Guest Post and Giveaway of “Bonnet Strings”

David and I returned home late on Saturday night. I will soon catch up with my to-do list of things that waited while we were away. In the meantime, a writer friend, Lisa Romeo, has posted a guest blog about that old-fashioned virtue of perseverance in a digital age. She is offering a giveaway of Bonnet…

Read More

Katie Troyer — Little Person with a Big Stature

Katie Troyer Finally the day arrived that I have for so long wanted to happen… the day I would get to meet Katie Troyer in person. She is an icon here in Sarasota, Florida and writes the blog Pinecraft-Sarasota. She is one of the most down-to-earth, genuine, caring, wise, and truly kind persons I've ever met. I…

Read More

Ode to Joy

This morning I awoke, feeling my heart fill with gratitude for all that my life is. The snow banks are melting, which I hope means Spring will soon show her gorgeous and welcome face. Maybe soon, I can open windows and let her in… what a refreshing idea that is! For now I’m airing out…

Read More

Anna’s Choice

Your comments to my last post, How Is Anna Doing? really have made me think. About community and belonging; about personal freedom and choice; and about how the Amish preachers are right when they say that you are either Amish or not. They say you cannot have it both ways; you are either separate from the…

Read More

How is Anna Doing?

Many people have asked me this question since the PBS documentary "The Amish: Shunned" premiered on February 4. The answer is, "I wish I knew."  The footage of Anna returning to her community was taken on January 29, 2013 for the documentary. The film has been taken off the American Experience website, but you can still…

Read More

Traveling and New Perspectives

David and I returned from a trip to New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It is always fun to travel with David. We tend to get into deep conversations on road trips, which I enjoy very much. And David and I are now co-presenters at the talks, given he wrote part of the book. Our first presentation…

Read More

Speaking of Bonnets and Head Coverings

My friend, Shirley Hershey Showalter, has done a thought-provoking blog post called Mennonite Bonnet and Covering Stories in preparation of the joint talk she and I have scheduled for next Tuesday, February 25, in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. This talk is sponsored by the Milanof-Schock Library and will be held at the Mount Joy Mennonite Church. We are going…

Read More

Coming to a Venue Near You…

A week after the film "The Amish: Shunned" premiered on American Experience, and also a week after Bonnet Strings was released, my new agent, Heidi Ihrig, and I are busily scheduling for the cross-country book tour that David and I would like to make to promote Bonnet Strings and its prequel Why I Left the Amish. There is…

Read More

Sticky Bun Recipe and More…

Welcome to my new blog! Two days after the premiering of the PBS documentary, "The Amish: Shunned," I am looking out my window at the slanted afternoon sunlight shining on the white buildings across the street, I am taking a deep breath. I must have been stressed leading up to the launching of my book on…

Read More