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Amanda Deed: An Unusual Blessing & Giveaway

11/20/2011

 

This week we welcome Amanda Deed to Author Memories.

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Amanda Deed grew up in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia  in a Christian home, and found faith at an early age. She has followed her passion to serve the Lord through music and literature since her teen years.

Now married, with three children, Amanda  still lives in Melbourne and  enjoys the variety of being a mother, administrator/book-keeper, musician
and fiction writer.

Amanda’s debut novel, The Game, was awarded the 2010 CALEB Prize for fiction.


An Unusual Blessing
by Amanda Deed

My Dad loves to travel. Even now at seventy-four, he and Mum are off with the 4WD and caravan – in spite of having quintuple bypass surgery on his heart only a year ago. Can you tell he’s my hero?

 Well, he’s passed this travel bug on to me, a malady I bear without the least resentment. He would always take us camping as kids. One year he took the family for a three month tour of Australia – up through the centre and down the east coast, covering over 10,000 kilometers (approximately 6,500 miles).
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Amanda's Parents' Caravan (Travel Trailer to North Americans)
In Arnhem Land (you may have heard of Kakadu which is in the Northern Territory) there are water buffalo. Now, my Dad REALLY wanted a pair of buffalo horns, and not just piddly little ones either, he wanted the big daddy kind of horns. The abattoirs could only offer small ones, so he took those, but was not satisfied.

So, we did what all faith-filled Christians do. We prayed and asked the Lord to provide my dad with a pair of large buffalo horns. God does love to bless His children, after all.

We drove into a place called Jim Jim Falls (also in Kakadu), and if you’re ever planning to visit Australia it is one of “must sees” of our country. On the way in, we saw this big daddy buffalo grazing by the side of the road. “That’s the kind of horns I want,” my dad said. Once again we prayed.

A day or two later, when we drove back out of the gorge, we happened to see a huge buffalo, dead on the side of the road. Could this be the same beast? We wondered. Dad wasted no time in stopping the 4WD and having a look. Without going into too much detail about the smell and the maggots and the retching – oops, too much already, eh – Dad managed to slide those two horns off the buffalo with very little trouble.

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Those horns have been a prized possession and a testament to the abundant love of God to His children over the years. Imagine my surprise when I found them in a garage sale my dad was having a couple of years ago. I probably don’t need to tell you that they now hang on the wall of our patio, where they can remind me of my childhood travels and God’s blessing in our lives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leave a comment with a valid email address by midnight, Nov 27th
to be entered to win a copy of Amanda's newest release, 
Ellenvale Gold.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ellenvale Gold, Even Before Publishing, Nov 2011

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It is the time of Australia’s harsh rogue-filled gold rush of the 1850’s when Miss Penelope Worthington suddenly finds herself orphaned, isolated and alone. With a large sheep station to run single-handedly, she has little option but to enlist the aid of a mysterious, but sinister stranger.  

But who is the more treacherous? Gus—the scruffy, trespassing, ex-convict who co-incidentally shows up looking for work just when she desperately needs a farmhand or Rupert—the handsome, wealthy neighbour who would willingly marry her at the drop of a hat and solve her apparent dilemma?  

Repeatedly, her faith is tested as she faces the unforgiving elements, deceit, lies and uncertainty. But where and how will it all end? But…is it the end? Will vengeance return or will Penny’s faith prevail?

Ellenvale Gold is available through amazon.com


Amanda invites you to visit her at

Amanda's website   
www.amandadeed.com.au

Amanda's blog  http://amanderings.wordpress.com

Salena Stormo
11/21/2011 02:27:39 am

I would LOVE to win a copy! I enjoy anything Australian! :)

debH
11/21/2011 04:43:24 am

thanks for sharing your memories with us. growing up in colorado, i spent many weekends camping in the mountains, so i can relate to your happy memories. i've never been to Australia, but maybe someday...

will visit your website. would love to win a book, but would also not mind contributing to your sales success as well.

Lee Carver link
11/21/2011 05:55:27 am

When we were young, having our children, and had more adventure than money, our family vehicle was a VW pop-top camper. We lived in California and traveled to so many places we could not otherwise have seen. Camping was a wonderful family experience. After the two children were bedded down, we sat by the campfire and tried to see in its flames what the future might hold. Never could we have guessed the fantastic years since then! I'd love to read your novel of the Australian gold rush, and will write a review if I enjoy it as much as I expect to. BTW, notice your typo above, "Evandale God is available through Amazon.com."

Amanda Deed link
11/21/2011 06:48:45 am

Hi Salena, I've just returned from a two week road trip and am inspired again by our amazing country. I only hope my novels reflect her majesty as much as I feel it.

Hi Deb. Camping is great fun. I have many other stories from our travels where the Lord just blessed us. Hopefully you make it out here someday. :)

Amanda Deed link
11/21/2011 06:52:37 am

Hi Lee. We had a pop-top when we were kids. It was great fun setting it up. I love camp fires so much, my hubby makes one in the back yard often in winter. Thanks for the tip on the typo! :)

Jo-Anne Berthelsen link
11/21/2011 06:58:29 am

Really interesting blog, Amanda! What lovely childhood memories you have. Sounds like you've seen even more of our own fantastic Australia than I have! I didn't get to buy a copy of your book in Brisbane but do hope to buy one soon. However, I'd love to win one, of course! God bless.

Anita Mae
11/21/2011 07:15:22 am

Lee! Thank you. Major oopsie as Hugh Grant would say.

I'd like to think I erred because I was thinking of God, but I just can't lie like that. Not that I don't think of Him often... I just know I was thinking of how to spell Ellenvale when I uploaded the post. I kept writing Evandale instead of Ellenvale. And I notice you did the same... is there an Evandale on TV, comics or book series somewhere that we're thinking of? Maybe a location in the news recently? Evandale just seems so... familiar.

I know one thing... I'll never forget Amanda's book cover. :)

Thanks again, Lee. I really appreciate you telling me. (I'm trying to imagine Kelly as a kid... it's not happening. LOL)

Jenny (aka ausjenny) link
11/21/2011 07:35:19 am

Hi Amanda and Anita Mae, love the memories. I haven't made it much further north than Alice Springs. The horns looks interesting. I was looking at it as Evandale instead of Ellenvale
Love the look of the book and cant wait to get to read it.
I would love to enter if an Aussie is able to.

Anita Mae
11/21/2011 08:01:29 am

Hey Amanda, I'm thrilled you posted here at Author Memories. Sorry about the typo. (Where's that red-faced smiley?)

I knew what you meant by 'caravan' when I read your copy because my aunt lives in Europe and that's what she always called ours. She said that if we ever get posted to Germany (back when we were in the CAF) to bring our caravan because it's worth bringing over and all the countries are so close. What an education that would've been for our kids. Alas, we never made it over. At least not by ourselves. Nelson served in Bosnia, but that story is for another day.

When we first married, we had a pop-up, too. But it wasn't a tent trailer that popped out, it just popped up. Like a little box. With a 3/4 bed on one side and a single on the other. It was great for us and our toddler. We toured Ontario in it and camped across the provinces - through Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and on to our posting in Alberta. Then for our vacations, we toured the Cdn Rockies. It was gorgeous and a very special time in our lives. :)

Anita Mae
11/21/2011 08:05:22 am

Amanda - are there any restrictions on who can enter your draw? Since I'm not sure where your book is being mailed from I'd rather you respond to Jenny.

Ann Lee Miller link
11/21/2011 09:07:56 am

Sounds fascinating! Count me in. :)

Ann Lee Miller

Amanda Deed link
11/21/2011 09:11:54 am

Hi Jo-Anne. I never did catch up with you to tell you how much I enjoyed your workshop last week! We definitely think alike. :)

Hi Jenny. The Territory is just awe-inspiring. If you ever go anywhere, make it a goal to visit the NT.

Jenny & Anita - I don't have any restrictions on who can enter. :)

Ausjenny link
11/21/2011 09:15:56 am

Amanda, I got to Alice Springs, climbed Ayers Rock, saw abit of the Olga's, Walked around Kings Canyon and went to Ross River. but thats as far as I got. One day I will go further north. Cool on the giveaway. I have The Game to read and will get to that after christmas.

Heather Monro link
11/22/2011 11:22:26 am

Hi Amanda, What a wonderful story. I always love hearing how our Awesome God looks after his children.
I love the NT. I've only been there once, but it was such a huge vastness of no civilisation. I just loved that.
:)

Suzanne link
11/22/2011 01:31:52 pm

I love historical novels set during well-known time periods, and the addition of an exotic (to me) location makes it all the better. Thank you for offering this book.
Suzanne Hartmann
shartmann(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lyndee Henderson
11/22/2011 02:40:41 pm

I'm so lucky to have visited Auz about five years ago. I have the bonus of an Aussie son-in-law who hails from Canberra and a True Blue two-yr old grandson. They live in the states right now. When we visited we stayed in Jerrabombra and around Sydney and the Gold Coast. I feel very fortunate to have seen that much of the country. Next time I hope we get to your end of the continent!

Amanda Deed link
11/22/2011 03:21:22 pm

Hi Ann. Thanks for dropping by! :)

Hey Heather. I can never get over the wide open spaces in the outback. Amazing!

Hi Suzanne. Historicals are great, aren't they. It happens to be my favourite genre. I also enjoy a variety of world locations. :)

Hi Lyndee. I've just been holidaying on the Gold Coast. How good are the beaches??!! Golden sand as far as the eye can see. Love it!! :) Victoria, on the other hand, has great mountains and forest ... and lots of other stuff!! :)

Katy Lee
11/23/2011 12:58:33 am

I love this story! And I can't believe your dad was going to sell them! I would have snatched them up too. :)

Katylee@cox.net

Courtney
11/23/2011 04:13:40 am

This sounds like a really great story!! Thanks for a chance to win it!!

Courtney
kcmelone at yahoo dot com

Rachel Kulp
11/23/2011 07:56:27 am

What a fantastic story! I would have taken them too - animalologist that I am. I'd love to win the book.
Rachel CK

Faye link
11/23/2011 08:31:35 am

Funny thing is I just saw an ad for this book :) Sounds great!

Please enter me

crazi.swans at gmail dot com

karenk
11/23/2011 12:24:02 pm

a great posting...thanks for the chance to read this novel :)

Amanda Deed link
11/23/2011 06:02:05 pm

Hi Katy Lee. I was rather shocked when I saw Dad was going to sell them. There was no way I would let them go. :)

Hey Courtney. Hope you get a chance to read it!

Hi Rachel. I'm not really big on animals, but I do love those horns. :)

Hi Faye. Glad you dropped by. :)

Hi Karen. Thanks for the encouragement. :)

Jo
11/24/2011 12:22:36 am

This sounds like a great story and would love to read it. I have never read any books based in Australia and think that it would be quite interesting!

Blessings,
Jo

Susan
11/26/2011 02:21:42 am

This looks really good! I am so interested in reading about the gold rush-- I think it's fascinating!
I would love to win this book!

Janet Sketchley link
11/26/2011 07:23:17 am

Amanda, what a great story about the horns... it's like God provided them twice by helping you find them in the sale before someone else did!

I've wanted to read Ellenvale Gold since you did an interview on my blog.

Amanda Deed link
11/26/2011 08:14:59 pm

Hi Jo. Australia is a wonderful place. That is the reason I want to write about it - to show the world just how wonderful. :)

Hi Susan. I love the gold rush too, such an interesting time in history. :)

Hey Janet. Wow, that's true about finding them in the sale. Awesome. Thanks for that. Blessings! :)

Debbie Clark
11/27/2011 07:49:02 am

I would love to win a copy of Ellenvale Gold. It looks like a fun book to read. I also love books about Australia! Thanks for the chance to win.

anita mae
11/28/2011 02:58:42 am

While I'm over here gathering all the entries for the giveaway, I re-read the comments again.

My worry when Amanda's post first came in was an uproar by people who didn't think the horns should have been collected from the dead water buffalo. I didn't have a problem with it because I grew up with deer antlers and moose racks hanging on the sides of outbuildings. But it's a different world now.

So, I'm relieved you've accepted Amanda's post in the spirit it was given. I think any blessings asked for and received are wonderful and proof of God's love and attention to the tiniest details in our lives.

Thank you for your inspiring post, Amanda. Someday I'll get to visit your beautiful land as it's been a dream for a long time. My 16 yo son went last year on a mission trip and visited some young ladies who were exchange students here in Saskatchewan. Maybe next time I'll join him. :)

Okay, talking's over... going to log onto random.org to find a winner of Amanda's book.

Anita Mae
11/28/2011 03:20:57 am

And according to random.org, the winner of Amanda Deed's Australian goldrush historical, ELLENVALE GOLD is the person who left the final comment yesterday...

Debbie Clark!

Congrats, Debbie. I'll send your email address to Amanda and she'll be in touch with you.

Thank you everyone for sharing with us. I love listening to talk of Australia. :)

Check out Pamela S Meyers' post about her Christmas memory and leave a comment before Dec 4th for a chance to win her book.

Thanks again, Amanda.

stephens link
5/17/2012 07:05:26 pm

This is truly a fantastic post, definitely worth reading.


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