Why do we love Amish stories?

with Meghan Carver

It was cold in that conference room at my very first writers conference in 2010. I had goose bumps up and down my arms, not only from the chill of the air conditioning but also from sheer nervousness. Jan Stob from Tyndale was the presenter at that particular session, and although I don’t remember much of what she said without going back to my notes, I do remember clearly her amazement that, after ten years, Amish stories remained mind-bogglingly popular.

Now, in 2018, they are still going strong. In fact, my publisher, Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense of Harlequin, is actively seeking Amish stories, and that’s provided a terrific opportunity for me and several other authors. There doesn’t seem to be any end in sight of the Amish wagon train.

Why? I had a few ideas of my own, but I also asked the question on Facebook in a fantastic group called Keeping Up with the Amish. (If you love Amish, find them and join. It’s a great group!)

So why do we love Amish stories? 

Traditional values. The value of home life, respect for others, respect for life, obedience to God’s will, honesty, persistence, patience, helpfulness, a cheerful and thankful attitude. It’s like going back in time while still reading a contemporary story.

Simple living. Okay, so the living may not really be that simple, but it sounds good in a book, doesn’t it? Some days, I would love to toss away my smartphone, get rid of my technology, and settle down for an evening with a book by lamplight. A gentle breeze fluttering the curtains. Wash drying on the line. Cows lowing in the pasture. Flowerbeds rioting with orange marigolds, pink zinnias, and purple petunias. Fresh-made lemonade on the porch. Can you feel your stress ebbing away?

Good food. Have you ever read an Amish book that doesn’t include a pie or a plate of cookies or some sticky buns? Tea and coffee? There just seems to be something comforting and wholesome about slicing through a berry pie and serving up a thick piece.

Family. I have six children, and I love my big family! About the only place left to find a big family, consistently, is the Amish. In Amish stories (apart from conflict necessary to move the story along), families are close-knit. Brothers and sisters get along and support each other. Aging parents live in the attached or nearby dawdi haus. Family is valued.

Community. Whether it’s a barn raising or a work frolic, the Amish really know how to come together and get something done in a cheerful manner. The combination of the words work and frolic say it all. 

Faith. The love of God shines through in nearly everything they say and do. When a character has a struggle of faith (which happens in every book I write), in the end, they are reconciled to God and to others. It’s a happily-ever-after of faith!

Lack of focus on self. No selfies, no me-me-me, but a focus on serving others.

Home-economics-style skills. Quilting, canning and preserving, crocheting, wood-working, raising animals. Reading Amish books remind me of my 4-H days and the stories my mother would tell about the way she grew up in the 1930s and 40s.

Lack of technology. I have a love-hate relationship with technology, as I’m sure many people do. It is much too consuming and time-stealing, and yet it’s how we’re able to connect here at Seekerville. Holding a print book and reading about a simple people who have shunned most technology is a relaxing and stress-relieving exercise. Then, I log on to Amazon and leave a good review. 

Many blessings and happy reading!

What would you add to this list? 

One commenter will win a copy of Meghan's newest release, Amish Country Amnesia!

Amish Country Amnesia: His past is a mystery to everyone…except for the men trying to kill him.
When a snowmobile accident leaves a man injured and with no memory, Amish widow Sarah Burkholder and her young daughter rescue him. Even as Sarah’s feelings for him grow, they discover unknown assailants are after him—and Sarah and her little girl for helping him. But if he can remember who he is, he might just save all their lives.

A bit about Meghan: By sixth grade, Meghan Carver knew she wanted to write. After a degree in English from Millikin University, she detoured to law school, completing a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University. She then worked in immigration law and taught college level Composition. Now, she homeschools her six children with her husband. When she isn’t writing, homeschooling or planning another travel adventure, she is active in her church, sews and reads.