Shelley Shepard Gray’s first book in her Charmed Amish Life series is set in the quaint Amish village of Charm, Ohio, and tells the stories of the Kinsinger siblings who are each struggling to find both forgiveness and love in the face of tragedy.
Published: January 26th, 2016
Shelley Shepard Gray’s first book in her Charmed Amish Life series is set in the quaint Amish village of Charm, Ohio, and tells the stories of the Kinsinger siblings who are each struggling to find both forgiveness and love in the face of tragedy.
Three months ago, everything changed for Darla Kurtz and her family. Darla’s father was responsible for a terrible fire at Charm’s lumber mill which killed five Amish men. And though he, too, lost his life, the town of Charm hasn’t looked at her family the same since. Even Lukas Kinsinger—with whom Darla used to have a close friendship.
Now her brother’s anger at the town is spilling over onto Darla, and she has the bruises to prove it. The accident already cost five lives, but if something doesn’t change soon, Darla fears it will cost her—and her family—even more.
Lukas Kinsinger wants to mourn the loss of his father, but he can hardly find the time to breathe. Suddenly the head of his father’s lumber mill and responsible for taking care of his three siblings, he’s feeling the pressure. He has also never felt more alone—especially with the new tension between he and Darla. But when he learns of her troubles at home, Lukas knows he can’t simply stand by and watch. Someone has to help her before another tragedy occurs.
As Lukas and Darla attempt to repair their families, they discover something deeper than friendship growing between them. But will Lukas and Darla’s love be accepted after so much loss? Or will the pain of the past overcome any chance of future happiness?
Over time, as I got to know her better, I would simply give her a call. Most Amish have a phone shanty of sorts near their house or on their street. If I ever need to talk to my friend about something that’s kind of important, I’ll call her and leave a message on their recorder. Then, when she checks her messages, she’ll call me back.
GUEST POST
A Little Bit About Researching the Amish, aka, Amish 101
One question I’m often asked when I talk to people about my writing is the research I do for my books. People are often intrigued by the Amish and wonder how I find out enough information to make the characters seem authentic.
A Son’s Vow is the thirtieth Amish novel I’ve written for Avon books. Nowadays, I simply have done enough research that many of the things about the Amish lifestyle-such as their lack of electricity-isn’t something I really think about anymore. Now, much of my research is centered around locations and setting, trying to help my readers feel as if they, too, are part of an Amish community.
Back when I first started, however, things were very different! I questioned everything and often spent hours reading books, doing research on the Internet, and writing letters to my Amish friend. I would usually ask her five or six questions, mail off the letter, and then impatiently watch the mailbox for her reply.
Over time, as I got to know her better, I would simply give her a call. Most Amish have a phone shanty of sorts near their house or on their street. If I ever need to talk to my friend about something that’s kind of important, I’ll call her and leave a message on their recorder. Then, when she checks her messages, she’ll call me back.
Actually, that phone shanty was one of my first ‘big’ surprises about the Amish. Before I started doing research, I just assumed that most Amish would never use the telephone. I never imagined they would have an answering machine.
I must admit that my Amish friends have had a lot of fun with my questions over the years. They tease me good naturedly, and I appreciate their sense of humor!
Because of that, I thought I’d share a couple of little things that I’ve learned about the Amish that might be new to you, too.
1) The Amish don’t wear jewelry or watches. Not even wedding rings. If you ever see the Amish portrayed in a TV movie and they have rings on, you know that someone made a mistake.
2) Their buggies have brakes in them. It sounds obvious now but I used to assume that the horse controlled everything. Oops.
3) Clotheslines are hung in the basement during the winter.
4) Amish preachers are not paid and have that job for life. Therefore, an Amish preacher usually either farms or has a regular job, then administers to his community in his extra time. Being an Amish preacher is a stressful, tiring calling.
5) Each Amish community is divided into ‘church districts’. The elders in each district decide what is allowed in the community and what isn’t. It’s very common for one community to be allowed to do something (such as riding bikes) while other communities prohibit it.
6) The Amish grow up playing a lot of sports together. Not organized or anything, but boys and girls like to play volleyball, kickball, baseball and basketball as much as any other kids.
7) Finally, the Amish I’ve met like to travel. They take bus trips or trains to all sorts of places, even to New York City or to Florida for spring break.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading A Son’s Vow! If there is something more you’d like to learn about the Amish, I hope you’ll ask. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll do my best to find it for you. By now, I’ve gotten pretty good at doing that!
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About the author:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Hold Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.
1 comment:
Thank you for featuring SHELLEY and A SON'S VOW!
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