Writing Amish Fiction 101

by Jan Drexler

Many people ask me why I write Amish fiction. The simple answer? It’s because it gives me a chance to explore my family stories. Ancestors on both sides of my family were Amish, Mennonite, or German Baptist Brethren. A large part of my family is still Brethren, and I have distant relatives in both the Amish and Mennonite communities in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

 

What is it about the Amish that makes them so fascinating? (Keep reading – I share my own opinion below!)

Whatever draws readers to Amish fiction, it works. The Amish market is strong, and Amish fiction fans are as loyal as they get – holding their own with Cozy Mystery fans. 

Amish fiction has been around for a long time. The genre as we know it started with the publication of Beverly Lewis’ first book, The Shunning, in 1997, but the first Amish fiction book was Roseanna of the Amish by Joseph Yoder, published in 1940. 

If you’re wondering if the Amish fiction “bubble” is about to burst…well, I think the answer is “not quite yet.” Love Inspired is publishing twelve new Amish titles in the next six months, and independently published Amish stories are exploding.

But while traditional favorite authors like Beverly Lewis continue to sell well, what about newer authors? How do YOU break into the Amish fiction field? 

1) Write a good story and tell it well. This is the first rule in every genre. There is no difference whether your heroine wears a bonnet or a saddle blanket – A good story written well is what every reader (and publisher) is looking for.

2) Know your genre. Read as many Amish fiction books as you can get your hands on by the stand-by authors with good reputations. I mentioned Beverly Lewis above, but others are good, too. Suzanne Woods Fischer, Wanda Brunsetter, Amy Clipston…the list goes on, and includes our own Debby Giusti! Speaking of Debby, don’t forget to read the sub-genres: suspense, cozy mysteries, and historical. (Oh yes, I’d love for you to read my books, too!)

3) Know your subject. There is nothing more frustrating for me than to read an Amish fiction story that uses the “Amish” name as window dressing! Many authors think they can stick a bonnet on their romance heroine and the book will sell. 

This last point is the most important one, I think. There are a lot of myths going around about the Amish people – and most of them are spread by authors who don’t do their homework.

Why is this important? Because publishers are looking for authors who can write authentic stories. Authors who have done their research and can weave the Amish lifestyle and beliefs into their books. They will satisfy the most demanding readers, and we all love to please our readers!

How do you learn about this vast subject?

First, if you can, visit an Amish community. Believe it or not, there are Amish communities in almost every state. The Big Three (in order of size) are Holmes County, Ohio; Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; and Elkhart/Lagrange Counties in northern Indiana. The website AmishAmerica.com has a listing of Amish communities by state.

Second, do your homework. Understand that the Amish culture is more about their beliefs and faith than anything else. Learn about Amish doctrine, the Anabaptists, and a bit about Amish history. There are many myths surrounding the Amish, such as “Amish aren’t Christians,” or “Amish people are always good and kind, the perfect Christian ideal.” Actually, like everyone else, the Amish fall somewhere between these two extremes.

Here is a list of some of my favorite books for research:

The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World

Amish in Their Own Words

A History of the Amish 

Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy

Amish Society 

(click on the book titles above for the links to their Amazon listings)

As you do your research, I hope you will begin to understand why readers are drawn to this interesting and unique group of people.

I promised I would tell you why I think Amish stories continue to be popular, and here it is:

The Amish, historically and in general, see the world in a dualistic manner rather than the pluralistic view that our culture holds. Any issue is black and white with no gray areas. Something is either right or wrong. We may think this is a simplistic way of looking at the world…but that’s the draw. It’s what gives the Amish their simplicity, their peace, and their ability to treat the rest of the world with grace.


Now it’s your turn. Have you ever thought about writing an Amish story? Or maybe you’ve thought about writing a story from your own family’s past! Tell us about it!

One commenter will receive a copy of the first book in my "Amish of Weaver's Creek" series, The Sound of Distant Thunder.

Or you can order your own copy
HERE!

Katie Stuckey and Jonas Weaver are both romantics. Seventeen-year-old Katie is starry-eyed, in love with the idea of being in love, and does not want to wait to marry Jonas until she is eighteen, despite her parents' insistence. So much can happen in a year. Twenty-year-old Jonas is taken in by the romance of soldiering, especially in defense of anti-slavery, even though he knows war is at odds with the teachings of the church. When his married brother's name comes up in the draft list, he volunteers to take his brother's place. But can the commitment Katie and Jonas have made to each other survive the separation?

And book two in this series is available for pre-order!

Preorder HERE!

Ruby Weaver's curly red hair isn't the only thing that sets her apart from her Amish community in 1863. Twenty-eight and single, Ruby doesn't believe a woman needs to be married in order to be happy. Her ailing friend Lovinia Fischer, however, has other ideas and wants Ruby to promise to marry her husband after she dies. Never imagining she'd have to fulfill that vow, Ruby agrees. And she's not the only one. Lovinia has extracted a similar promise from her husband, Gideon.

With both Ruby and Gideon reluctant to keep their promises, a compromise must be reached. Ruby will spend her days with Gideon's family--helping to raise the children and keep the house--but her nights will be spent at her sister's neighboring house. But this arrangement raises eyebrows in their conservative Amish community, and it soon becomes clear that Ruby must make a decision--marry Gideon or turn her back on her friend, the children she's grown to love . . . and their father.

Jan Drexler brings a unique understanding of Amish traditions and beliefs to her writing. Her ancestors were among the first Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and their experiences are the inspiration for her stories. Jan lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband of more than thirty-five years, where she enjoys hiking in the Hills and spending time with their expanding family.

www.JanDrexler.com