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…

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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…

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Announcing the Winner and Updates

I would like to thank all of you who participated in the informal survey about maintaining a blog and Facebook account. Not only did you cast your vote, but most of you also gave reasons why you were voting the way you did. Many thanks — that was very helpful information.   If I do need to…

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An Informal Survey and a Giveaway of Bonnet Strings

First I would like to announce a giveaway of Bonnet Strings: An Amish Woman’s Ties to Two Worlds. Please read down through this post to find out how to enter. The team at Herald Press and I are in the countdown… there are sixteen days left until Bonnet Strings is launched. Last week it felt like…

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In Eager Anticipation…

When I was in first grade in public school (because there was no Amish school near us), I was the only Amish child in my class. When our class was practicing for a Christmas program, I played the part of one of four children who were “all snug in their beds.” The four of us…

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Giveaway of “Bonnet Strings” with Jolina Petersheim

I would like to announce that Jolina Petersheim, author of the bestselling book The Outcast, is offering a giveaway of my book Bonnet Strings on her blog, where she posted an interview with me. So head on over to leave a comment, and have your name entered for the drawing. It is now less than a…

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When Feeling Called to Write a Life Story

Stories bind us. Stories help is find our place in the world. ~ Mary Ann Kirkby,  author of I Am Hutteritie I just responded to a LinkedIn Women's Memoir Writing group discussion and then realized this is a great blog post to end the year with. Kathleen Pooler asked a great question: "How do you handle…

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Christmas Thoughts

The other day while I was grocery shopping, I encountered a woman in a parking lot outside the store. She was walking with a cane and she asked if I would like for her to take my cart back. She said it would help her. I turned the cart around in the right direction, thanked…

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