Thursday, November 13, 2014

A Book Review and a Giveaway!

Some of you may remember that back in June I asked several people to share their "How We Met" stories on my blog. One of those people who shared their story was Dorcas Smucker. It just so happened, that June was also the month Dorcas was in the process of compiling articles from her monthly column in their local paper, "The Register-Guard", into a new book. One day on her blog she requested assistance in coming up with a book title. She received a number of creative comments with title ideas. Several days later, she linked to the "How We Met" story I was sharing on my blog and a reader commented, "I enjoyed your story! You must share it in your next book so that you can use the title 'In the Warehouse there are Footprints on the Ceiling'...."

I guess I wasn't the only one who loved that idea, because here I am, ready to tell you all about Dorcas' latest book "Footprints On The Ceiling" and to offer you a chance at a free, signed copy!

I consider Dorcas to be a master in the art of story telling. I have enjoyed reading her blog Life In The Shoe for quite some time, and thoroughly enjoyed my copy of her book "Tea and Trouble Brewing" which I reviewed two years ago on my blog. Recently I purchased her other 3 books - "Ordinary Days", "Upstairs the Pheasants are Revolting", and "Downstairs the Queen is Knitting". As I read them, I marvelled at all the hilarious and fascinating things her children did and said. "How can so many things all happen to one family" I wondered?! In the days that followed, as I went about my activities and listened to my own children, the secret suddenly dawned on me - it wasn't that so many more interesting things happened to Dorcas and her family. No, the secret was that Dorcas has a gift for taking notice!

"Footprints on the Ceiling" is another delightful book full of all the little happenings Dorcas stopped and took notice of as her children became young adults and she entered her 50s. While many of us would know we love to pick blackberries, only those with a gift for "noticing" would realize how this simple activity brought out all the traits of our mother in us! Many of us might also find ourselves in the situation of frantically trying to fix our teen-agers mistakes, but not all of us would take note of the lessons God might be teaching us on trust and quietness.

One of the unique things for me about "Footprints on the Ceiling" was the fact that, because I follow Dorcas' blog, I had already read a number of the chapter in her new book. This fact didn't take away from my enjoyment of the stories. In fact, I have to say, my favorite chapter "The Right Way to Tell a Story" brought just as many smiles and chuckles the second time around and "Writing the Family Stories" produced the same lump in the throat and misty eyes as it did before!

Footprints on the Ceiling is available for $15 per book, postage included. You can mail a check to Dorcas Smucker, 31148 Substation Drive, Harrisburg, OR 97446. US addresses only. To send a copy to Canada or overseas, email Dorcas at dorcassmucker@gmail.com. The book is also available on Amazon here. OR, leave me a comment either here, on facebook or via email and you just might get a free, signed copy! One week from today I will compile the comments and randomly draw a winner, so please leave your name and email address so I can contact you and send you your book!

Dorcas' stories have inspired me to take notice of the everyday happening in my own life. Sometimes motherhood feels hectic and busy or mundane and boring! In truth, it's a special job full of happenings just waiting to inspire, amuse, teach and humble us, and maybe even others, if we take the time to stop and take note.

49 comments:

Rachel said...

Sounds fun, would love to win & add to my Dorcas collection. Thank you! ~Rachel N.

Anonymous said...

I enjoy Dorcas' books. Thanks for the chance to win this new one!

- Mary Beth M.
richlyblest@live.com

Anonymous said...

I'm with you...Dorcas is a great writer! Never win anything, but I'm going to try anyway! -Sharon Mast

Twila said...

I love her writings and would love to win! twilaburkholder@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I love dorcas' books and don't know why I am entering these giveaways since my luck at winning giveaways is zilch but here I try one more time. :) rhonz84@gmail.com

Margaret said...

Love reading her books!

Mama B said...

Would be so exciting to win a book this good! I live. Outisde the US but have a mailing address within the US. Do I still qualify? My email is berthamollie@gmail.com

Bethany Eicher said...

Sure thing, Bertha! :)

Catherine said...

So glad you helped come up with this creative title. Of course I want a free book. :)
bookworm@bnin.net

Anonymous said...

I would love to have Dorcas'new book. Thanks for the review!
glendafayemiller@juno.com

Nancy Ainsworth said...

I love that Dorcas extracts lessons from everyday life which are life-enhancing and sometimes humorous also. These qualities are not always present in some of the literature (fiction) these days.

MaryAnn said...

I enjoy Dorcas' blog and her books! She makes the ordinary come alive and helps us see the humor in small things. It would be an honor to win her book!

Anonymous said...

Always looking for a new great read! Would love to win:)
Aimee Hottle (aimeebeachy@yahoo.com)

Dawn said...

Tea & Trouble Brewing was an excellent read. I'd love to read her new book!

Anonymous said...

I too thoroughly enjoy reading Life in the Shoe and have laughed and cried over her posts. If I could add her latest books to my collection, I definitely will be willing to lend them to others :)
Add me to your drawing :) Carol paramedicwife@yahoo.com

Bethany Eicher said...

Aimee!!!! I'm feeling like a mini 1999 Clarion Staff Reunion right here in my comment section! :) :)

Anonymous said...

Love her other books! Can't wait to read this one!
Dorcas S.
Email: bornahunter@juno.com

Miller scribe said...

Great observation- that Dorcas notices and has such a fun way of telling ordinary household happenings. Need this book to make my collection complete. Cheryl

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this book. I haven't read any of her books yet but I read her blog. joyfully83@yahoo.com

blessedmomma23 said...

I've never read her books but I enjoy her blog immensely. I'd love to win this!! -Sherri
shortlyn@msn.com

Mrs. L said...

I thoroughly enjoy Dorcas' blog! And all her books are on my wish-list. :-) I don't live in the US...but it's a slim chance I'll win it anyway...BUT if I do, I think I can come up with a US mailing address if need be. If I don't qualify for that, then just pull me out.

shattered broken said...

Would love to add this book to my collection!
Send email to Rhoda.
misshostetler@yahoo.com

Rosanna said...

I am greatly enjoying Dorcas's blog tour. It's fun to visit blogs I don't normally read, browse and, of course, comment in a hope to win Dorcas's new book!
thanks for your review!
momofmany09@gmail.com

Ruby Isaac said...

Not only does Dorcas have a talent for noticing the small things that most of the rest of us overlook in everyday life; she also has an amazing gift with words! She can capture the hilarity of driving the pilot car (truck?--I don't remember) and guiding her husband on his big
combine rig slo-o-ow-ly across the Harrisburg bridge, leaving the rest of traffic waiting at a standstill. In a farming community, that's a rather ordinary event; but Dorcas was able to "frame in words" that story with such delightful humor that it left the reader in stitches! I still smile every time I think of that blog post or go across that rural bridge. Yes, please include me in the drawing. Whoever wins will have a real treat!

Anonymous said...

Love a giveaway! Though my success rate is quite low :) Thanks for this chance! jodale6410@aol.com

Lanita said...

I would love to add this copy to our collection!

Mary Ann Mast said...

I would love to win this book to put in our church library, we have all of them except Tea and Trouble Brewing, which we will be adding as well. I enjoy reading her blog as well gives me something to laugh about. Good medicine!! Mary Ann

Aurelia said...

I love Dorcas' writings and am hoping that sometime on this blog tour, I might be lucky enough to win her book.

Anonymous said...

You said it right - Dorcas is a master at the art of storytelling. Thanks for the chance to win the book!

Ruthie
darrylmast@centurytel.net

tina said...

I certainly would like a chance to win this book!!:) Thank-you for this opportunity! I have not read any of her books YET! (I do have a birthday coming up next month... oh, never mind)

deanna said...

Yay, another book by Dorcas! Thanks for posting.

deannahershiser@gmail.com

Sue K. said...

I love Dorcas' writing ways! I have all her other books and I surely need this one to keep my Smucker Collection up to date! Email:suzyquekau@aol.com

Krysta Nolt said...

I agree, Dorcas is a very good story teller! I would love to be able to win her book...

Lisa said...

I enjoy her writing and would love to win this most recent work!
Lisa
fyrefairymomma@yahoo.com

Susanna Y. said...

I read Dorcas' blog regularly...she has such a catchy way of putting life into words! Would be fun to win the book!

Anonymous said...

I would love to have this book. I enjoyed her story on your blog as well!
joannayoder@juno.com

Anonymous said...

Great review! I would love to win this book as I just love her writing style and can identify so well with her life with boys! :)
Renita Rhodes
rickrenitarhodes@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Hi. Love Dorcas' books and blog and am enjoying your blog - just a note, isn't the second book Upstairs the Peasants are Revolting. (Not pheasants)

Bethany Eicher said...

Ummm....yes, that would be correct!! My bad!

Connie Stoll said...

I'd love to win her book!

Anonymous said...

Would love to win her new book! Enjoy reading her blogs. Janet jameshetler84@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I would love to read Dorcas' book! She has such an interesting way of writing.

Anonymous said...

I agree that despite reading her blog regularly reading the stories in the book are just as fresh and touching as the first time I read them. I have bought and given away the first three books (twice!) and have Tea & Trouble Brewing on my Kindle. I'm entering the drawing and loving the blog tour as I did last time!
Tabitha

Anonymous said...

I love reading Dorcas' blog and would love to win her new book.
Rhonda gracare@windstream.net

Chris said...

Dont' enter me in the drawing, I'm a reviewer too, but I totally agree with you ...my family is just as funny, but I (their mom) do not have the skill to write it down...I try and hopefully when I re read my blog posts years later I will remember the event and be able to smile or cry, as the case may be.

Anonymous said...

Winhyo@gmail.com

Grace Eicher said...

Well, Bethany, you keep writing your blog, and someday you will in passing say, "I should write a book" and Chris will jump on it, and you will give all the reasons you should not, but you will anyway. :0 How's that for a run-on? Yes, I like you thoughts. And Dorcas' too.

Bethany Eicher said...

Thanks for the warning to keep my mouth shut, Grace!! :) ;)

Unknown said...

Would love to be the winner of this book! Jackie

Peasantglory@gmail.com