On Tuesday, New York Times Bestselling author, Beverly Lewis will be at the Jacob's Well Christian Book Store, in Calhoun, signing copies of her latest book “The Missing” from 3:30 to 4:30. She was raised in Pennsylvania Amish country, is a former school teacher, an accomplished musician and an award-winning author of more than 80 books for adults and children. She currently lives in Colorado Springs with her husband, David.

Where do you find your ideas? And how do you get new ones to explore?

I have more ideas than time. Mother said I had a wild imagination. I have some good memories from living in Pennsylvania and I read the Lancaster News. I still have so many Amish friends and always hear interesting tidbits.

“The Secret” (released in the fall of 2008) was a spring board for “The Missing.” I just starting think “what if,” and end up with a story.

They are all based in Lancaster. The Amish are just like us, they struggle with their young, they have challenges.

My mother was my greatest champion. Half of me died with her (three years ago). She was a fabu-lous role model, pastor’s wife, wanted to make the world a better place.

She made sure I didn’t toss the stories I wrote when I was eight and nine years old. When I gradu-ated from high school, she presented me with them.

What authors do you like?

I’m a friend of Karen Kingsbury. I’m a fan of Eugenia Price.

What do you do when you aren’t writing?

I love to hike in the Rockies, especially in the Garden of the Gods area, Pikes Peak. I love to bike and play with my granddaughters.

I also scrapbook. I love to chronicle my family’s time together.

My husband and I play piano duets together. He composes his own music and I like Boston Jazz, but it’s a lot of fun to have four hands on a keyboard. David Lewis, my husband, has two bestselling books.

Any other writers in the family?

My son had a real way with words and my grandmother published newsletters in medical jour-nals. My dad does a newsletter, too, and I edit for him.

What is your writing routine?

In the mornings, I edit what I wrote the day before, then in the afternoons, I work with my pub-lishers. Evenings are for my new stuff. If I’m not writing, I’m thinking about writing.

The first draft is my favorite. It’s harder work than the revisions.

I like the twists and turns. You think you know what’s going to happen, then there’s a good twist in it. My readers talk about it. I like the feed back, love to have devoted readers. It spurs me on.

I love the intimate first person prologue. It truly connects the readers to the characters.

I write for myself first. I don’t always know what’s going to happen. I’m not sure I want to know. I’m eager to meet my readers. (Touring) gives me a chance to change my hat from writer to wanting to give back to them.

Who: Beverly Lewis

What: Booksigning

When: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 3:30-4:30

Where: Jacob's Well Christian Bookstore, 431 Ga. Hwy. 53, Calhoun