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A Note to the Reader

A Note to the Reader

Many readers who are familiar with the Amish allowing their children to join the church in their adulthood ask me how many actually decide to stay in the community.

The number is surprisingly high—statistics say as high as 90 percent. I believe this is because Amish families form very strong bonds because of their commitment to their faith, to each other, to extended family, and to their community.

Remaining apart from the outside influences of those they call the Englisch means the family and community can influence values important to them.

But to make sure that their children have free will to join, the Amish allow their teenagers to explore the nearby Englisch community. It’s a period they call rumschpringe or “running around.”

The idea came to me to write a series about three brothers who leave the Amish community and the three sisters who love them and want them to return. The sisters love the brothers—have for years—and want them to return to their family, their friends, and their church.

The series made me think about what home, family, and the place we live mean to us. The loss of those people and places also interested me and found their way into the series.

Lavina Zook loved David Stoltzfus and brought him back to the Amish community in Return to Paradise, Book 1, and Mary Elizabeth, Lavina’s sister, convinced Sam, David’s brother, to return as well in Book 2, Seasons in Paradise. Now, in Home to Paradise, Book 3, Rose Anna has a real challenge bringing John, the third Stoltzfus brother, back to the Amish community.

Someone once said, “Home is where your story begins.” Abingdon Press has been my writing home since 2009, helping me bring my stories of hope and faith and love to readers. I will never be able to thank all the wonderful people for their hard work bringing my words to readers in beautiful editions. Few writers get an opportunity to work with such dedicated and caring staff. Thank you to all of you.

I also want to thank Tom Vickers and Monica Peters for their tireless encouragement.

And, as always, thank you to God for giving me life and the inspiration to share His faith and belief in us.