CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH GAYLE LEESON'S AMY FLOWERS

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the latest Southern cozy from the author of The Calamity Café, small-town chef Amy Flowers can’t take her freedom for granted when she’s served up as a murder suspect . . .


It's Independence Day in Winter Garden, Virginia, and the residents are gearing up for their annual celebration. The Down South Café is open and flourishing, and Amy Flowers is busy making pies and cakes for the holiday. The only thorn in her side is Chamber of Commerce director George Lincoln, who is trying to buy the café so he can tear it down and build a B&B on the site.
When George collapses while eating at the Down South, everybody assumes it's a heart attack—until the autopsy declares it to be poisoning. Now, it’s up to Amy to prove her innocence before her liberty is lost.
Includes delicious Southern recipes!

ABOUT THE CHARACTER

Amy Flowers finishing earning her degree in culinary school when her beloved Nana got sick. She came back to her hometown of Winter Garden, Virginia, to be close and got a job as a waitress at Lou’s Joint, a café owned by Lou Lou Holman. When Lou Lou was killed (see The Calamity Café), her son sold the café to Amy. Amy has since renovated the café and is enjoying a booming business. She’s currently gearing up for the town-wide Independence Day celebration.

INTERVIEW WITH GAYLE LEESON'S AMY FLOWERS

Note: this post was supposed to run on April 7, but then strokes happened and I ended up in the hospital. I apologize to Gayle and Amy for the delay.

Amy, how did you first meet Gayle?
I met Gayle at lunch one day. She got to talking to me about her grandmother and how close they were. She said she used to stand at her grandmother’s side and watch her cook. I told her we had that in common, and I started telling her all about Nana. That’s the thing about writers—once you get to talking with them, you never know what will wind up in a story.
Want to dish about her?
Gayle tends to get distracted sometimes. I mean, I realize she’s a mom and a wife, and she has pets, and she’s trying to run a business and everything, but I’m over here demanding her attention and telling her about my life. I mean, that’s what she wants, right? Trust me—when I shut up, she gets nervous. So I tell her, “This is our time together. Put all those other thoughts out of your mind and concentrate on what we’re doing here.” And some days are better than others, you know? Some days, she puts those fingers to the keyboard, and we’re able to get a lot accomplished. But other days, she says, “Amy, I’m sitting here writing about all this delicious food you’re fixing, and I have no idea what I’m going to make for dinner.”

Why do you think that your life has ended up being in a book?
I think it’s because I came upon my former boss—Lou Lou Holman—slumped over her desk dead. And then I became determined to find out who’d killed her. I mean, for one thing, I was a suspect, and for another, I wanted to buy that café. Would you want to eat food prepared by someone suspected of murder? So, I guess I have a pretty interesting life . . . even though it doesn’t always feel that way to me.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
I really enjoyed going to the Independence Day dance. The dance takes place in a converted barn, and it’s just a fabulous old place. Anyway, Aunt Bess was there, all decked out in her Independence Day finest, and she told me she was waiting for her date.  Come to find out, she’d used my mom’s photo for her profile on an online dating site. That poor man was so confused!

What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?
I enjoy looking through cookbooks to find new recipes. I also love reading and watching movies.
Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?
I love my mom, Aunt Bess, and cousin Jackie. Jackie works with me at the café, and she’s like my right arm. Aunt Bess is a total hoot. She has discovered the Internet and likes to be on Pinterest. She has boards named People I’ve Outlived; Lord, Have Mercy; and Stuff I’d Like to Eat. The Stuff I’d Like to Eat board is filled with things Aunt Bess wants Jackie and me to cook for her. And we usually do.
That gorgeous deputy Ryan Hall is wonderful. He and I have been on a few dates since the murder case of Lou Lou Holman wrapped up. We couldn’t date before that because I was a suspect in her murder.
The only person in town I really have a problem with is George Lincoln. That man is as pushy as all get out. He wanted the café before I bought it. And now, even though I’ve put all this time, money, and work into it, he asks me just about every day to sell it to him so he can tear it down! He won’t take no for an answer.
If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?
I’d love to take that gorgeous deputy I was telling you about, along with a picnic lunch, and go to the lake. We could rent a paddle boat or a canoe, have a picnic, and then sit on our blanket and watch the sunset.



What impression do you make on people when they first meet you? How about after they've known you for a while?
I have to tell you, people must think I’m like a bartender except with food because they typically start to confide in me first thing. And it doesn’t stop when they’ve gotten to know me. I guess I just have one of those faces. Maybe I look trustworthy. I mean, I am trustworthy, but they don’t know that . . . at least, not at first, they don’t.



What's the worst thing that's happened in your life?
The absolute worst thing that ever happened in my life was the death of Nana. And about all I learned from that was that you never quite get over losing someone you love. The next worst thing was finding my former boss dead at her desk in the café office. That was terrible, but it taught me that I’m stronger than I realized.

Tell us about your best friend.
My best friend is my cousin Jackie. She’s just a little older than me, so it sometimes feels like we’re sisters instead of cousins. Aunt Bess is Jackie’s grandmother, and Jackie and I make Sunday lunch for Mom and Aunt Bess every week. Jackie is (finally) dating Roger. Roger has been our friend since we were kids, and there has been a special spark between the two of them for years. I finally talked him into asking her out. So far, so good. But if things go south, I’m afraid they’ll both blame me for it.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. She also writes as Amanda Lee. As Gayle Trent, she write the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. As Amanda Lee,  she writes the Embroidery Mystery series.
Gayle lives in Virginia with her family, which includes her own “Angus” who is not an Irish wolfhound but a Great Pyrenees who provides plenty of inspiration for the character of Mr. O’Ruff. She's having a blast writing this new series!

Connect with Gayle:
Website  |   Blog   |   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Goodreads 

Buy the book:
Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble

FEATURED AUTHOR: TERESA TRENT

ABOUT THE BOOK

Not everything stays buried. When Betsy, a notorious brown thumb gets roped into a gardening contest sponsored by the Pecan Bayou Gazette, she finds herself digging up more than weeds. She is ridiculed by the garden club ladies, and now her heart breaks for a newly single mom whose world has just collapsed.  The Happy Hinter is back so take some time to revisit the cozy little town of Pecan Bayou, Texas. Grab a glass of sweet tea before you turn the dirt in the garden and sit a spell with all your favorite characters who dole out heartfelt caring and compassion with a side of humor.  Till Dirt Do Us Part includes bonus recipes and helpful hints from Betsy’s column!




INTERVIEW WITH TERESA TRENT

Teresa, what books do you currently have published?
Till Dirt Do Us Part is the seventh book in my Pecan Bayou Series. I also have a brand-new series that takes place in Henry Park, Colorado. If you are just starting Pecan Bayou, I suggest you start at A Dash of Murder, although this book can stand alone. We’ve seen Betsy, the Happy Hinter go from being a single mom to a mother of three with a really her handsome meteorologist husband, Leo.

What would your main character say about you?
I think Betsy Livingston would probably get me together with her Aunt Maggie who is also the parent of a Down syndrome child. We’d laugh, we’d cry, and I’d enjoy some of Aunt Maggie’s excellent cooking.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
I have a third series that will be coming out in the future. This book has been edited by my agent and publisher, and I can tell you the entire book was emailed back to me several times with a list of changes. It was a frustrating process, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way.


Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?  
I love the Harris County Public Library in Houston, Texas. I am home with my son much of the time, but they have such a wonderful section on ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines that I visit their site every single day.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the second book in my Henry Park Series that features a psychic artist who sketches out clues to solving murders. 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Teresa Trent writes cozy mysteries that take place in small towns in Texas. She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee but with her father in the military, didn't stay for long. She's lived all over but has a special place in her heart for Colorado, Illinois, and of course, Texas. 

Being a fan of the Andy Griffith Show and Murder She Wrote, she loves creating quirky small towns and colorful characters. She decided to feature a character with Down syndrome in the Pecan Bayou series because after giving birth to her son with DS, she discovered there were very few people like him in the world of cozy mysteries. Teresa lives in Houston, Texas with her husband, two of her adult children and a needy dachshund mix named Martin Luther. 

Connect with Teresa:
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

Buy the book:
Amazon 

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FEATURED AUTHOR: PATTI LARSEN

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Poo Poo Kind of Morning

I tried not to look down the mouth of hell staring back at me from inside the glaringly pristine outer ceramic shell of the white throne, my throat catching, stomach doing half flips and a rather impressive rollover routine that would have gotten at least a 9.5 even from the Russian judges. Instead, I forced myself to smile and swallow and remind myself the elbow length yellow rubber gloves grasping the handle of the standard issue plunger were all that stood between me and Pooageddon.

Suck it up, Fee. Big girl panties and adulting and all that.

“At what point,” I waved the dripping plunger, wincing as droplets of yuck flew, “did I think owning a bed and breakfast was going to be glamorous and romantic?”

Fiona Fleming hasn’t lived in Reading, Vermont in over a decade, her escape from small town living leading her to New York City and a life of adventure. An adventure that has left her with no career, an ex who cheated on her and zero plans for the future. Her grandmother’s death grants her a new chance–inheriting Petunia’s, Iris Fleming’s bed and breakfast, seems like the ideal fresh start. But when Fee finds out ownership of the property Iris willed her might be in question, she’s drawn into the seedy underbelly of the cutest town in America after being singled out as the main suspect in a murder.

GUEST POST WITH PATTI LARSEN

I love writing long series. It’s just the way I’m wired. I find it hard to let go of characters I fall in step with, especially those that really tug at my heart. And Fiona is no exception. I knew from the moment she started chatting with me in her snarky, sarcastic way we’d be hanging out together for a fair stretch. She was my kind of girl. Sharp witted, a bit awkward, genuine and full of curiosity and that natural propensity for trouble that gave me endless story fodder. But I had no idea there were twelve books in her series until she laid it all out for me.

One book for each month of the year, over a three year period, her time. Okay then, Fee. If you say so.

Nice of her to be so accommodating. Because not all of my characters are, to be honest. I have one in particular who holds back most of what I need to know, only trickling out a book at a time. Fee, on the other hand? Not a secret between us. And just as well, too. Especially since she expected me to write them all very quickly and close together.

So, the secret thing? I should have known better. I was halfway through book two when she pointed out there was actually a thirteenth and oh, apologies, had she failed to mention that?

Grumble, mumble, bossy characters and building timelines.

Mind you, I’m not really complaining. How fun is it to spend all that time in a place you start to know as well as your own hometown, with people that make you laugh or get riled up or even set you off in tears? To brand out covers and swag and paperbacks all lined in a row, readers who beg for just one more adventure, when turning off the lights of that particular world seems unfair and too painful to consider?

So. Much. Fun.

We have lots of time before I have to say goodbye. And I have a feeling she’s going to fight me tooth and nail when the day comes we reach the end of #13 and it’s over.

Because by the end of book two, Fee whispered to me that thirteen might not be enough. I think I agree with her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Patti Larsen is an award-winning author with a passion for the voices in her head. Now with over 80 titles in happy publication, she lives on the East coast with her patient husband and multitude of pets.

Connect with Patti:
Webpage  |  Blog  |    Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon
 
 Buy the book:
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FEATURED AUTHOR: WILLIAM R. LEIBOWITZ

ABOUT THE BOOK

REVERED     REVILED      REMARKABLE

The victim of an unspeakable crime, an infant rises to become a new type of superhero.  Unlike any that have come before him, he is not a fanciful creation of animators, he is real. 

So begins the saga of Robert James Austin, the greatest genius in human history.  But where did his extraordinary intelligence come from?

As agents of corporate greed vie with rabid anti-Western radicals to destroy him, an obsessive government leader launches a bizarre covert mission to exploit his intellect.  Yet Austin’s greatest fear is not of this world.

Aided by two exceptional women, one of whom will become his unlikely lover, Austin struggles against abandonment and betrayal.  But the forces that oppose him are more powerful than even he can understand.

Miracle Man was named by Amazon as one of the Top 100 Novels of 2015, an Amazon Top 10 thriller, an Amazon bestseller and an Amazon NY Times bestseller. 

INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM R. LEIBOWITZ

William, what's your favorite thing about the writing process?
The opportunity to create characters that take on lives of their own in the minds of readers.

Do you write every day?
No, but when I’m not writing I’m often thinking about the plot and where it should go.

What do you think is hardest aspect of writing a book?
Keeping the reader wanting to turn the pages—to read “just one more chapter.”

Do you have any marketing tips you could pass on to indie authors?
I think virtual book tours are worthwhile.  I found out the hard way that Google Ad Words have a very low conversion rate from clicks to book purchases.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I think it is a good way to spread the word.

Would you make a good character in a book?
Probably too good.  That worries me.

What do you love about where you live?
I live in a small seaside town.  The beach is gorgeous.

I'm jealous. What’s your favorite fast food?
Pizza for sure.


What’s your favorite beverage?
After 8 pm –Bombay Gin.

Where is your favorite place to visit?
Gloucester, Massachusetts.


Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
Yes – the protagonist in my novel, Miracle Man, has all of my bad traits.  Fortunately for him, he has many good traits that I don’t have.

What would your main character say about you?
I think we would get along famously although he’s far more intelligent than I am.

Who is your favorite fictional character?
James Bond.


If you had a talk show who would your dream guest be?
Ian Fleming.


What’s one thing that very few people know about you?
I’m a terrific ping-pong player.


How do you like your pizza?
Pepperoni, thin crisp crust.


What are your favorite foods?
Grilled lamp chops; any kind of cheese; virtually anything that is fried; and Italian food generally.


What do others say about your driving?
There is unanimous agreement that I’m a terrible driver.


What are you working on now?
The sequel to Miracle Man. The saga of Dr. Robert James Austin continues.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Leibowitz has been practicing entertainment/media law in New York City for a number of years. He has represented numerous renowned creative people and many leading intellectual property companies. William has a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and a law degree from Columbia University. He lives in the village of Quogue, New York with his wife, Alexandria, and dog, George.

William wrote Miracle Man because of its humanistic and spiritual messages and because he feels that in our current times--when meritless celebrity has eclipsed accomplishment and the only heroes are those based on comic books, the world needs a real hero--and that, of course, is Robert James Austin, the protagonist in Miracle Man.

Connect with William:
Website  | 
 Facebook  |  
Twitter  |   Goodreads 

Buy the book:
Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble



William R. Leibowitz is giving away one autographed copy of Miracle Man, 5 e-copies and 4 pens!
Terms & Conditions:
•    By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
•    Ten winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive prizes.
•    This giveaway ends midnight May 31.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!

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CHARACTER GUEST POST BY ZARA KEANE

ABOUT THE BOOK

Movies. Muffins. Murder.

Maggie Doyle moved to Ireland to escape her cheating ex and crumbling career in the San Francisco PD. When the most hated woman on Whisper Island is poisoned at her aunt’s Movie Theater Café, Maggie and her rock-hard muffins are hurled into the investigation.

With the help of her UFO-enthusiast friend, a nun, and a feral puppy, Maggie is determined to clear her aunt’s name. Can she catch the murderer before they strike again? Or will her terrible baking skills burn down the café first?

Cozy, quirky, and fun, this tongue-in-cheek mystery is a delicious introduction to the Movie Club Mysteries Series. Grab a cocktail and join Maggie as she takes her detective skills across the pond in Dial P For Poison.

GUEST POST WITH MAGGIE DOYLE

MOVIES CAN BE DEADLY

When I was a kid, I spent many summer vacations on Whisper Island, the blink-and-you-miss-it Irish island where my dad grew up. Coming from a city as large as San Francisco, I loved the freedom that I had on the island. I could roam unsupervised with my friends and get up to all kinds of mischief. We swam in the sea, climbed rocks, and explored the medieval ruins that dotted the island.

One of my favorite places to explore was the old movie theater in Smuggler’s Cove, Whisper Island’s one and only town. Every time we drove past or walked by, Aunt Noreen would tell me she planned to buy the movie theater one day and renovate it. We’d peek in through the cracks in the boarded up windows and plan the décor. Before long, my aunt’s dream became mine, and I threw myself into Noreen’s fanciful plans for the place.

When I was older, my cousin, Julie, showed me a way to sneak inside the abandoned movie theater. We explored every inch of the building, unstable staircase and all, and found old film reels still in their metal boxes, as well as old movie posters. Noreen collected vintage movie magazines and Julie and I pored over their contents and experimented with styling our hair like Forties movie stars. By the time I turned eighteen, I’d watched every old movie I could get my hands on, including the silent classics. I was more knowledgeable about movies made long before I was born than I was about the modern pictures the kids at school raved about.

Although I hadn’t been back to Whisper Island for eleven years before I moved there a couple of months ago, I never lost my love of old movies. One of the wonderful aspects to moving to Whisper Island was discovering that Noreen had made good on her dream. She’s now the proud owner of the newly renovated Movie Theater Café. Every month, her movie club watches a classic movie in the small theater at the back of the café. I love the club, but our meetings don’t always go according to plan. But how could any of us have known that Sandra Walker, Whisper Island’s most vicious gossip, would be poisoned during a screening of Dial M For Murder? With the killing taking place in my aunt’s café, and the poison added to a cocktail that I’d made, I had to help solve the crime. It wasn’t like the bumbling Sergeant O’Shea was going to interrupt his golf plans to catch a killer! If you’d like to read more about my adventures, check out Dial P For Poison, Book 1 of the Murder Club Mysteries, out April 13. And for even more movies, mayhem, and murder, join me in the second book, The Postman Always Dies Twice, out April 20.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today bestselling author Zara Keane grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and spent her summers in a small town similar to the fictional Smuggler’s Cove, the setting of her new cozy mystery series.

She currently lives in Switzerland with her family. When she’s not writing or wrestling small people, she drinks far too much coffee, and tries – with occasional success – to resist the siren call of Swiss chocolate.



Connect with Zara:
Website  |  Facebook  |   Goodreads   |   Reader Group 

Buy the book:Amazon  | 

FEATURED AUTHOR: SHELLEY SHEPARD GRAY

ABOUT THE BOOK

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray begins a new series—The Amish of Hart County—with this suspenseful tale of a young Amish woman who is forced to move to a new town to escape a threatening stalker.

After a stalker went too far, Hannah Hilty and her family had no choice but to leave the bustling Amish community where she grew up. Now she’s getting a fresh start in Hart County, Kentucky . . .  if only she wasn’t too scared to take it. Hannah has become afraid to trust anyone—even Isaac, the friendly Amish man who lives next door. She wonders if she’ll ever return to the trusting, easy-going woman she once was.

For Isaac Troyer, the beautiful girl he teasingly called “The Recluse” confuses him like no other. When he learns of her past, he knows he’s misjudged her. However, he also understands the importance of being grateful for God’s gifts, and wonders if they will ever have anything in common. But as Hannah and Isaac slowly grow closer, they realize that there’s always more to someone than meets the eye.

Just as Hannah is finally settling into her new life, and perhaps finding a new love, more secrets are revealed and tragedy strikes. Now Hannah must decide if she should run again or dare to fight for the future she has found in Hart County.

TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH SHELLEY SHEPARD GRAY

1. Love or money?
I write romance. Love!

2. Plain or peanut? 
Plain.

3. Beef or chicken?  
I grew up in Texas, so beef. : )

4. Coffee or tea?
Coffee and lots of it.

5. Oxford comma: yes or no?
LOL. I’ve written 60 books and still am not sure what that is.
**Editor's note: I was thrilled to see a recent article in favor of the Oxford comma!

6. Hardback or Kindle?
Some authors I always buy their hardcovers, but I have two kindles. I love getting books in ten seconds.

7. Salty or sweet?
Sweet Especially if it involves cookies.

8. City or country?
City. As much as I love visiting my Amish friends in the country, I enjoy the excitement of being in the city. 

9. Dog or cat?
Dog. Specifically, dachshund.

10. Fame or fortune?
Fortune.

11. Laptop or desktop?
Desktop.

12. Health food or junk food? 
I’m *trying* to eat healthy but junk food in a pinch.

13. Mountains or beach?
 Beach.

14. Gourmet or diner?
Gourmet, though I’m not a picky eater, especially if I didn’t have to cook it or do the dishes.

15. Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.)
Unsweet. Always.

16. Humor or drama?
Drama.

17. Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
LOL. Dr. Seuss!

18. Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas.

19. Spring of fall?
Fall.

20. Morning or night?
Morning, I’m usually in bed by 10:00. So boring, I know.

EXCERPT FROM HER SECRET

CHAPTER 2

Someone was coming. After reeling in his line, Isaac Troyer set his pole on the bank next to Spot, his Australian shepherd, and turned in the direction of the noise.

He wasn’t worried about encountering a stranger as much as curious to know who would walk through the woods while managing to disturb every tree branch, twig, and bird in their midst. A silent tracker, this person was not.

Beside him, Spot, named for the spot of black fur ringing his eye, pricked his ears and tilted his head to one side as he, too, listened and watched for their guest to appear.

When they heard a muffled umph, followed by the crack of a branch, Isaac began to grow amused. Their visitor didn’t seem to be faring so well.

He wasn’t surprised. That path was rarely used and notoriously overrun with hollyhocks, poison oak, and ivy. For some reason, wild rosebushes also ran rampant there. Though walking on the old path made for a pretty journey, it also was a somewhat dangerous one, too. Those bushes had a lot of thorns. Most everyone he knew chose to walk on the road instead.

He was just wondering if, perhaps, he should brave the thorns and the possibility of rashes to offer his help—when a woman popped out.

The new girl. Hannah Hilty.

Obviously thinking she was completely alone, she stepped out of the shade of the bushes and lifted her face into the sun. She mumbled to herself as she pulled a black sweater off her light-blue short-sleeved dress. Then she turned her right arm this way and that, frowning at what looked like a sizable scrape on it.

He’d been introduced to her at church the first weekend her family had come. His first impression of her had been that she was a pretty thing, with dark-brown hair and hazel-colored eyes. She was fairly tall and willowy, too, and had been blessed with creamy-looking pale skin. But for all of that, she’d looked incredibly wary.

Thinking she was simply shy, he’d tried to be friendly, everyone in his family had. But instead of looking happy to meet him or his siblings, she’d merely stared at him the way a doe might stare at an oncoming car—with a bit of weariness and a great dose of fear.

He left her alone after that.

Every once in a while he’d see her. At church, or at the market with her mother. She always acted kind of odd. She was mostly silent, sometimes hardly even talking to her parents or siblings. Often, when he’d see her family in town shopping, she usually wasn’t with them. When she was, he’d see her following her parents. With them, yet separate. Silently watching her surroundings like she feared she was about to step off a cliff.

So, by his estimation, she was a strange girl. Weird.

And her actions just now? They seemed even odder. Feeling kind of sorry for her, he got to his feet. “Hey!” he called out.

Obviously startled, Hannah turned to him with a jerk, then froze.

Her unusual hazel eyes appeared dilated. She looked scared to death. Rethinking the step forward he’d been about to do, he stayed where he was. Maybe she wasn’t right in the mind? Maybe she was lost and needed help.

Feeling a little worried about her, he held up a hand. “Hey, Hannah. Are you okay?”

But instead of answering him, or even smiling back like a normal person would, she simply stared.
He tried again. “I’m Isaac Troyer.” When no look of recognition flickered in her eyes, he added, “I’m your neighbor. We met at church, soon after you moved in. Remember?”

She clenched her fists but otherwise seemed to be trying hard to regain some self-control. After another second, color bloomed in her cheeks. “I’m Hannah Hilty.”

“Yeah. I know.” Obviously, he’d known it. Hadn’t she heard him say her name? He smiled at her, hoping she’d see the humor in their conversation. It was awfully intense for two neighbors having to reacquaint themselves.

By his reckoning, anyway.

She still didn’t smile back. Actually, she didn’t do much of anything at all, besides gaze kind of blankly at him.

Belatedly, he started wondering if something had happened to her on her walk. “Hey, are you okay? Are you hurt or something?”

Her hand clenched into a fist. “Why do you ask?”

Everything he wanted to say sounded mean and rude. “You just, uh, seem out of breath.” And she was white as a sheet, looked like she’d just seen a monster, and could hardly speak.

Giving her an out, he said, “Are you lost?”

“Nee.”

He was starting to lose patience with her. All he’d wanted to do was sit on the bank with Spot and fish for an hour or two, not enter into some strange conversation with his neighbor girl.

“Okay, then. Well, I was just fishing, so I’m going to go back and do that.”

Just before he turned away, she took a deep breath. Then she spoke. “I’m sorry. I know I’m not making any sense.”

“You’re making sense.” Kind of. “But that said, you don’t got anything to be sorry for. It’s obvious you, too, were looking for a couple of minutes to be by yourself.”

“No, that ain’t it.” After taking another deep breath, she said, “Seeing you took me by surprise. That’s all.”

Isaac wasn’t enough of a jerk to not be aware that seeing a strange man, when you thought you were alone, might be scary to a timid girl like her.

“You took me by surprise, too. I never see anyone out here.”

Some of the muscles in her face and neck relaxed. After another second, she seemed to come to a decision and stepped closer to him. “Is that your dog?”

“Jah. His name is Spot, on account of the circle around his eye.”

“He looks to be a real fine hund.” She smiled.

And what a smile it was. Sweet, lighting up her eyes. Feeling a bit taken by surprise, too, he said, “He’s an Australian shepherd and real nice. Would you like to meet him?”

“Sure.” She smiled again, this time displaying pretty white teeth.

“Spot, come here, boy.”

With a stretch and a groan, Spot stood up, stretched again, then sauntered over. When he got to Isaac’s side, he paused. Isaac ran a hand along his back, then clicked his tongue, a sign for Spot to simply be a dog.

Spot walked right over and rubbed his nose along one of Hannah’s hands.

She giggled softly. “Hello, Spot. Aren’t you a handsome hund?” After she let Spot sniff her hand, she ran it along his soft fur. Spot, as could be expected, closed his eyes and enjoyed the attention.

“Look at that,” Hannah said. “He likes to be petted.”

“He’s friendly.”

“Do you go fishing here much?” she asked hesitantly.

“Not as much as I’d like to. I’m pretty busy. Usually, I’m helping my father on the farm or working in my uncle’s woodworking shop.” Because she seemed interested, he admitted, “I don’t get to sit around and just enjoy the day all that much.”

“And here I came and ruined your peace and quiet.”

“I didn’t say that. You’re fine.”

She didn’t look as if she believed him. Actually, she looked even more agitated. Taking a step backward, she said, “I should probably let you get back to your fishing, then.”

“I don’t care about that. I’d rather talk to you.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh?”

“Jah. I mean, we’re neighbors and all.” When she still looked doubtful, he said, “Besides, everyone is curious about you.”

“I don’t know why. I’m just an Amish girl.”

He thought she was anything but that. “Come on,” he chided. “You know what I’m talking about.”
Looking even more unsure, she shook her head.

“First off, I’ve hardly even seen you around town, only on Sundays when we have church. And even then you never stray from your parents’ side. That’s kind of odd.”

“I’m still getting used to being here in Kentucky,” she said quickly.

“What is there to get used to?” he joked. “We’re just a small community in the middle of cave country.”

To his surprise, she stepped back. “I guess getting used to my new home is taking me a while. But that doesn’t mean anything.”

Aware that he’d hurt her feelings, he realized that he should have really watched his tone. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just saying that the way you’ve been acting has everyone curious. That’s why people are calling you ‘The Recluse.’ ”

“ ‘The Recluse’?”

“Well, jah. I mean you truly are an Amish woman of mystery,” he said, hoping she’d tease him right back like his older sister would have done.

She did not.

Actually, she looked like she was about to cry, and it was his doing.

When was he ever going to learn to read people better? Actually, he should knock some sense into himself. He’d been a real jerk. “Sorry. I didn’t intend to sound so callous.”

“Well, you certainly did.”

“Ah, you are right. It was a bad joke.”

“I better go.”

Staring at her more closely, he noticed that those pretty hazel eyes of hers looked kind of shimmery, like a whole mess of tears was about to fall. Now he felt worse than bad.“Hey, are you going to be okay getting home? I could walk you back, if you’d like.”

“Danke, nee.”

Reaching out, he grasped Spot by his collar. “I don’t mind at all. It will give us a chance to—”

She cut him off. “I do not want or need your help.” She was staring at him like he was scary. Like he was the type of guy who would do her harm.

That bothered him.

“Look, I already apologized. You don’t need to look at me like I’m going to attack you or something. I’m just trying to be a good neighbor.”

She flinched before visibly collecting herself. “I understand. But like I said, I don’t want your help. I will be fine.”

When he noticed that Spot was also sensing her distress, he tried again even though he knew he should just let her go. “I was done fishing anyway. All I have to do is grab my pole. Then Spot and I could walk with you.”

“What else do I have to say for you to listen to me?” she fairly cried out. “Isaac, I do not want you to walk me anywhere.” She turned and darted away, sliding back into the brush. No doubt about to get covered in more scratches and poison ivy.

Well, she’d finally said his name, and it certainly did sound sweet on her lips.

Too bad she was now certain to avoid him for the rest of her life. He really hoped his mother was never going to hear about how awful he’d just been. She’d be so disappointed.

He was disappointed in himself, and was usually a lot more patient with people. He liked that about himself, too. And this girl? Well, she needed someone, too. But she seemed even afraid of her shadow.

***
Excerpt from Her Secret by Shelley Shepard Gray. Copyright © 2017 by Shelley Shepard Gray. Reproduced with permission from HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

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