The Blog

SIMPLE Ways to Deal With Stress There’s nothing simple about stress. It can rob you of sleep and steal your joy. While stress may be a normal part of life, there are things we can... read more

Amish Beliefs, Part 3 This month we have been looking at Amish beliefs. The first week we discussed What Amish Believe, especially in regard to their faith. The second week we focused on Family Roles. Today I thought we would talk about the Amish and their attitude toward Englisch (non-Amish folk) and technology. These are 2 questions I receive often... read more

Holidays in an Amish Household It is amazing to me how many people love to read books about the Amish. One of the most frequent emails I receive is, “I love their simple lifestyle.” There’s something about slowing down and focusing on what is important that appeals to us. Do the Amish celebrate Thanksgiving? Yes! The communities and families I... read more

Wednesday’s Special:  Usually I post a fiction spotlight on Wednesdays. SINCE it’s the day before Thanksgiving, I thought I’d share a German table grace (translated).   The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O Lord. And Thou givest them their meal in due season. Thou openest Thy hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. O Lord, we thank Thee for Your... read more

I received a study from my editor this week. I wish I could post the entire thing here! The main point of the study was the steady rise in readership of Amish fiction, and what draws readers to the genre as a whole. As a genre it’s been going strong for more than 15 years. So what gives? In a... read more