About the Book

Book: Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise

Author: Anne Blackburne

Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction

Release Date: December, 2023

Ruth Defies Authority to Hold on to her Family Farm
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.

Ruth Helmuth has never been rude in her life; trust her to choose the bishop of her Amish community for her first time!

Ruth has worked hard to keep body and soul together since her husband, Levi’s, death. She tends her herd of goats, making her living from the milk and fiber she gets from them, all while running a farm and household by herself—and very competently, thank you! How could she imagine the bishop suggesting she should give it all up to another family, who will “make better use of the space”?

Enter widower Jonas Hershberger, owner of a pair of adorable dimples and father of a charming 4-year-old daughter. Jonas is in need of a larger place to house his growing business. Ruth’s big red barn may be just the ticket. Little Abigail is in need of a new mother. Ruth might be just the ticket there, too!

Can two independent souls learn to work together for their mutual good? And will they be willing to explore what grows between them?  Or will Ruth’s fear over her “big secret” and Jonas’s caution about allowing someone new to get close to his young daughter, kill their love before it has a chance to grow?

Luckily for both of them, God’s plan involves the stubborn pair getting a little help in the form of a wise, elderly friend; a quirky orange kitten; and a smart little girl who takes one look at Ruth and decides she would make her the perfect new mother!

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Anne Blackburne lives and works in Southeast Ohio as a newspaper editor and writer. She is the mother of five grown children, has one wonderful grandchild, and a spoiled poodle named Millie. For fun, when she isn’t working on Amish romance or sweet mysteries, Anne directs and acts in community theater productions and writes and directs original plays. She also enjoys reading, kayaking, swimming, searching for beach glass, and just sitting with a cup of coffee looking at large bodies of water. Her idea of the perfect vacation is cruising and seeing amazing new places with people she loves.

More from Anne

I’m so excited that my debut novel, Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise, will release soon from Barbour Publishing! This is the realization of a long-held dream; 30 years long!

About 30 years ago I wrote my first book, a middle reader about a group of tweens who wanted to start a pet sitting business. I found an agent who worked hard to sell my series. Unfortunately, someone else came up with the same basic idea and beat me to the bookshelves!

Of course, I was crushed – I’d been so close!

I wondered if it was a sign that I wasn’t meant to become a published author. Maybe I just wasn’t good enough?

Being the tenacious sort, I rejected that idea and buckled down. I looked at each subsequent rejection as proof that I’d been hard at work practicing my craft, and would inevitably, eventually, succeed.

I read somewhere that it takes 10,000 hours of toiling away at the computer before a new author sells a book. That would be about right!

Of course, it isn’t the same for everyone. Some authors are lucky – or just that good – and hit a home run their first at bat. Others simply can’t seem to break in.

For me, the big break came nearly two years ago. I’d been working and polishing my Amish romance for a couple years. I also had a couple of other projects in the works, but I didn’t want to give up on Ruth and Jonas’ story. I queried many agents, being very careful to follow their individual guidelines. And finally – finally! – I got that phone call new authors dream about, offering representation. I’m proud to be represented by the wonderful Tamela Hancock Murray from the Steve Laube Agency. And Tamela quickly sold my story to Barbour Publishing, Inc.

What a blessing! All those years of work and hope and yes, faith, had finally paid off. I was going to be a published author. I still have to pinch myself from time to time.

And here I am. I hope you love Ruth and Jonas – and of course, Ginger Snap! – as much as I do. I have another book from their make-believe town of Willow Creek coming out next summer, also from Barbour. Both books are part of a new series called “Heart of the Amish”, and feature three authors. The other two, Mindy Steele and Lisa Jones Baker, are both seasoned veterans with a number of Amish and other Christian books under their belts. It’s such an honor to be included with them in this project!

Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise is available now for pre-order on Amazon. And my second book, tentatively titled Mary’s Calico Hope, will be available late this winter.

Be sure to look for Mindy Steele’s wonderful book, The Flower Quilter, which kicks off the series. It is also available on Amazon. I read an early release and boy, was I impressed. I can’t wait to read Lisa Jones Baker’s story!

Interview with Anne

Share something your readers wouldn’t know about you.

I’m a big nerd. I love hunting for beach glass, or interesting rocks and fossils. I’ve played Pokemon Go since it came out in 2016, even though my kids quit years ago. I write an original Sherlock Holmes mystery play every other year, and direct it as a tourism weekend in my home town. I’ve had both hips replaced; I’m bionic!

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Tenacious. Persistent. Stubborn.

What book is currently on your bedside table?

I have a number of books waiting on my Kindle. Right now I’m reading Amanda Flower’s Amish mystery, “Matchmaking can be Murder”, which is really fun. I recently finished Jennifer Beckstrand’s “Home on Huckleberry Hill”, which I loved! Next, I’m going to read Patricia John’s “A Boy’s Amish Christmas”, which is part of her Butternut Squash B&B Series. I love Kelly Miller’s stories, based on the books by Jane Austen. They’re wonderful! And I love Jane Austen; I always have one of her books on standby.

What has been your favorite part of the publishing journey? 

Oh, my goodness, this is all so new and exciting! Each new thing that happens is a thrill. They offered me representation – a thrill! I signed my first contract – a thrill! They sold the large print rights – a thrill! I got a really good review from Publishers  Weekly – a thrill! And the people I’ve met are all wonderful. Yes, I think the people I’m meeting on this journey are my favorite part. I’m a people person, and I love meeting the other authors, the readers, the folks at book stores, and libraries, and my agent, and all the amazing people at Barbour Publishing. You can’t exist in a vacuum!

Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?

My protagonist, Ruth, nearly dies in a blizzard! She is saved by a rope tied to her house, leading to the barn, the chicken coop and back to the house by Jonas. But she loses hold on the rope, and only by the grace of God does she find her way back.

Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?

I think Lydia Coblentz may be my favorite character. I’ve always enjoyed spending time with elderly people, especially women. My own parents and grandparents are gone, so I tend to “adopt” elderly women into my life. I plan for Lydia to appear in all my Willow Creek books, and she has exciting things ahead of her! She is the one who gives Ruth, and a number of other young Amish women, a kitten from her cat Hepzibah’s last litter. She is something of a surrogate grandmother to all of my characters. I think you’ll love her.

What were the highlight or key challenges you faced when writing this book?

Remember those three words I used to describe myself? Well, my writing journey spans nearly 30 years! I’ve written a number of books, and this is the first I sold. It’s such fun writing a book; I laugh and cry, by turns. And if I hadn’t refused to take no for an answer, I wouldn’t be here answering these questions today.

What is the key theme and/or message in the book?

Don’t give up on your dreams. Anything can happen if you let it!

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

I have a Facebook page, Anne Blackburne, and a website, AnneBlackburne.com. I’m just learning how to manage these things, and I try to post regularly. Please be patient!

Any current or upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?

Now that you ask . . . lol. Yes! My second book in The Heart of the Amish series will release in June. It’s about Mary Yoder (whom you’ll meet in Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise!). Mary is 29 years old, and was seriously injured in an accident as a child. She doesn’t let that stop her, though! She does feel that she probably won’t marry, and has made peace with that. Enter Dr. Reuben King, a Mennonite physician, and all that changes. They fall for each other; but how can they have a life, unless she gives up her community, or he gives up his career? You’ll have to wait and see! 

I’m also working on a “Lucy’s Christmas Sunbeam”, a novella set in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, about a young woman raising her little sister, who was born on Christmas day. This comes out at Christmas, 2024.

Blog Stops

Vicky Sluiter, December 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 10

Mary Hake, December 10

Texas Book-aholic, December 11

The Avid Reader, December 12

lakesidelivingsite, December 12

Girls in White Dresses, December 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 13

Lighthouse Academy Blog, December 14 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 15

Hannahbandanarama, December 15

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 16

She Lives To Read, December 17

Cover Lover Book Review, December 18

Splashes of Joy, December 18

For Him and My Family, December 19

Holly’s Book Corner, December 19

JESUS in the EVERYDAY, December 20

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 20

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, December 21 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, December 21

Little Homeschool on the prairie, December 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Anne is giving away the grand prize package of a print copy of the book and a $25 Amazon eGift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2924b/ruth-s-ginger-snap-surprise-celebration-tour-giveaway