Guest Post from Charlotte Hubbard - Author of Autumn Winds

 

 Goats by Charlotte Hubbard

You wouldn’t think inspiration for an Amish novel would come from a trip to Lowe’s, but that’s exactly where the idea for the four little goats—and then the two maidel aunts—in AUTUMN WINDS came from!

You see, I was hanging around Lowe’s waiting for my husband to find his home improvement stuff, just gawking at the book and magazine rack to kill time. I was partway into writing this book about Miriam Lantz and her wonderful new love, Ben Hooley . . . wondering how on earth they were going to get Bishop Hiram Knepp off Miriam’s case, when voila! I spotted a book about raising goats! I didn’t know a thing about goats, and didn’t know how they would play into the story, but instinct told me that if I took that book home I wouldn’t be sorry.

From out of nowhere (which usually means it’s a direct lightning strike from God) I got the idea that goats would be just the diversionary tactic I needed to waylay Hiram’s unwanted attentions—and along with the goats came two old maid school teacher aunts. We all know how you can’t tell those women what to do! And, as it turned out, Hiram Knepp was no match for Jerusalem Hooley and the four little goats she brought him as a gift when she and her sister Nazareth came to Missouri with their nephews, the Hooley brothers.

What followed was sheer magic, and more fun than I’ve ever had with creating characters. From the first moment they appeared on my page, Jerusalem and Nazareth were so alive and so funny—and so outspoken—I knew AUTUMN WINDS wouldn’t be the last story they appeared in. Hiram, too, was more smitten with Jerusalem than he cared to admit . . . enough that he sort of makes a fool of himself. But then, everyone around Miriam is just grateful that the bishop has backed off, while Hiram’s oldest daughters are glad for the way the Hooley aunts take charge of their four youngest sibs as only old schoolteachers can do.

But because Bishop Knepp has been a villain my readers, my editor, and I love to hate, I certainly couldn’t let his attraction to Jerusalem run the easy, satisfying course. Nope. The arrogant bishop of Willow Ridge will dig himself deeper into trouble in WINTER OF WISHES (comes out 9/13) just as Jerusalem and Nazareth have inspired sweet romances with far more worthy men in AN AMISH COUNTRY CHRISTMAS (comes out 10/13).  

So, see? Who knew, when I entered Lowe’s on that ordinary evening about a year ago, that I would be taking home such extraordinary inspiration for many Willow Ridge story lines to come?  I hope you’ll enjoy the Hooley sisters as well as the fine, fun story Ben Hooley creates with Miriam Lantz in AUTUMN WINDS. Isn’t it a wonderful thing when a spirited, forty-year-old widow finds love with an attractive (and rather mysterious) younger man? 

Thanks to Charlotte Hubbard for taking the time out to share with us readers just how Autumn Winds was conceived and giving us insight into what it takes to breath life into a novel!

Autumn Winds

He blew in with the storm.

Miriam Lantz scurried inside and grabbed s sturdy chair from the nearest table. Part of her wanted to call the Brenneman boys - her Rachel's finace', Micah, would be here in two shakes of a tail - yet she craved some time alone with this stranger. She told herself she was giving him a chance to recover before anyone else saw him in this sorry state -

"If ya don't mind my drippin' on your floor, I'll just rest here for a few."

Miriaim jumped. Why wasn't she surprised that the man had already stood himself up and come in without her help? He eased into the chair she'd pulled up.

"I'd ask what ya were doin' here at this crazy hour, in the pitch dark," he murmured as he looked around, "but I guess that's none of my business. I've got to tell ya, though, it smells so gut I must've passed through the pearly gate and into heaven."

Miriam laughed again in spire of her agitated state, "I'm bakin' pies and decoratin' cakes for the bishop's surprise party tomorrow. Gettin' the day's breakfast and lunch started too," she replied. "Welcome to the Sweet Seasons Bakery Cafe'..."

And that's how quickly Miriam Lantz life had changed with the latest storm. Was God perhaps giving her a sign that He had plans for her. Plans to include something other than being the object of Bishop Hiram Knepps design for a future wife and mother of his children? Was God perhaps bringing her hope in the form of Ben Hooley, a traveling blacksmith in search of a place to call home and set up shop?

In the latest novel by Charlotte Hubbard, Autumn Winds is the second book in the Seasons of the Heart Series and picks up right where the Summer of Secrets left off. We see that Miriam is still running the bakery while her daughter Rachel is making plans to marrying Micah. Her remaining daughter Rhoda has plans set on making the newcomer her husband. Even though he is a few years older than her, Rhoda vows to go to any lengths to make sure that Ben Hooley feels right at home, offering to make him his favorite foods as he sets up his blacksmith operation where Miriam's husband, Jesse used to work. Now that she is widowed, she offers the operation to Ben in hopes he might stay, but not to make a future wife for Rhoda, because sparks are already flying between Miriam and Ben.

Bishop Hiram Knepp will go to great lengths to ensure that Miriam becomes his wife, even announcing it in front of the whole community during his birthday celebration as his wish. Will Miriam be forced into a marriage of convenience with Bishop Knepp or will Miriam find happiness in the Autumn Winds with Ben?

I received Autumn Winds compliments of Kensington Books and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review. Charlotte once again delights her readers with some unusual circumstances of being involved in the middle of two men who want to marry her, one for all the wrong reasons and the other for all the right ones. Miriam's biggest obstacle is doing what is right according to her faith while struggling with what her heart wants. She is always putting others needs before her own and at some point she has to realize that happiness and love is waiting for her to simply be willing to take a chance. How will she find a way to keep everyone happy while she searches for her own happiness at the same time? You'll have to read this one to see how it all turns out. There is a sweet surprise at the ending, lots of delicious recipes straight from Miriam's Sweet Seasons Bakery and Cafe. I can't wait to try these myself. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on Autumn Winds, Charlotte Hubbard and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Autumn Winds by Charlotte Hubbard

You can also find Charlotte Hubbard on Facebook by clicking here. 

To read more reviews on Autumn Winds from the Pump Up Your Book Tours, click here. 

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Zebra; Original edition (September 4, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420121707
• ISBN-13: 978-1420121704
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches

 Don't forget to turn in tomorrow to see what Charlotte Hubbard has to say about how this book came together in my guest post with her!!!