Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Guest Post and Giveaway with Shelley Shapard Gray

United By Books is please to let Shelley Shepard Gray take over the blog today ..........


One of my favorite things about A Christmas for Katie is that the heroine is a librarian. See, little Katie Weaver, one of the main characters in this novella, has a fondness for books and libraries and librarians. That’s just like me!
Did you ever visit the library growing up?
Libraries have always been special to me. I remember my first neighborhood library fondly. The children’s section was in a trailer next to a very old building where the main library was housed. That trailer was crowded and packed with books-and I thought it was the most amazing place ever. I still recall taking home The Little Matchmaker and reading it over and over again. Eventually, my mother got me a little book bag to carry my books back and forth.
Years later, they tore down the old building and carted off that trailer and built a beautiful new library. In high school, I’d hang out there with my girlfriends. Supposedly, we were studying…but usually we were looking at all of the old paperback romances in the back aisle. That’s where I used to check out old Barbara Cartland regencies four and five at a time.
In college, Boulder’s library next to the park became a haven for me. I read all of Agatha Christie’s books, then moved onto several more mysteries series while studying English literature in college. When I got my first teaching job in Mesa, AZ, I had no extra money, so that city’s library became a favorite spot, too.
Nowadays, I have to admit to being a little impatient for library books. I read a lot, and I read fairly fast, so it’s far easier to order a new book on my Kindle than it is to drive over to the library. But I still find myself in our town’s library several times a year, supposedly doing research…but more than likely sitting back in the stacks, skimming through stacks of novels and cookbooks.
I hope you will enjoy A Christmas for Katie, and Miss Donovan’s romance, too. I really enjoyed setting most of a novel in a place where I have so many happy memories.
Do you have a favorite library memory?  




I grew up in Houston, Texas, went to Colorado for college, and after living in Arizona, Dallas, and Denver, we moved to southern Ohio about ten years ago.
I’ve always thought of myself as a very hard worker, but not ‘great’ at anything. I’ve obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree…but I never was a gifted student. I took years of ballet and dance, but I never was anywhere near the star of any recital. I love to cook, but I’m certainly not close to being gourmet…and finally I love to write books, but I’ve certainly read far better authors.
Maybe you are a little bit like me. I’ve been married for almost twenty years and have raised two kids. I try to exercise but really should put on my tennis shoes a whole lot more. I’m not a great housekeeper, I hate to drive in the snow, and I don’t think I’ve ever won a Monopoly game. However, I am the best wife and mother I know how to be.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that in God’s eyes that is okay? That from His point of view, we are all exceptional? I treasure that knowledge and am always so thankful for my faith. His faith in me makes me stand a little straighter, smile a little bit more, and be so very grateful for every gift He’s given me.
I started writing about the Amish because their way of life appealed to me. I wanted to write stories about regular. likeable people in extraordinary situations-and who just happened to be Amish.
Getting the opportunity to write Inspirational novels is truly gratifying. With every book, I feel my faith grows stronger. And that makes me feel very special indeed.
    
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14 comments:

Jean Smith said...

When i was little we would go to the library all the time. My friends and i would look at the books or listen when someone would read the books to us. We had a lot of fun.

Anonymous said...

I WOULD LOVE TO WIN. ANGELACHESNUT246@GMAIL.COM

miki said...

i loved to be able to get books for grown up becaus ethe woman at the library knew i read more than my age level^^

Kelly B said...

I went to the library as often as I could. I loved finding new friends to read. We lived in the country so we didn't go as often as I wished.

Now, I take my kids every week. If our local library is closed that day, then I take them to one of the surrounding libraries. They love it and we bring home many books to read. I hope that they do this with their own kids one day.

Kd Brown said...

I've gone to the local library my whole life. Even now I have to visit the library to pick up the materials that come in that I have put a hold on online. Times have sure changed!

Kelli Jo said...

I LOVED going to the Library when I was a kid! Thought it was the greatest thing EVER!! Other kids played house, I played Library. :)

Unknown said...

The library was like a 2nd home for me when I was younger. Worked in the school library during study hall hours, and dreamed of owning a bookstore. Now my daughter wants to be a librarian.

erin said...

Sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing. The library was my 2nd home growing up :)

Bobbi Peppin said...

I have always loved the library. My fondest memories of the library were when I first got married in Fayetteville, NC back in the 1990's. Being a new Army wife and my husband being gone much of the time. I would love to win this book.

Mary Preston said...

The library is still one of my favorite places to visit.

Emma said...

I Like going to the Library. Please enter me in contest.

Anonymous said...


I love libraries. but didn't get to go to many when I was young. I have gone many times since I moved here. I would love to win Shelley's book. 9mac262@me.com )

Maureen said...

When we were young we went to the library every week in the summer to get books for the summer reading program.

Anonymous said...

When I was in school we went to the library every Thursday morning. We would spend an hour in the library reading and choosing books to take home.
Katie J. (johnsonk133@yahoo.com)