Randomize ME

Today, we have author Elizabeth Byler Younts featured on the blog’s ‘Indie Saturday‘ for the inspiring Amish memoir “Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl” (Available on Amazon). Elizabeth tells the heart-wrenching but ultimately triumphant story of her own Amish grandmother Lydia Lee.

Author Elizabeth Byler Younts writes about ‘Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl’:

“I was learning all about sacrifice as my hungry little brother wanted more than his share of food. I fed him what I had, knowing there would be nothing more for me.”

Over twenty years ago I began dreaming up this book: Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl. Wow, that makes me sound old… but I’m a young thirty-four year old. Seasons is about my sweet Amish grandma and, for as long as I can remember, I’ve loved my grandma’s stories. I started memorizing them and learning everything I could about her young life. Sitting at the foot of her hickory rocker or across the table with hot chocolate and homemade sugar cookies with a raisin in the middle became a comfortable place for the budding authoress that I believed myself to be… and I was only eleven.

When I was an ambitious single in my twenties, I didn’t really give this story more than a healthy “nod” at family events. While I really loved the idea of writing it and wanted to write it… I, quite honestly, had zero confidence that I could actually write it and write it well. It suddenly started to sound like a bunch of disjointed stories that didn’t have any real “story” tying it together.

“The worn and dented tin cans we used for cups, however, were like a constant ache, reminding me that we were poor. I wasn’t ashamed; I was sad.”

The book doesn’t begin to formulate until I’m nearly thirty-two when a young Liddy’s voice suddenly speaks to me (I promise, I’m not kooky, authors understand this phenomenon). I end up writing the first chapter longhand sitting up in bed that night. The words string together like Christmas lights…and finally all the lights were working!

Over the next eighteen months or so, I worked with critique partners, editors, and beta readers to polish up the manuscript. Finally, I felt it was ready for publication. I’d always anticipated self-pubbing this book because my grandma was nearly eighty-five and in the midst of another case of pneumonia. There was no way I was going to wait any longer to get this in her hands. She and my patient family deserved this book. My critique group loved the story so much that they encouraged me to still market the book to the general audience despite my need to self-publish. I wasn’t sure where it would lead, but I took their advice and it has been a great experience. In the third month it was already a three-time Amazon best-seller. Topping out at #1 in my category on my 34^th birthday, about six months into publication. What a gift!

“I am not sure when the rumbling of hooves became quieter, but as I reached the schoolhouse steps I looked back and didn’t see the bulls behind me anymore. I had outrun them. I exhaled and cried.”

I cannot explain the amazement I have with all of this. I am truly humbled that I have been privileged to be the mouthpiece, the writer, of this story.

I hope my personal story to publication has inspired you to read Seasons.

“I think I was most embarrassed of the holes in my stockings. I even took a black marker to my legs and colored my skin in hopes they would go unnoticed.”

Here is a short description of Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl:

Here is the link to my book trailer: http://www.elizabethbyleryounts.com/p/book.html

These photographs are all original images of my elderly grandma and my ten-year-old niece (the young Liddy stand in that is also on the cover). While Amish often do not pose for photos, my grandma allowed me to take these shots and they are some of my greatest keepsakes.

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“I might write you,” he teased.

He must have seen the expression of worry run across my face and he smiled sweetly.

“I promise I’ll write.” He kissed me. “I should be able to get a letter out about every other day.”

“I’ll write you back.” I said, wishing he could stay forever.

You can learn more about me and the Amish at my website: Elizabethbyleryounts.com.

Thank you for stopping by & happy reading!

Cheers,

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Byler Younts is the author of an Amish memoir titled SEASONS: A REAL STORY OF AN AMISH GIRL. Seasons is the story of her grandmother Lydia Lee Coblentz who grew up in an impoverished Amish family through the Great Depression. Seasons was released in August 2010 and quickly became an Amazon bestseller in 3 categories. Elizabeth is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She is an Air Force Officer’s wife with two young daughters and makes her home wherever her family is stationed.

Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl by Elizabeth Byler Younts is available at Amazon in Kindle and Paperback formats.

To learn more about Elizabeth Byler Younts, go to her website/blog elizabethbyleryounts.com or follow Elizabeth on Twitter: @EBYounts or Facebook: AuthorElizabethBylerYounts or Pintrest: http://pinterest.com/ebyounts/. Drop by and say hi!

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Do you want to be a featured ‘Indie Saturday’ author too? Go here for more info!

Read an embedded sample of “Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl” after the jump!

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