Jim Smith, my research source from the Old Order Amish colony of Jamesport, MO,
told me an interesting story last week—a glimpse into how real-life Amish
perceive these Amish books so many of us are reading and writing these days. My
books have been for sale in the Christian bookstore in Jamesport, but apparently
the owner, Joe Burkholder, was dissuaded from stocking any more of them because
his mother found my stories upsetting. She didn't like it that I had an unwed
mother in one book, and an arrogant Bishop keeping secrets, because those kinds
of folks aren't supposed to exist among the Amish. Bishops can do no wrong.
Girls don't have sex before they get married.
Ah, you say, but they can and they do! If you've followed the story of the rogue
bishop Sam Mullet and the hair/beard cutting attacks in Ohio, you realize just
how power can corrupt any leader, and how far believers will go to stay true to
their faith. The Amish, like the rest of us, are human...but they don't want
their shortcomings and sins published for the rest of the world to read about.
Joe, however, has called me to order a bunch more of my books for his store. Jim
says he got around his mother's objections by saying, "It's a novel. Readers
understand that."
What a perfect answer!
And it brings up the related question: how much of Amish fiction is
true-to-life, and how much is romanticized? Most of us picture life without cell
phones, computers, cars, and electricity as much more idyllic than the way we
live—we don't want to give up our conveniences, but we sure would like the
simpler countryside lifestyle where families gather around the table for every
meal and neighbor helps neighbor and we're not bombarded by computer-generated
phone calls, political ads, and rush hour traffic.
I suspect that most women readers would not be as submissive to their
husbands as the Old Order faith requires, either. And I suspect that while most
readers compliment me for having strong Amish heroines who don't play doormat to
their men, those ladies might not be so headstrong or bold in real Amish life.
But many of the things Abby Lambright, Miriam Lantz—and now Rosemary
Yutzy—do are based upon what I've found to hold true for someone in Jamesport.
In ROSEMARY OPENS HER
HEART, for instance, Rosemary has chosen to live with her father-in-law
Titus after her husband Joe is killed in a hunting accident. Because most Amish
women are dependent upon men—and because the men take care of sisters,
aunts, and other unmarried or widowed women in their family—this is
accurate. While Rosemary could have lived with her widowed mother and unmarried
sister, she chose instead to help Titus with his household and his
twelve-year-old daughter Beth Ann, who have lost their wife/mom. Rosemary is
preserving Joe's family this way, an honorable way to spend her life.
It's also true that everyone Rosemary knows would insist that she should
remarry—if only to give her toddler Katie a father. Rosemary has other
ideas, however! Even if Matt Lambright is sincere and earnest (and
good-looking!) she can't yet let go of her past with Joe. She has a dream of
supporting herself by baking pies—a very authentic Amish way for unmarried
women to earn money—and she realizes that her dream will go by the wayside
if she remarries.
Rosemary also has an option a lot of widows don't: when Joe died, they had a
piece of paid-for property where they planned to build a home of their own.
(Most young Amish couples live with either her parents or his until they can
afford a house. Joe and Rosemary lived in her mom's house). Rosemary uses this
property as leverage when Titus insists she move to Cedar Creek with
him—and it plays into Matt's fantasies about moving to Queen City to be
with Rosemary, too. Rather than allow this piece of land to melt into Titus's
estate when he sells out, she insists on being paid fair market value for it.
Here again, submission is not Rosemary's cup of tea, and in real Amish life she
might not get away with such an independent mindset.
A lot of folks—my editor included—have the notion that all Amish
properties are postcard-perfect, all homes are neat as a pin, all children are
well-behaved, and all families are loving and supportive. Well...a drive through
the Missouri countryside in Plain areas will show you that "stuff" gets piled
around some of their homes, some of which could use a coat of paint. Not
everyone can afford upkeep on their buildings—and not everyone considers
it a priority, much the same as in any neighborhood.
And the kids? Well, Katie is three and she loves to run off the moment Rosemary
turns her back. Amish children are indeed more strictly disciplined than
non-Amish kids (they are raised with the same "spare the rod and spoil the
child" attitude I and folks older than I grew up with. So yes, those kids get
spankings and it's not considered child abuse. It's good, preventive parenting.)
Still, little kids will test their limits. Katie drives the story by being her
winsome, curious, playful self, and the way Matt immediately takes to
her—and must sternly insist that she stop running off, because she could
get hurt by his sheep—turns the tide for Rosemary. The fact that he
encourages her to buy a fine new oven for baking her pies is an even bigger
point in his favor.
So I feel I've done my research, and I've done a credible job of presenting my
Amish characters in all their triumphs, tragedies, and mistakes. But yes, there
are aspects of my stories that are not quite Old Order Amish because,
well—Joe Burkholder said it best. "It's a novel. Readers will
understand that."
I hope you'll enjoy ROSEMARY
OPENS HER HEART, and check out the other books on my website, as well. You
can also sign up for my newsletter there, and find recipes, excerpts, and other
interesting tidbits! www.NaomiKingAuthor.com. If you care to, you can Friend me
on Facebook as Charlotte Hubbard and Like my Naomi C. King author page. Thanks
so much for your interest in my stories!
4 comments posted.
I just love your books as you know and truly get so lost in them it is wonderful I can't wait till this one comes out as it sounds so good.
(Peggy Clayton 12:57pm January 25, 2013)
Life in the Amish community is very interesting to read about. The fact that you stray in your books from the vision we have of the Amish is probably more apt than most folks think.
(Marilyn Nowlin 6:48pm January 25, 2013)
I love reading stories about the Amish people. I find them to be very uplifting, and I feel good when I finish the book. I've met a couple of Amish people, and they are very nice, polite, people, who will carry on a conversation, but yet they tend to be reserved. Since I live in the country, I can relate to part of their lifestyle, and without going into detail, my life is similar to theirs in many ways. I suppose that's another reason why I enjoy reading about them. Congratulations on your latest book. I'm sure that it's going to be another winner!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:38pm January 25, 2013)