Interview/Review of A Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower-Plus Giveaway

Welcome Amanda Flower to My Favorite Pastime:

1. A PLAIN SCANDAL is your second book in the Appleseed Creek Mystery series. How many books do you plan on for the series?

AMANDA: As of right now I am contracted for six novels and one novella. The six novels will be narrated by computer specialist Chloe Humphrey. The novella will be narrated by former Amish teen Becky Troyer. There is the potential for a spin-off series starring Becky, but it’s too early to tell yet.

6 novels? That is so exciting! I'm looking forward to them!

2. Having lived near an Amish community did you have much interaction with the Amish? If so how did that interaction influence your writing of the Appleseed Creek Mysteries?

AMANDA: While I lived in Amish country, I would see the Amish when I was grocery shopping or out in town. I had a great opportunity to observe the culture. At the time I lived there, I never dreamed I would write about the Amish. Since moving out of the area, I have gone back and interviewed both Amish and former Amish for my novels. Many of the Amish details I include in a novel are directly from someone who grew up Amish or is still part of that life.

3. Can you tell us about why you love to include a bit of humor in your novels?

AMANDA: I love to laugh, and I think everything in life could use a bit of humor even a murder mystery.

I agree!

4. As a writer of mysteries is that also the type of genre that you like to read?

AMANDA: Mysteries will always be my first love. They are what turned me into a life-long reader as a child. However, I read across genre. I’ve been reading a lot of Urban Fantasy and YA lately. 

Oh me too! I started reading Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew when I was a young girl and so mysteries have always been my favorite. I love a good YA story now too!

5. How long does it take you to research and write one of your novels?

I research and write my novels at the same time. The drafting period takes 2-3 months.

AMANDA: Thanks so much for the interview!

Thank you Amanda!!

About Amanda Flower: 

Amanda Flower is the author of the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series, which are set in Ohio’s Amish Country. Her newest novel is A Plain Scandal and fictionalizes the 2011 true crime Amish haircutting scandal. She also writes mysteries as Isabella Alan for NAL/Penguin and children’s mysteries under her own name for Zondervan/HarperCollins. Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland.

 

Where to contact Amanda:

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MY REVIEW OF A PLAIN SCANDAL: 

The Amish of Appleseed Creek are being terrorized. Girls' heavy braids have been cut off and beards of some men have been cut off. When the attacks turn into murder Chloe Humphrey takes it upon herself to investigate since she is close to some of the Amish.

This is not the first time that Chloe has been involved with the police. New to the partly Amish community Chloe has already helped the police solve one mystery. Now that the culprits are out of jail could they possibly be the ones terrorizing the community of Amish in order to get even? 

It is not easy to investigate a crime among the Amish. Chloe’s friends Timothy and Becky are former members of the Amish community. They still have family in the community but are at risk of causing the family to be shunned if they continue their friendship with Chloe. With a new Bishop to the community, seemingly being guided by an overzealous Deacon, rules in the community have become stricter. Chloe must be careful not to bring more judgment onto this family that she has come to love.

A PLAIN SCANDAL is the second book in the Appleseed Creek Mystery series. I have to admit that I haven’t read the first book in the series A PLAIN DEATH, but once I started reading A PLAIN SCANDAL I had to go and order the first book. I thought the mystery in A PLAIN SCANDAL was intriguing and well written. It caught and held my attention throughout the novel. I also liked the romance happening between Chloe and Timothy and hope to see that develop more in the next installment of the series A PLAIN DISAPPEARANCE set to come out in September 2013. 

GIVEAWAY!!!

Amanda is offering a giveaway of her book A Plain Scandal to one winner! Leave a comment to be entered into the drawing. I will choose a winner via Random.org on Monday evening March 18th. Be sure to leave your e-mail address to contact you.