When I’m not writing, I’m reading, and when I am writing Amish fiction I often find myself among my Amish neighbors for that firsthand knowledge to keep my stories grounded in reality. Then I spend a couple days reading other authors in the genre to keep me in the know of what is selling as I begin plotting my next book. I love seeing the differences from a variety of Amish fiction authors and their environments and experiences. Not all Amish communities use the same language, or mirrored lifestyles yet, they are grounded by the same basic principles that inspire us to be pulled into their world.  I am currently working on the last book in a series called, The Miller’s Creek Amish that my amazing agent, Julie Gwinn will soon be pitching to potential publishers. I found myself laughing out loud at one of my youngest main characters and her quick witted tongue and I thought of Bitsy, a character from one of my favorite Amish books by Jennifer Beckstrand that you will all get to read about in my favorite books of the year blog later on.

I discovered Jennifer Beckstrand at my local library, where all the best usually are, and I was pulled into her Honey Bee Sisters and Huckleberry Hill series. If you haven’t read them, please do yourself a favor and add them to your ‘To Be Read’ pile.

Jennifer writes sweet romance, peppered with the perfect amount of humor. Her Petersheim Brothers series still has me laughing and that was just Book One, Andrew. Jennifer is a contagious author you just can’t get enough of, and she has been more than kind to this newbie if I find myself in need of advice. I am very frugal and often turn to my local library for the newest in fiction, however, once an author has grabbed at my heartstrings or blows my mind by their overwhelming talents, I buy their book, support their hard work, and they soon become part of my own personal library. Jennifer is one of those authors and whether you’re already a fan or not, I hope you enjoy getting a closer look into all things Jennifer Beckstrand.

 

What sent you on a path to write Amish Fiction?

You know how about four kids into your life you’re suffering from chronic insomnia because you can’t stop wondering what you forgot to do that day—like hug your child or go to the bathroom?

That is basically how I started my writing career. One night, a few months after the birth of my fourth daughter, I lingered on my pillow unable to sleep and decided to make up a story. It was a Western with a handsome cowboy and a mysterious woman. I started looking forward to bedtime (technically this is not true—I have always looked forward to bedtime) so I could further explore my Western romance in the still of the night.

 

I decided to put the story on paper, and fourteen years later, I had a 600-page, way-too-long Western historical romance, Rachel’s Angel, which won best novel in the 2008 League of Utah Writers Contest. I pitched my book to one agent who wasn’t interested because she said it wasn’t “steamy” enough. Another agent judged my manuscript in a contest, and I could tell she hated my story with a white-hot passion. The first thing all aspiring writers must make peace with is that not everyone is going to like their work. This is a very difficult and painful realization.

 

Finally, Mary Sue Seymour showed some interest in my Western. She told me she thought I was a good writer but that Western romances weren’t selling well. She asked me to write an Amish romance. Six weeks later, I sent Mary Sue the first fifty pages of my first Amish romance. Shortly thereafter, I signed a three-book deal with Guideposts Books for my series, Forever After in Apple Lake. The rest is history.

 

You bring a lot of humor in your sweet romances. You have developed characters that your readers enjoy long after the book is put back on a shelf. Which of your characters is that favorite for you?  

Next to writing romance, I love writing humor. There is so much material from real life to work with.

Anna and Felty Helmuth, the two octogenarians in The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series, are some of my favorite characters. They are my idea of everyone’s favorite grandparents. Anna and Felty love their grandchildren deeply and would do just about anything to help them all find suitable mates. Felty loves to sing and play the license plate game, and Anna loves to knit potholders and play matchmaker for her grandchildren. Anna is a terrible cook, but no one has the heart to tell her. She invents strange concoctions like Asparagus Raisin Cheese Casserole and Jalapeno Banana Bread.

Aunt Bitsy, from The Honeybee Sisters series, isn’t a typical Amish fraa. She has four cats, dozens of beehives, and a trusty shotgun she keeps on hand in case she needs to scare off the boys. Bitsy dyes her hair all sorts of wild colors and wears dangly earrings when she’s feeling blue. She gets especially excited if she can offend someone in her Amish community because she likes the drama.

 

Describe a typical writing day?

I usually set a word count goal for the day and try to get an early start. I usually write on my laptop in my comfy armchair because it doesn’t take long for my back to start hurting in the office chair. I do a lot of musing sitting at the computer, staring at the blank screen, hoping by sheer will that words will come to me. The problem is that when I sit still for more than a few minutes, I invariably fall asleep. I have tried to correct this weakness by eating while sitting at the computer, which leads to another, weightier problem. As long as my inspiration is flowing and my fingers are flying, I can usually stay awake, although, even on good writing days, my son often comes home to his mother sprawled out on the couch in the family room trying to steal a few minutes of sleep.

 

“If you don’t read, you shouldn’t write.” A quote all writers have crossed at some point and take to heart. So what is Jennifer’s favorite reads, and what are you reading right now?

I LOVE to read! I read on the treadmill, in the bathroom, at the dinner table. I love books. I love how beautiful stories make us feel profound emotions without ever having to leave the couch.

I just finished The Day the World Came to Town, a little known story about planes that were rerouted to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland during 9/11. Fascinating and so heartwarming!

Lately, I’ve gravitated to nonfiction books. I love reading inspiring stories about real people. Some of my recent favorites include:

Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Patillo Beals: An amazing story of courage and faith during the Little Rock school integration fight.

Just Mercy by Brian Stephenson: A life changing book about race and the criminal justice system. A must read.

Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown: A testament to the beauty of the unconquerable human spirit.

But I love fiction too!

Pride and Prejudice is still my favorite romance of all time. Jane Austen had a huge influence on my writing.

Others fiction books that I love: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Enchanted by Orson Scott Card, Ransom by Julie Garwood, Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

You are probably regretting you asked! I could go on for quite awhile.

What was the hardest part of becoming a multi published author?

I am incredibly grateful for the success I’ve had with my books, but writing a book is still very hard for me. The creative process is a lot of work. Anyone who has written a book will tell you it’s not easy. Most days, the Muse doesn’t show up, and you feel like you’re slogging uphill through cold tar in January.

Writing is not like a normal 9 to 5 job. Most people go to work and know exactly what they’re supposed to do all day. I have to create something new every day. There’s no one to give me directions or tell me exactly what to write. I make it up as I go. It’s incredibly satisfying, but incredibly hard. That’s a great definition of life: Nothing important is easy.

I’m just so grateful for my journey.