Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness. ~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
I love it when I can share some good news about one of my books with you. You may remember that I told you These Healing Hills was a finalist for the Faith, Hope and Love Women’s Fiction Book. Well, These Healing Hills won!! That’s so exciting for me. I do love this book set in the Appalachian Mountains with all the Frontier Nursing history. So it makes me happy when the book gets noticed and read by others who appreciate my mountain story too.
I really enjoyed researching about the Frontier Nurses who were remarkable women with servant hearts. I also liked getting to know my mountain characters and learning some of the mountain expressions to sprinkle into the dialogue. One of them was how if a person needed to get up and going early in the morning, they needed to get a “soon start.” And Granny Em, my mountain granny character, was always sharing some mountain wisdom.
I’m heading back to the mountains for my next story. It won’t be the next published story. That will be The Refuge, a Harmony Hill Shaker story that I hope you will like. The Refuge will be my 2019 story, but meanwhile I need to be researching and writing a story for 2020. It’s sometimes hard to realize, if you’re not in the publishing business, how long it takes for a story to go from that initial idea by the writer to a book in the hands of a reader. Of course, some writers are faster at getting the words down and out there than I am. It generally takes me six months to a year to write a book. Then the publishers need around a year, sometimes more, to get the book edited and ready for market. That means while you may have been reading River to Redemption, my latest release, I was finishing up The Refuge, my next release. And now I need to dive into a new story. Right after I try to dream up some new ideas for a potential 2021 story. Thinking about that can make a person a little dizzy.
But tonight I can just celebrate These Healing Hills winning a neat award. And today I got a beautiful wooden box with the details of the award engraved on the lid along with a certificate in the mail. I wasn’t expecting such a lovely prize, so that was a wonderful surprise to find in my mailbox.
Good reviews are always a great award too. I appreciate all of you who read my books and then write reviews to post on internet sites like Amazon and Goodreads. Reviews are showing up for River to Redemption now, but there isn’t a time limit on doing reviews. Just the other day somebody posted a new review for Angel Sister, a book that’s been out for readers for several years. The e-book sale for Angel Sister is over, at least for now. But Murder at the Courthouse and Murder Is No Accident are still available for low e-book prices, and even the paperback prices are low on some of my books. You can check out all my books on my Book Tab here on my website or my author page on Amazon.
As always, thanks for reading. You guys are the best!
Comments 37
After reading Small Town Girl, a book I discovered at our local public library last summer, I had that bittersweet feeling that I get after reading a book so engaging and beautifully written. How difficult it can be to say goodbye to these characters that I fell in love with, but then I was so pleased to discover that I just read the middle book in a series of three! I went on Amazon to find and buy not just Angel Sister and Love Comes Home, but also Small Town Girl. I knew I’d want to own all three to read and re-read and share with my Moma and introduce her to these lovely and interesting characters.
Now this summer’s reading romance comes from These Healing Hills! I knew want I was looking for – Ann Gabhart. I just finished this book and my heart is still so overwhelmed with all the experiences throughout those 345 pages-each page so sweetly written. I do not believe I’ve ever read a book so fast, yet at the same time I didn’t want it to end. I wanted the story to continue, to know more about what life was like for Francine and Ben and would they remain in those hills or return there if they did leave. It is so wonderful to get to know the characters and feel a real life connection to them. I learn from them, relate to their struggles, and can be encouraged by their strength and devotion and faith in God. I’m sorry for such a lengthy and wordy comment, but all of that to say thank you for a wonderful journey into the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky! : )
Author
Thank you, Elizabeth for your thoughtful comment. I’m so glad you visited Rosey Corner and wanted to go back for more of the Merritt sisters’ story. I hope you enjoyed going back in time with Angel Sister and finding out some of the rest of the story in Love Comes Home. I really enjoyed writing about Rosey Corner.
I’m glad too that you took off for the mountains with my character, Francine. I had a great time researching the Frontier Nursing Service and then writing about a nurse midwife. It makes me smile when a reader like you says you’re glad you dived into my story. My next book, coming out next summer, will be a return to the mountains, but not a sequel to These Healing HIlls.
You might like River to Redemption or The Refuge if you haven’t given those a try. Thanks again for your kind words.
Congratulations on this award…this is the book that led me to find you as an author…since I recently ‘found’ you…I like that you still have a few books out there that I haven’t read just yet…so that makes waiting for a new book easier. :o)
Author
You have to be ready to try different types of stories to read all my books, Connie, but I appreciate you giving them a try. Glad These Healing Hills helped you “find” me. Fun to have you as a reading friend.
You deserve many accolades! I am very much a fan of yours and your work. Keep us excited with more books to come. Sending love…
I have exciting news. I have a book also and will be at the “best place” to be in Nov. I hope to see you there.
Author
That is exciting, Sandi. Congratulations and I’ll look forward to seeing you there. What’s the title of your book?
An honor well deserved. I really enjoyed the story. I too am from the mountains and I loved the mountain talk you used in the story. The first books of yours that I read were shaker stories. It has been a while now and I am looking forward to reading The Refuge.
Author
So glad you enjoyed These Healing Hills, Barbara, and that the mountain speak sounded true to you. It’s been a while since I’ve had a Shaker book out. So we’ll see how readers respond to a new one when The Refuge comes out next year.
Congratulations, Ann. I’ve got this on my wish list. Hugs
Author
Hope your wishes come true, Lucy. 🙂
Congratulations Ann, I look forward to reading this book…such good reviews!
Author
Thanks, Phyllis. These Healing Hills did garner some nice reviews, but the best reviews come from readers like you. So I hope you will like the story when you get a chance to read the book.
Congratulations, Ann Gabhart! It is, indeed, an awesome book.
Will you be going back to the mountains of Frontier Nursing or a different setting?
I loved These Healing Hills so much; if you recall, a beloved missionary from my church served with Frontier as a physician training the midwives in the 1970’s, which is long after the setting of your book. I was so spurred by your book, I did some research of my own, learning more about Frontier; midwifery, and my missionary friend.
Looking forward to next year’s read! 💕
Author
I do hope to head back to the hills for my next story, Laura. I haven’t written those important words “Chapter 1” yet but I will soon. Right now I’m trying to catch up on a dozen chores and writing tasks right now. Figure out some new ideas and such. My new story won’t be a sequel to These Healing Hills but the historical background will still be the Nurse Midwives of the Frontier Nursing Service.
I’m glad my story inspired you to do some research on your own. It was interesting to think about a missionary in your church training the midwives. The school is still training midwives and physician assistants to fill in some of the gaps in healthcare.
Congratulations, Ann! I love all of your books, and excited to read the next ones!
Author
You are so nice, Karen. I can count on you to read my posts and be an encouragement. I appreciate your comments each and every time.
That is wonderful! Great book. You deserve it!! Lonnie and I are so happy for you!
Author
Roberta, thank you and tell Lonnie thanks too. I appreciate the review you wrote for River to Redemption. I am so excited about your voice coming back. And in such a wondrous way. I hope you stay away from the negative energy. Maybe that means you should write at least one happy story. 🙂 No, I guess not. Your fans would be disappointed.
Congratulations Ann! It was well deserved!
Author
You’re so kind, Lisa. Always fun to hear from you and remember our talk at McDonalds a few years ago.
Congratulations Ann!!! I’m so happy for you.!
Author
Oh, Evelyn, I appreciate that so much. It’s always fun to hear from you and know we share some Harry Wise Rd/Gilbert Creek roots.
CONGRATULATIONS ANN!!! I love all of your books but this one was so interesting because I have only lived in Kentucky for 6 years and I really loved reading it. Thanks for all of your love and caring that comes out in your book.
God bless!!!!
Author
You’re practically a newcomer to Kentucky, Fran, but I hope you are glad to be in Kentucky now. I’m happy you liked my mountain story that does highlight Kentucky.
Thank you for your kind words. Maybe our paths will cross again someday.
A well deserved CONGRATULATIONS !
🎉👏🏻🎉
Author
You’re so kind, Marji. Thanks.
How exciting for you! You deserve this, Ann! You have a special God-given talent for bringing your characters to life. I’m looking forward to reading your next book…wow, another visit to the mountains!
Have a wonderful day.
Author
Thanks, Lavon. I do try to bring my characters to life for me and for those who read my books. I read a writer once who said she wanted her characters to crawl up into a reader’s heart and find a home there. I don’t remember which writer that was, but that’s what I want too.
Congratulations Ann ! I absolutely loved this book ; it was the first of yours that I read; introducing me to you and your captivating and inspiring stories!! My family is from the hills of KY and your account of mountain ways took me back to our home place and the “old timers ” of the area.
Author
I hope it wasn’t the last, Nancy. So glad to have you as a reading friend. I’m glad my story took you “home” to the hills.
Congratulations on your award. It shows how skilled you are as a writer. Stand Proud!
I love stories about the Appalachian Mountains. The families are bonded together through good times & bad times. I look forward to reading your books.
Author
Thank you so much, Betty. I appreciate your congratulations and hope if you read my mountain story you’ll enjoy the families I wrote about. To be sure, a true family sticks together come what may.
Oh Ann, I am so thrilled for you! Congratulations!!!!
Author
Thank you so much, Melanie. I so appreciate your good words. Hope you’ve settled back in down in Texas. Still hot down there?
Congratulations!!! I really enjoyed this book. I’m a retired nurse and the frontier nurses fascinated me. My husband is from Fieldale,Va. and the mountain ways are always good reading. Praying God will give you ideas and words to continue writing these great books!
Author
What a very special prayer for a writer, Darlene. Thank you so much.
I’m glad you enjoyed my Frontier Nursing story, especially since you are a retired nurse who has been in the nursing trenches. Sounds as though you know a little about the mountains too.
I do hope the Lord will give me some good ideas and more words for more stories.