Snow Melts in Spring by Deborah Vogts, is as good as it looks! I loved reading a book based upon my childhood home in the Flint Hills of Kansas, and it was even better that I’d met Debbie three years ago at a writer’s conference, back when this book was just a dream waiting to be published! Way to go, Deborah. I’m proud to recommend this book for you and will be sharing it around to all my friends. Thanks for a great read.
Back Cover Copy
SHE LOVES THE LAND. Mattie Evans grew up in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Although her family has lost their ranch, she still calls this land home. A skilled young veterinarian, she struggles to gain the confidence of the local ranchers. Fortunately, her best friend and staunchest supporter is John McCray, owner of the Lightning M Ranch. They both love the ranch, and neither can imagine living anywhere but in the Flint Hills.
HE’S HAUNTED BY IT. Gil McCray, John’s estanged son, is a pro football player living in California. The ranch is where his mother died and where every aspect of the tallgrass prairie stirs unwanted memories. Gil decides leaving the ranch is the best solution for his ailing father and his own ailing heart. But he doesn’t count on falling in love.
FALLING IN LOVE ISN’T AN OPTION. OR IS IT? When Mattie is called in to save an injured horse, she finds herself unwillingly tossed into the middle of a family conflict. Secret pain, passions, and agendas play out against the beautiful landscapes as love leads to some unexpected conclusions about forgiveness and renewal.
Mary’s take on the book…
I have to tell you that the opening pages in this story impressed me so much that I had to grab my 11 year old daughter–who is both a book lover AND a horse fanatic–and read them aloud to her as an example of a great hook to keep readers reading! For a first time author, Deborah earned my confidence in her abilities right off the bat. She nailed the Flint Hills, her characters are wonderful, and I silently grinned at all the ways this book is so right on!
About Deborah Vogts
Deborah, a stay-at-home mother of three daughters, resides in SE Kansas where her family raises and trains American Quarterhorses. After reading Snow Melts in Spring, I have to say that my hubby and her hubby must share similar preferences on quality equine bloodlines. It was fun to recognize and approve of the bloodlines the McCray’s wanted for their breeding program.
Deborah enjoys baking, gardening, teaching Sunday School, reading, sewing and playing the piano. Her family is also involved in 4H.
Author Interview
Where did you get the idea for the book?
Years ago, I took a Flint Hills Folklife summer course at Emporia State University that was taught by Dr. Jim Hoy. Along with classroom study, we took field trips into the heart of the Flint Hills and visited with old-time ranchers, schoolmarms and post-mistresses. It was such a delightful experience, especially our drives into the pastures. We would get on these back roads and drive over pasture guards into the open range. We would travel for miles without seeing another car or even an electric line—just pure, native prairie. That summer, I fell in love with the Flint Hills and it has stayed with me all this time. I’m so glad I have this chance to share this place with my readers through the Seasons of the Tallgrass series.
What are the major themes of the book?
Forgiveness & Honesty. There are many family relationship issues in this story, whether it’s Gil’s wounded relationship with his dad, Mattie’s guarded relationship with her parents and sisters, and even the precious friendships found in the least-expected places.
What kind of research did you have to do for the book?
I did lots of research on the Flint Hills and on ranching. I also studied and visited various veterinarians and tagging behind a couple of them for an afternoon was fun. My male lead character, Gil, is a retiring professional quarterback, so learning more about football was fun, too. I know my husband especially enjoyed my “newfound interest” in the game. LOL.
With which character do you, personally, identify most and why??
Mattie Evans is a large animal veterinarian in the ranching community of Charris County. Although she struggles with her practice, she is determined to settle in the Flint Hills, a place that is firmly planted in her heart. Almost against her will, she finds herself falling in love with the owner of one of her patient’s—a man who is determined to run away from the Flint Hills and his problems at home.
Like Mattie, I love the country life and in particular, the Flint Hills. As a young woman, I remember living in Topeka, KS and yearning for wide open spaces. I soon found myself returning to my home roots. My character Mattie is intent on never leaving hers. I guess I can identify with that.
What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
That though you may have your life all mapped out, you need to be open to the path God wants you to travel AND be prepared to follow it once He points you in that direction. I also hope to give my readers a taste of the Flint Hills and of how God’s beauty rests on the prairie and in the hearts of those who live there.
Where are you headed next?
I’m continuing on with the Seasons of the Tallgrass series. I’m waiting for edits of my second book, Seeds of Summer and have started working on my third book, tentatively titled Blades of Autumn. One of the neatest parts of the publishing process is seeing what the creative team comes up with for a cover. I’m eager to view the cover for Seeds of Summer, a story about a former Miss Rodeo Kansas queen, and her return to the Flint Hills to care for her deceased father’s ranch and her two younger siblings. After the Seasons of the Tallgrass series, I’ll wait for God’s lead to see what happens next.
Thank you, Deborah, for sharing your book with me and the readers here at Home-steeped Hope.
Important Links
Buy Snow Melts in Spring on Amazon
Visit Deborah Vogts’ Website and Deborah Vogts’ Blog
Deborah Vogts’s Facebook Profile
Follow Deborah Vogts on Twitter
Check out this List of all participating bloggers
Hi Mary, Thank you so much for such a lovely review. To have your praise and recommendation means the world to me! Blessings to you and to your family!!! Cherish the Flint Hills, girl.
You’re so welcome, Deborah! I’m looking forward to your next two in this series!
Deborah–
Have been having a hard time getting to bed tonight because I can’t stop reading EVERYTHING in your blog, on your website, viewing your book trailer, etc. I feel like we are kindred spirits because I started out in the English program at the University of Cincinnati and ended up getting a writer’s certificate to complement my psychology degree. My husband moved me away from the big cities I had grown up in (Denver, Omaha and Minneapolis) and down to Manhattan, Kansas where he became the head of the chemical engineering department at K-State. His mother grew up in Linn and his father in Salina. We currently live in Lawrence where my husband teaches at KU and I am a stay-at-home mom who is just starting to sell Mary Kay (while I also serve as the Sonshine Editor for the Kansas LWML).
My 11-year-old daughter hopes to one day go to K-State (her Dad’s Alma Mater) and become a veterinarian. She loves horses and is taking lessons from a former Texan named Buck (how appropriate!!) He goes to our church in Topeka (St. John’s Lutheran near Topeka High and the downtown area). Her best friend is the pastor’s youngest daughter. Like you, our pastor and his wife (one of my best friends!) have only daughters (four!)
I simply can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of your book and am sure I will love it! We always enjoyed our hikes through Konza Prairie when we lived in Manhattan and I was in absolute heaven when I suddenly landed in “small-town” Manhattan (I have since learned it is actually a small CITY) with my 1 and 3-year olds and got to go everywhere with the local Mom’s Club or off adventuring alone with my kids. I just relished the country, it’s open space, it’s peacefulness and beauty and the siimplicity, friendliness and isolation the Flint Hills provided. I will NEVER live in a big city again and my kids don’t plan to either.
Keep up your writing. I so admire you and am inspired by you. Will keep my eyes open for all the books in your series and share them with all the women in my life. Best wishes and God’s guidance.
Wow, Deborah, it doesn’t get much better than Kathy’s comment above! :O)
Hi Kathy (and Mary!) Thanks so much for sharing that with us. It’s always a joy to find others out there who appreciate and love country life. We just finished our county fair, and there is just nothing like a county fair. You’re dead-tired when it’s over but it’s a wonderful experience you never forget–even when you’re 40 some years old. God’s blessings to both of you!
With your Flint Hills background, you’ll surely enjoy my mother’s book, My Flint Hills Childhood: Growing Up in 1930s Kansas.
You can read an excerpt from it at http://www.gailmartin.wordpress.com. Actually it may be a good read aloud for the children to introduce the Great Depression and how Kansans lived then.
Thank you for the recommendation, Virginia, it does sound good, and probably would be fun to read as my dad also grew up in the 1930’s in that area of KS! Thanks so much for the link and telling us about it!