Wednesday, July 9, 2008

my friend Ann

I think one of the best things about being a writer is meeting like-minded people who write also. Ann H. Gabhart is one of those people. I told her recently that she is my first writing friend. After writing solo for so long it is delightful to find someone who understands my world. When Ann talks about writing I understand everything she is saying!

A few months ago when Baker Books offered me a contract, I was browsing their website and found Ann - who is from Kentucky! Since Baker has several imprints and many authors I feel this was one of those divine appointments. I ordered one of her books and found her website/blog and have emailed her since. She is a very busy lady who somehow manages to write wonderful books and also be a farmer's wife, active church member, busy grandma, UK basketball fan and all the rest!

About those books ... Ann has written almost 20 books, including her best-selling Hollyhill series set in a small Kentucky town in the 1960's. I just love the titles in this series - Summer of Joy, Orchard of Hope, and The Scent of Lilacs. In just a couple of weeks - August 1st to be exact - her new novel The Outsider will be released. It has all those wonderful elements that make a good book - suspense, forbidden love, history, mystery - and is set in Kentucky's Shakertown at the beginning of the 19th-century. It has already received great reviews from all across the country and promises to be a bestseller.

But writing great books is not Ann's primary mission. On her website she says, "I want to inspire people to step into the sunshine of the Lord's love and to realize the Lord is always there for us, the same today as He was yesterday and as He will be tomorrow. I want people to read my stories and feel the joy of Christ."

I think Ann is doing just that! If you want wonderful books to read yourself or give as gifts, then Ann's books are for you. They are available at http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
I've pre-ordered my copy of The Outsider. Better go order that Hollyhill series also ...

1 comment:

  1. How nice, Laura, to go out googling and find such kind words about my books and me on your blog. I need a few dozen writing friends just like you. Hope the week's writing is going well for you. I'm writing but wondering if I'm saying the same things over again. I don't want to be one of those writers who keeps beating her readers over the head with the same facts as if I don't think my readers have the intelligence to get it the first time around. I don't think that at all. I think my readers and your readers-to-be are the smartest around. ;) Have a great day.

    ReplyDelete