Friday, May 27, 2016

"Plain Protector" by Alison Stone




A Word from Alison...

Thank you, Leslie, for inviting me to visit your blog. I never imagined I’d be writing Amish fiction when I first started writing. I had been targeting Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line for a couple of years and had come “this close” to selling two different books that were ultimately turned down by the senior editor. Determined to sell to Harlequin, I attended a panel at a conference where the editors discussed their wish list. I heard the senior editor say she’d love to see more Amish suspense. Intrigued, I started to run through ideas and had a plot formulating before I even hopped on the plane home. Once home, I researched the Amish by reading textbooks and memoirs. I went to visit a local Amish community, and I started writing the book. Less than a year later, I sold this story which was published under the title, Plain Pursuit. Since then, I’ve sold eight more books to Harlequin, six of which are Amish.

I have a lot of fun writing Amish because I enjoy the challenge. Not only do I have to come up with a plot appropriate for the Love Inspired Suspense line, but I also have to create a realistic story set in an Amish community.  One way I have expanded the number of stories set in the same community, a fictional town called Apple Creek, is by creating a hero and heroine who are not Amish, but live and work among the Amish. In Plain Protector, Sarah moves to Apple Creek to escape her abusive ex-boyfriend. When it seems that he has found her, she must rely on the deputy sheriff to protect her. The perfect start of a romance, right? Well, perfect for romantic suspense.

My next Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, Plain Cover-Up, is due out in August 2016. I have another due out sometime next year. I'm currently writing it!

Over the winter, I had the chance to write something completely different. Both my daughters dance competitively, and I had a story idea bouncing around in my head for years. I was thrilled to sell Pointe and Shoot, a dance mystery with romantic elements, to Waterfall Press, Amazon Publishing's Christian imprint. I like to call it my Dance Moms meets Blue Bloods story. I hope you also check that out when it's released on October 4, 2016. It's already up for pre-order at: amzn.to/23KxVLa


You can read my review at the following link…
(I rated it 4.5 - TOP PICK/5 stars.)

Amazon link for purchase…

About Alison...



Alison Stone left Buffalo, New York and headed 1000 miles south to earn an industrial engineering degree at Georgia Tech in Hotlanta. Go Yellow Jackets! She loved the South, but you love brought her back North.

After the birth of her second child, Alison left Corporate America for full-time motherhood. She credits an advertisement for writing children's books for sparking her interest in writing. She never did complete a children's book, but she did have success writing articles for local publications before finding her true calling, writing romantic suspense.

Alison lives in Western New York, with her husband of twenty-plus years and their four children, where the summers are actually gorgeous and the winters are perfect for curling up with a good book — or writing one.

Besides writing, Alison keeps busy volunteering at her children's schools, driving her girls to dance, and watching her boys race motocross.

Where you can find her online…

Twitter:     https://twitter.com/Alison_Stone (@Alison_Stone)

You can sign up for her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/berYBH


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41 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great story! I love to hear about what inspires authors to create what they do.

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    1. It really is! I agree. It's fun learning how stories came to be written ;) You just never know when/how inspiration may strike.

      Thanks for stopping by, and good luck!

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    2. As an author, I also enjoy hearing about what inspires authors. Thanks for stopping by.

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  2. I have read quite a few Amish stories. I love them.

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    1. Jan,

      They're some of my favorites to read :)

      Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

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    2. I love that Amish stories are so popular. :)

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  3. Yes, I've read several books with Amish themes. It all started when I read The Shunning by Beverly Lewis...
    Thanks for this giveaway!
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Connie,

      That's the same book that got me hooked on Amish themed novels, too :)

      Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

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    2. I enjoyed The Shunning, too.

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  4. I have just a fascination with the Amish. I don't know why. Maybe because their lives are so different than my own. I love a good suspense with romance so this book sounds like a great read for me. Thanks!

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    1. I agree, Dana. I enjoy the strong faith themes and the simplicity, which is in stark contrast to the usual chaos associated with the Englisch world. Romantic suspense books are some of my faves.

      Thanks for stopping by, and good luck!

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    2. Thanks for stopping by, Dana. I think I'm fascinated with the Amish for the same reason. They really do live different lives than we do.

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  5. I love to read and to meet new authors... or new to me :) This sounds like a GREAT book

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad I could introduce you to a new author. Good luck!

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    2. I love to find new readers! :)

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  6. I enjoy reading Amish themed books, and also visiting the Amish areas here in Ohio.

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    1. Sandra,

      Thanks for stopping by. We just recently visited the Amish areas in Ohio :) Good luck!

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    2. I haven't yet been to the Amish areas in Ohio. When I started doing research, I was surprised at the growing Amish communities right in my backyard in Western New York. Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. I have read several Amish themed books and love them.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Mary.

      Good luck!

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    2. Yay! I love to hear that readers are still very much interested in Amish themed books. Thanks for stopping by.

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  8. I really enjoy amish stories. This one sounds fascinating!

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    1. It is definitely a fascinating and thrilling read, Marsha.

      Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

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    2. Thanks, Marsha. Thanks for stopping by.

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  9. Yes I enjoy reading Amish novels. They are my favorite genre to read
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. I agree, Maryann. They are one of my favorite genres, too.

      Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

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    2. Thanks for stopping by, Maryann.

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  10. Amish novels are some of my favorite! And mix it with suspense or mystery, even better!

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    1. It sounds like this is be a book you will truly enjoy, Gail. Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

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    2. I'm thrilled that so many readers enjoy Amish suspense. Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. Looks like a great book and I will have to read it!

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    1. It is quite good! Good luck! Thanks for stopping by my blog, Jaye.

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  12. I have read many Amish themed books. They are some of my favorites now.
    Thereadmaster@me.com

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    1. They are some of my favorites, too, Virginia...particularly with the suspense element!

      Good luck, and thanks for stopping by my blog.

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    2. Thanks for stopping by, Virginia. Glad to hear you enjoy Amish stories.

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