Thanks to everyone who posted questions last week. Here are you anwers.

Cathey wrote: Kathleen, how many years have you been writing for publication? Somehow I feel like the Lord was honing your skills to prepare you for this current work with the Amish stories.

I love this questions because I think its true! I've been writing for nearly ten years, and in that time I've had quite a varied publishing history. I've written all kinds of things, from articles to Bible studies to devotionals to essays to short stories to novellas and novels. And Cathey, I think you're right--God has constantly been honing my skills, and I hope He continues to do so. But I do feel like I'm "home" with the Amish novels, I love to write them and love that its a combination of contemporary and historical. The best of both worlds!

Evan B. Gessman wrote:
How about writing about a Jewish Christian like myself who visited Lancaster County a few months ago, helped out c a barn raising...?

Oh now that sounds interesting! Have you thought about writing that story yourself? I'd love to hear about it. I've never helped out with a barn raising but I have seen one on a small scale--I was driving through Middlefield and saw several Amishmen working on a small barn. By the time I came back by the end of the day they were nearly finished!


Denise asked: Have you ever spent time like vacation time at an Amish familys home? If so, what was it like?

Good question! I haven't had a chance to vacation in an Amish family's home, but I have visited my friend Maria several times and have been invited to her home. This isn't a specifically Amish built home, but it's been modified to suit the family--no electricity or refrigerator, hardwood floors, a small barn in the back. A very nice home, and they are always so welcoming and hospitable when I come over. I really enjoy my visits!

Now on a completely different topic: today as I was leaving work our county's Bookmobile was parked in front of the school. The students love Bookmobile, and I love that they love it--its so cool to see kids get excited about reading! The bus is so uniquely decorated I had to take a couple photos.

 Ashtabula county is famous for its covered bridges. The first weekend in October is the Covered Bridge Festival. People from all over come to tour the bridges.



Ashtabula County also has a good-sized Amish population. Middlefield is located in Geauga county, which is close to Ashtabula. See the diesel gas cap above the buggy? At least I think its a gas cap. Oh, the irony!

'Til next time,
Kathleen