. 

Mary lives in Texas with her husband, two very spoiled cats, and a sweet rescue dog named Cody. Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook and Twitter or any social platforms listed at www.maryalford.net

CONNECT WITH MARY: Website | Facebook | Twitter



Hi Mary! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and giving my readers the chance to get to know you and your new book- Shielding the Amish Witness a little bit better!  I like to start these interviews the same way with something fun to break the ice: can you share 5 random facts about yourself that we will NOT find in your bio?

Absolutely.

1 – My one and only attempt at riding a horse ended with me upside down in the saddle on the horse’s stomach. I was around ten at the time. I’m sad to say as a Texan that was it for me. Haven’t been back in the saddle since.

2 – Growing up, I was a huge tomboy. I loved being outside—especially during the summer months. I’d play from morning to dark. Sometimes with the neighborhood kids, but mostly with my older sister. We’d climb trees, explore the world around our home, or simply dig in the dirt. For me, it didn’t matter what I did as long as it involved being outside. I still enjoy digging in the dirt today in the form of gardening and exploring the world around me. I guess some things never change although I no longer climb trees.   

3 – As a teenager, I played the piano at my brother’s church. He was a minister, and my sister led the music. I guess you could call it a family ministry. His church was small and rural—maybe a dozen members and most were elderly. But the memories I have of being part of the church are some of my favorites. I still remember the lady who taught our Sunday school class. Her name was Cleo Taylor, and she was a writer as well. She was always so encouraging.      

4 – My husband and I once owned ostriches and emus. They were a lot of fun to watch, but not all that profitable to raise and so we eventually sold them all.   

5 – Several years back my husband and I went to Breckenridge Colorado. We rented a house there for about a month. Though early spring, everything was still covered in snow. It was fun watching the snow move in over the mountains while sitting in the hot tub. And then, one day, we got the bright idea to climb one of the mountains outside of Breckenridge. That was one of the scariest things I’ve done and probably not something I’ll try again anytime soon.     


When did you first discover you had a passion and talent for writing?

I’d say it was after I wrote my first book as a pre-teen. I grew up reading mysteries and suspense books and decided, “hey, I can do that”. My first book was set in Hawaii and filled with so many cliches. It was terrible, but the writing spark was lit although it would be many years before I realized my dream of becoming a published author.  

What drew you to the Amish suspense genre (or the suspense genre in general)?

I’d always gravitated toward suspense books as a reader. I grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys then moved on to Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and Mary Stewart. So, when I started writing seriously, it was in the suspense genre.  A few years later, I read The Shunning by Beverly Lewis. I loved the combination of the simple Amish ways with the hint of suspense she wove through her story. I started reading everything in the Amish suspense genre and decided I’d try my hand at it. Shielding the Amish Witness if my 4th Amish Suspense published through Love Inspired Suspense. I have two more to follow. Dangerous Amish Showdown comes out in August and then I’m currently working on a second Amish Suspense.   

What type of research goes into creating this type of story and keeping true to the Amish community?

Research is particularly important to do justice to the Amish people and their community. Yet each community is a little different and finding information about the West Kootenai Montana Amish community isn’t easy because it is remote. I spent hours online researching the community and the surrounding countryside. I am blessed to have a friend who lives nearby who helps answer questions as well. 

Can you tell us a little bit more about Shielding the Amish Witness?

Shielding the Amish Witness features Faith Cooper, a former Amish woman whose father took his family away from the faith when she was a child. Faith grew up and became a nurse in New York where she married a cop, never realizing her husband and his detective brother were working for a gang leader in the city until her husband is killed, supposedly in the line of duty.  Faith discovers a note written by her husband telling her if he’s dead it was his brother who killed him.  

Faith can think of only one place to go to escape her brother-in-law’s attempt to silence her. Her former Amish community of West Kootenai, Montana, and her Amish grandmother’s home.

Vincent tracks her there and tries to kill her. Faith is rescued by her former childhood friend, Eli Shetler. Together Faith and Eli must try to avoid Vincent long enough to retrieve the evidence Faith brought with her that proves Vincent’s guilt.     

 
What do you hope readers will take away from the book?

I hope readers will see how God brought Eli and Hope through the struggles they faced. Alone, they were not able to overcome the danger coming after them, but God brought them through it and gave them a happy future together. In our lives, we don’t always understand why bag things happen and we can’t see God’s hand in our circumstances, but if we keep our eyes on Him, and let God carry us through, He will use the bad things we’ve gone through to His glory and He will see us through. 


Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Before you go, are there any other projects you are currently working on that you can share?

Yes, I am finishing up my first Revell book right now. This Amish suspense is set to release in June of 2022 and I’ve extremely excited about being part of the Revell family.

I’m also working on another West Kootenai, Montana story featuring Hunter Shetler. And, this November, More Amish Christmas Miracles releases. This is the second collection of Amish Christmas stories that will feature 10 Amish authors. The first collection, Amish Christmas Miracles, made the USA Today Bestsellers list.  



(1) winner will receive a $40 Amazon gift card and winner's choice of print or ebook copy of Shielding the Amish Witness!

Shielding the Amish Witness JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 5, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 12, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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