Child of Mine (43 page)

Authors: Beverly Lewis

Tags: #FIC042000, #FIC053000, #FIC026000, #Mothers of kidnapped children—Fiction, #Adopted children—Fiction, #Identity (Psychology)—Fiction, #Amish—Fiction, #Ohio—Fiction

Authors' Note

W
e are thrilled to co-write
Child
of
Mine
,
our second novel together, remembering all the fun of developing multiple story lines for our first co-authored novel,
Sanctuary
, deciding who would write which character's viewpoint, and so on. Yes, the long wait is over, and thanks to the many devoted readers who have pleaded for more from our fiction-writing partnership. It would be only half the joy without you!

Our heartfelt thanks go to the readers of the earliest stages of the manuscript, as well as to Amish consultants and research assistants in various Plain communities, including Lancaster, Holmes, and Wayne counties.

Special gratitude to Hank and Ruth Herschberger; Sherri Sturgeon; Fay Landis; Alice Henderson; Donna De For; Julie Garcia; Roswell and Sandra Flower; Dave and Janet Buchwalter; Dale and Barbara Birch; Beth M. Sparks, Esq.; Keene & Sparks, LLP; Ben Sparks of Sparks Willson Borges Brandt & Johnson of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Michael Phillips, CFI.

We are privileged to work with the brilliant editorial team at Bethany House Publishers and offer sincerest gratitude to David Horton, our acquisitions editor, who immediately caught the vision
for this story; Barbara Lilland and Rochelle GlÃ¶ege, wonderfully talented development and line editors; Ann Parrish and Sharon Asmus, insightful reviewers; Jolene Steffer, Cheri Hanson, and Sabrina Rood, eagle-eyed proofreaders.

It is also a blessing to work with Paul Higdon, art director, and Dan Thornberg of Design Source Creative Services for such stellar cover art.

Finally, this story was covered with prayer by numerous people, including Beverly's dear father, Rev. Herb Jones, who devoted his daily prayer time during his two-year battle with cancer to the inspiration and far-reaching impetus of
Child of Mine.
Dad joined the Church Triumphant on January 9, 2014, prior to our book's publication.

“Since we have such a
huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the
grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down
or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap
themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up;
and let us run with patience the particular race that
God has set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1
TLB

âDave and Beverly Lewis

David Lewis
is the bestselling author of
Coming Home
, his first solo novel, as well as a keyboard artist and pilot. He is the first editor for his wife, Beverly Lewis, as well as research partner and manager. David was born in Minnesota, grew up in the Midwest, and met Beverly in Colorado, where they currently make their home.

Beverly Lewis
, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is the
New York Times
bestselling author of more than ninety books. Her stories have been published in eleven languages worldwide. A keen interest in her mother's Plain heritage has inspired Beverly to write many Amish-related novels, beginning with
The Shunning
, which has sold more than one million copies and was recently made into an Original Hallmark Channel movie. In 2007
The Brethren
was honored with a Christy Award.

Beverly has been interviewed by both national and international media, including
Time
magazine, the Associated Press, and the BBC. She lives with her husband, David, in Colorado.

Visit her website at
www.beverlylewis.com
for more information.

Books by David Lewis

Child of Mine*

Sanctuary*

Coming Home

Saving Alice

*with Beverly Lewis

Books by Beverly Lewis

H
OME
TO
H
ICKORY
H
OLLOW

The Fiddler

The Bridesmaid

The Guardian