I'm incredibly pleased today to welcome author Karen Ann Hopkins back to the blog to talk a little bit about Rachel's Deception, the fourth book in her young adult Temptation series. Rachel's Deception catches us up with Noah and Rose while at the same time delving deeper into the life of Noah's little sister Rachel, and I couldn't wait to ask Karen a few questions about how everything plays out. Don't forget to check the bottom of the post for the full list of participating blogs as well as all the details on a fantastic giveaway!
If Rachel could sit down with you and ask you a single question about the way you’ve told her story, what do you think she’d most want to know?
That’s an interesting question. I think Rachel would wonder how an outsider like me knew about the issues she was struggling with in the Amish community. I would tell her that several Amish teens came to me, discussing in detail, their personal troubles living the Amish life. I gathered information from these discussions, and along with my own observations, I was able to write realistic portrayals of the characters and events in the Temptation series.
What one character from another piece of fiction do you think would be a great confidante and dispenser of advice for Rachel with all that she goes through in Rachel’s Deception?
I would like to put Rachel in touch with Dallas in The Outsiders. Why Dallas? Rachel is the type of girl who gets along better with guys, than girls. She’d probably open up more to a male, the same way she opened up to Justin and Micah in the book. The advice Dallas could impart to Rachel is that there are consequences to your actions. He would probably tell her, with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, that if she lives a dangerous life, she’s going to die young.
What are 3 things about Rachel’s life in the Amish community that people might be surprised by?
1) That Rachel can pick out the boy who she wants to court, as long as he’s Amish.
2) That she’ll begin working, either at the family household and farm, or at an outside Amish business right after she’s finished with eighth grade.
3) That she’ll have to give her parents ninety percent of her income until she’s engaged. At that point the amount will lessen depending on what the family decides.
What was one of the biggest challenges of getting inside Rachel’s head after spending so much time with Noah and Rose?
Noah and Rose are both good kids. Their only problem was falling in love. Rachel is another story altogether. She’s jealous, resentful, and angry at the world. Part of her feelings are attributed to her circumstances of being Amish and having lost her sister, Sarah, in a tornado that she herself survived. She wants to be good, but she enjoys being bad. She’s a very complicated person, and complicated people are more difficult to write than less dimensional people. I worked very hard with Rachel’s character to create a troubled girl that the reader would want to slap at times, but would also like. It’s a fine line. I hope I succeeded.
All the books in the Temptation series have a natural outdoor setting on the cover. Looking forward to the next book, what weather conditions might fit the mood/feel of that story?
The fifth Temptation novel is titled Summer’s Song. One of the POV’s will be Summer Sage, Rose’s best friend, and Sam’s girlfriend. She’s going to have her own adventure. And while we’ll be checking in with Rose, Noah, Rachel, Justin, Micah, and everyone else in the Meadowview Amish community, this one is going to be Summer’s book. Summer is strong, optimistic, and cheerful. I’d like the next cover to reflect her personality, so I’m envisioning a brighter book cover, with the sun shining. She might even be standing in a field full of wildflowers.
Thanks so much for stopping by Karen!
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RACHEL'S DECEPTION
Growing up Amish is difficult…but leaving it behind is even harder.
Noah was Amish...Rose wasn't. Being together should have been impossible. But somehow they found a way to make it work. They are finally a family, but their happily-ever-after is still a long off. Will Rose and her friends be able to force real change?
Karen Ann Hopkins returns with a gripping new book in the YA Temptation series. The powerful family saga continues with Rachel's Deception, as events spiral out of control in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview. And Rachel Miller has her own secrets to hide. Noah’s younger sister has been living a double life. That is, until Justin Cameron, Rose's little brother, catches her in the act. Rachel is not the obedient Amish girl that her sister was, and her rebelliousness takes her to a very dangerous world. A world that only her true friends can help her escape from.
As Rachel questions all she has been taught about love, family, and commitment, Rose discovers what it really means to be shunned. And an evil shadow looms on the horizon, threatening not only Rose, but everyone she holds dear.
THE TEMPTATION SERIES:
Temptation (Book 1)
Belonging (Book 2)
Forever (Book 3)
Audiobook lovers, be sure and order Temptation (you can check out a sample here) which is now available on Audible!
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KAREN ANN HOPKINS
Karen Ann Hopkins resides in northern Kentucky with her family on a farm that boasts a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats. Karen's main job is home schooling the kids, but she finds time to give riding lessons, coach a youth equestrian drill team, and of course, write. She was inspired to create her first book, Temptation, by the Amish community she lived in. The experiential knowledge she gained through her interactions with her neighbors drove her to create the story of the star-crossed lovers, Rose and Noah.
Karen grew up about a mile from Lake Ontario in Upstate New York. She was bitten by the horse bug at the age of five, and after diligently taking riding lessons for several years, was rewarded with her first horse when she turned eleven. The feisty horse's name was Lady, a Quarter Horse-Thoroughbred cross, who became Karen's steadfast companion. Through the years, the constant force in her life was horses. Eventually, she found her place as a riding instructor herself. Before accepting her fate in the barnyard, she worked a short stint as a paralegal, traveled abroad, and guided tourists on horseback riding tours in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
Karen is currently working on her Amish mystery series, Serenity's Plain Secrets, along with the YA paranormal/fantasy series, The Wings of War. Karen is also excited to announce the Temptation series has been optioned for TV by Pilgrim Studios and is available on Audible. More books in the Temptation series are in the works.
Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads
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GIVEAWAY
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GIVEAWAY
Karen is offering up a fantastic prize pack, with one lucky winner receiving the following:
- $50 gift card (Amazon, B&N or iTunes)
- A complete set of her books (Temptation, Belonging, Forever, Rachel’s Deception, Lamb to the Slaughter, Whispers from the Dead and Embers!)
Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. Please enter via the Rafflecopter form.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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- Monday, May 25th - Literary Meanderings - Author Interview
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Wonderful interview Jenny! I loved it and I so want to read this now!
ReplyDeleteHi, Kindlemom! So glad you enjoyed the interview (:
DeleteThis one sounds like a nice series and I confess that I'm quite curious. thanks for the interview!
ReplyDeleteHello, Melliane! Curiosity is a wonderful thing. I hope you'll give the Temptation series a try (:
DeleteSo excited to read it!
ReplyDeleteHi, Aleksandra! Thank you for your enthusiasm. This series is really unique. I'm sure you'll enjoy it (:
DeleteI knew about working after eighth grade, but I had no idea about the income, and I certainly didn't know that girls could choose boys from the community, and not just the other way around. I've read several great and very informative books about the Amish lately, but there's still so much to learn. And when there's romance added, it sounds just about perfect.
ReplyDeleteHi, Maja! Just when I think I understand the Amish culture pretty well, something brand new comes up that blows me away. They're a very unique people. And their culture makes for excellent story telling (:
DeleteI have been meaning to try this series since forever. I'm absolutely fascinated by the Amish lifestyle and I think I would love learning more about it. Plus, it has a forbidden romance. You know how I get with those. :) I'll add this to my to-binge-read-in-the-summer list, Jenny.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the lovely interview!
Hi, Nick! Thank you for adding the Temptation series to your list. It's the perfect summertime read (:
DeleteLove her books! And what a beautiful cover :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Cathyzem! Thank you so much! Jenny designed this cover. She did an amazing job as usual (:
DeleteI'm loved question three: "What are 3 things about Rachel’s life in the Amish community that people might be surprised by?" I had no idea about the young ladies being able to pick who can court them, plus the wages is very interesting aspect. These covers are always so gorgeous - can't wait to see what's next :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Book Swoon! Most people have a lot of misconception about the Amish culture. I enjoy sharing the surprising facts with readers. Next up is SUMMER'S SONG in the series. It will be available may 2016. If you're familiar with the characters, this one is for Summer and Sam. They really needed their own book. Rachel's story will continue and of course, readers will be checking in with Rose and Noah (:
DeleteAs always you rock the interview. I am working on her adult, Amish mystery series but have this added to my list!
ReplyDeleteHi, Kim! Thank you for reading my Amish mystery series! The Temptation series is more about romance, but in this 4th book, suspense plays an intricate part. I think you'll really enjoy the series (:
DeleteGreat interview! I always love reading these, it gives a little peek into the minds of the authors whose books we enjoy reading :).. thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteHi, Victoria! I see you're following the tour! Thank you so much! I love sharing my experiences with readers (:
DeleteThis is an author I've been wanting to read for AGES. Wonderful interview!
ReplyDeleteHi, Candace! Thank you! I hope you'll give the series a try. You may enjoy my Amish mystery series and my YA paranormal, EMBERS, too!
DeleteWhoa, ninety-percent of her income until she gets engaged? I don't like stamping numbers on things. I help my parents too, but, percentages, really? Yep, this really blew my mind.... Informative interview.
ReplyDeleteHi, Ramona! Yes, it's crazy for sure. But think about the dynamics for a moment. If you have 8 children, and 4 of them are working teens, you might bring in an extra $4,000 a month! The parents turn around and help their children start up their own household by giving them land or assisting with the cost of building their home. It's kind of like a savings plan that helps the family out at the time, and then eventually benefits the children. If the teen leaves the Amish, they loose more than just their family ties. They forfeit any financial help at all as an adult. Also, the Amish teens know that when their own kids are teens, they'll get that same income their parents did. You'd think the young people would resent it, but they don't seem to at all.
DeleteIt is complex and I can certainly follow the numbers. I'm Romanian, so this is not exactly a foreign concept to me. Parents help their kids, kids help their parents, because life is tough and the mutual assistance is necessary. It's the exactness of the figure that bothers me. For instance, I helped my baby sister through college, and that feels good and satisfying. But if I sat down with a pen and paper and try to work out the numbers that went into it, I feel it would deny the purpose of the whole exercise :) I guess what I'm trying to say is that, for me, family ties and cold numbers just don't mix. But that's just me, of course. Thank you for taking the time to answer my comment, I appreciate it.
DeleteAnd I still have not read an Amish book
ReplyDeleteHi, Blodeuedd! Maybe this will be your first one ;)
DeleteI'm so very intrigued about this novels because the Amish seem so fascinating!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview as always Jenny! I hope you'll get to work on the cover of the next book too!
Hi, Pili! Yes, Jenny will be working on the next cover as well. She's currently designing the cover for the sequel to my YA paranormal, Embers, and then she'll be doing my third Amish mystery cover. Her creativity and ability to capture my vision never ceases to amaze me (:
DeleteHello, Heidi! The Amish are fascinating! I'm still learning new things that oftentimes shock me. I really enjoyed Jenny's format for the interview!
ReplyDeleteThis series sounds good. I know that I will like to read this and hope to get my niece to read them too.
ReplyDeleteHi, Felicia! This series really transcends age groups. I've had teenagers, their mothers, and their grandmothers read and enjoy. It's also nice to have a series that there are discussion points to chat with your family members about. Everyone has an opinion about the Amish culture. Thanks for your interest (:
DeleteI would have to agree with Ramona. This interview is quite an education! Thank you for sharing, Karen and Jenny. I have been curious about the culture/religion of the Amish people for a while now, but just couldn't find the right books from whence to start. Thank you for the heads up!
ReplyDeleteHello, Joyous Reads! You're very welcome. I love sharing the surprising details about the Amish way of life. They are very misunderstood as a culture.
DeleteGOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BOOK AND THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY! SHELLEY S. calicolady60@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope you'll give the series a try (:
DeleteI like learning more about the Amish communities. Thanks for this opportunity.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Nancy! It's a fascinating and surprising culture (:
Deletegreat interview and I like that cover
ReplyDeleteAwesome interview! I still need to read Noah and Rose's story, but Rachel sounds so interesting, I'm tempted to start with this! I'm impressed with how much research went into this, and how authentic the story is as a result. I love the idea of Rachel getting advice from Dallas. I wish I could get advice from beloved literary characters! :)
ReplyDelete