Mary Ellis grew up close to the eastern Ohio Amish community of Geauga County, where her parents often took her to farmer’s markets and woodworking fairs. She loved their peaceful, agrarian lifestyle, their respect for the land, and their strong sense of Christian community.
She met her husband in college and they married six days after graduation. She, her husband, dog and cat now live in Medina County, close to the largest population of Amish in the country—a four-county area in central Ohio. They often take weekend trips to purchase produce, research for her best-selling books, and enjoy a simpler way of life.
Mary enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, bicycling and swimming. Before retiring to write full-time, Mary taught Middle School in Sheffield Lake, Ohio and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate for twenty years a job with amazingly sweet fringe benefits.
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Savanna:Â Welcome to The Engrafted Word, Mary! Congratulations on your recent release, The Lady and the Officer. I can’t wait to read it!
What’s been one of your favorite things about writing this series set during the Civil War?
Mary: My current book is set in Richmond, Virginia, with opening chapters set in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. I absolutely love taking research trips, especially to beautiful places such as these. My February release takes place in Wilmington, North Carolina, one of my favorite cities in the country. So much to see and do–all in the name of an accurate story.
Savanna: Speaking of Gettysburg, what is one of your favorite things to see there and why?
Mary: Since I’m fascinated with Civil War history, I love to go the National Park Service Battlefield. They have licensed guides who will drive your car for you, in addition to guided walking and horseback tours. They narrate the 3-day progression of the battle, while you sit back and watch the scenery. I love to stay at the Farnsworth House Inn. It was used during the filming of the movie Gettysburg, and it was actually a hospital during the battle.
Savanna:Â On your website you mention living close to the largest population of Amish in the country. What do you enjoy most when you visit their community?
Mary:Â I enjoy staying at my favorite bed and breakfast, eating food prepared by Amish and Mennonite hands, and visiting old friends who were instrumental while researching a dozen Amish romances. One of my research contacts concocts the recipes that appear in the back of my books, including A Plain Man.
Savanna:Â Describe your favorite place to write. What’s your ideal setting for inspiration?
Mary: My favorite place to write is my screened gazebo on my deck. I’m usually joined by my cat and dog for company. However, my ideal setting for inspiration is at the beach. I was lucky enough to write an entire novella, Always in my Heart, while vacationing for a month at the beach.
Savanna: That sounds like a perfect setting to me! 😉
What would you say is the easiest part about being a writer and what is the hardest part?
Mary:Â The easiest part is coming up with ideas for stories. They pop into my head on a regular basis! The hardest part is time management. So many writing related tasks compete with actually writing the story.
Savanna: I hear ya! 😉 There really is an art to balancing it all. Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Mary! Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
Mary: I am putting the finishing touches on a stand-alone romance, also set during the Civil War, called The Last Heiress. This is a book set in Wilmington, North Carolina about blockade-running and the English cotton mills. The Last Heiress will release in February, 2015.
Savanna: Sounds good! I’ll be waiting for it! 😉
Readers, be sure to visit Mary’s website and connect with her on Facebook too.
GIVEAWAY!!
Mary has graciously offered one copy of A PLAIN MAN to one lucky winner!
–Leave your name and email in the comments below. (You MUST include your email to be qualified)
GET EXTRA ENTRIES:
(Be sure to tell me in the comments below)
-Subscribe to The Engrafted Word
-Like The Engrafted Word on Facebook
-Share this Giveaway on Social Media
Thanks for entering! Contest is open only in the U.S. and ends August 26, 2014.
Winner will be notified by email.
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Great interview I really enjoy reading Historical fiction & Amish stories 🙂
d_stevens310 (at) live.com
Hi Deanna! Hope you get to add this story to your book list soon. 😉 You’ll receive 3 entries in the drawing.
I have -Subscribed to The Engrafted Word 🙂
d_stevens (at) live.com
I Like The Engrafted Word on Facebook 😉
d_stevens (at) live.com
Thanks for the book give a way!
THanks for the interview and giveaway!
I like you of Facebook
Thanks for joining us, Kathryn! You’ll receive 3 entries in the giveaway. Good luck and happy reading!
1. I have pinned it
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/258534834834496160/
2. I have tweeted @cps1950
3. I have liked on FB (Connie Porter Saunders)
4. I have subscribed to your newsletter.
Thanks for a great giveaway and I am happy to find your blog. Thank you Mary Ellis for donating a copy!
Connie Saunders
cps1950@gmail.com
Thanks a lot, Connie! We’re glad you stopped in. You’ll receive 4 entries in the drawing. Good luck to you!
I enjoyed reading your post. I would love to go to Gettysburg one day as I am a history buff myself. Thank you for the chance to win. griperang at embarqmail dot com
Aww, you’d love Gettysburg, Angela. I hope you make it there someday! It’s unforgettable. Good luck in the giveaway. Thanks for stopping in!
Gettysburg is the one battlefield I most want to visit. I LOVE that time period, so reading this book is definitely on my to do list!
I subscribe and like on facebook.
I am Subscribe to The Engrafted Word,
Liked The Engrafted Word on Facebook
Shared this Giveaway on facebook.
I am looking forward to reading A PLAIN MAN.Great interview.
We’re glad you enjoyed the interview, Emma. And good luck in the giveaway. You’ll receive 4 entries. 😉
Thanks for this lovely giveaway. I subscribe to the EnGrafted Word. A wonderful interview.
Thanks for reading, Anne. You’ll receive an extra entry as well. Have a great day!
I’m from Ohio too, I love the beautiful rolling hills and the four seasons, thanks for sharing your love or writing with us and the chance to win your novel
Hi Jennifer! Thanks for visiting and sharing!I’ve only driven through Ohio once, but it is beautiful! I remember the green rolling hills very well. 😉 You’ll receive 4 entries too.
I -Subscribe to The Engrafted Word
-Like The Engrafted Word on Facebook and shared
What a sweet interview. I would love to have a screened in gazebo to sit on and read or write! One day, I hope! 🙂 Thank you for a chance to win “A Plain Man”.
Blessings!
Kelly Y.
kelly [at] dkcountryarts [dot] com
Me too, Kelly! Doesn’t that sound like the perfect setting? 😉 Thanks for joining us and good luck in the giveaway. You’ll receive 4 entries too.
I subscribe to The Engrafted Word.
I like The Engrafted Word on facebook.
I pinned the giveaway and also shared it on facebook.
Blessings! 🙂
I liked Engrafted Word on FB and I am a subscriber 🙂
sierrafaith327(at)gmail(dot)com
It’s nice to see you again, Sierra! You’ll receive 3 entries in this giveaway. Hope you get to read this story soon!
I haven’t read this one yet, so it would be great to win it, thanks.
Hope you get to read it soon, Jean! Good luck in the giveaway. 😉
Thank you. I love your books. Nancy urbangel@yahoo.com.
Thanks for stopping in, Nancy! Happy Reading!
I ‘liked’ & ‘shared’ couldn’t figure out where to subscribe. Thank you for sharing the interview
Anne
Anne@rightler.com
Hi Anne! Thanks for visiting. You can subscribe to my blog on the right menu where it says “Get Email Updates”. Just enter your email and click subscribe. If you have any other questions, just let me know. You’ll receive 3 entries in the giveaway. Good luck!
Would love to win A Plain Man…thank you for the opportunity.
I liked Engrafted Word on FB
Welcome, Lorraine! You’ll receive an extra entry in the giveaway. 😉
Lovely interview. I love reading Mary Ellis’ books. Would love read A Plain Man. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
kmgervais(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com
Thanks, Karen! Hope you get to read Mary’s story soon! You’ll receive 4 entries. Good luck and have a great week!
I tweeted. https://twitter.com/MsRubyKat/status/502600862263697409
kmgervais(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com
I subscribed via email.
kmgervais(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com
I Liked The Engrafted Word on Facebook
kmgervais(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com
would love to win
Thanks for reading, Valerie. Good luck!
Liked on facebook. I’ve never heard of this blog, so glad I found it. Wonderful author. I don’t have this book, so I’d love to win it.
susanlulu@yahoo.com
Hi Susan! I’m so glad you found us! 😉 You’ll receive an extra entry in this giveaway. Good luck and hope to see you back here often!
Subscribed to Engrafted Word. Would love to win a signed copy! Shared and liked Engrafted Word.
Thanks for visiting, Teresa! You’ll receive 4 entries in this giveaway. Good luck to you!
I sure would Love To Win this Book,Thanks
Welcome to my blog, Martha! Hope you get to read “A Plain Man” soon. 😉
I can’t wait to read this book. Thereadmaster@me.com
Thanks for joining us, Virgina! I’ll notify you by email if I draw your name. Good luck!
Savanna, I love Mary Ellis books. A plain Man looks wonderful.
Mary’s favorite writing space on the screened porch sounds like a great place to write.
I have read book 1 in her Civil War stories and I am about to start on book 2. I am greatly enjoying that series along with all her Amish books I have read.
I follow The engrafted Word subs
I liked on F B And shared
mcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Jackie! Thanks for joining us and reading so many of Mary’s great stories. Good luck in the giveaway with your 4 entries. 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway! I love books set in the Amish community.
We’re glad you could join us, Ellie. You’ll receive an extra entry in the drawing. Good luck and happy reading!
Tweeted the giveaway
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/502878728045600768
Hi, Savanna!!
Loved the interview with Mary Ellis – my thanks to you and Mary!! I already have “The Plain Man” and am sharing this post on FB.
I’m thinking how wonderful it must be to spend a month at the beach to write – sounds like a very productive setting for Mary as she wrote an entire book while there. I’m hoping to have the opportunity to see Wilmington, N.C. before year end – one of my best friends lives near there and her sister lived right at Wilmington.
I’m looking forward to Mary’s next release “The Heiress” and since I love touring Amish communities and dining in their establishments – as well as staying at B&B’s – would love to know the name of Mary’s favorite one!!
Hi Bonnie! Thanks for stopping in and sharing the interview. 😉 I hope you have fun visiting your friends in NC. I love that area!
Good luck in the giveaway! You’ll receive an extra entry in the drawing.