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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 MoreSpeaking 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 MoreProfile Video of “Saloma” in PBS Documentary “The Amish: Shunned”
Today I heard from the digital media manager at American Experience that a short video of several of my parts in the PBS documentary, "The Amish: Shunned" has gone live. Without further ado, here is the video: At the same time, they also published Anna's video, which is here: I would love to know what you…
Read MoreComing 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 MoreSticky 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 MoreLaunching “Bonnet Strings” and the PBS Documentary “The Amish: Shunned”
Tonight the PBS documentary "The Amish: Shunned" will be premiering on American Experience. I am one of seven people whose stories are followed in this film. I have written a blog post for American Experience, called To Obey or to Stray: That is the Question. Tonight I will be tweeting live during the show. (Dorothy is…
Read MoreAnnouncing 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…
Read MoreWhen 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…
Read MoreTo Stay or Leave?
I was doing some perusing of websites tonight that are administrated or written by former Amish people. Once I started reading “Letters to and from Former Amish” by the Mission to Amish People website, I could not stop reading. I was pulled into the intensity of the letters. First there is a letter from someone who…
Read MoreSnow and About Anna
Yesterday morning I awoke to what sounded like a convoy of trucks going across the bridge over the Connecticut River. It was the wind roaring all around the house. The snow had been coming down all night apparently, and from the sound of that wind, we were having the blizzard that had been predicted. At…
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