Suzanne Woods Fisher, Author of THE IMPOSTER, on Writing Amish Fiction, Teamwork, and What's Next

Fresh Fiction welcomes Suzanne Woods Fisher, author of THE IMPOSTER!

Jen: Hi, Suzanne. Welcome to Fresh Fiction! It’s a pleasure to have you join us. THE IMPOSTER is the first in your new Bishop’s Family series, but it is set in Stoney Ridge. How do you keep track of this rather impressive world and the people who live there?

Suzanne: It’s getting more complicated! New characters move in and familiar faces pop up. On the other hand, it’s fun to have a “virtual town,” filled with loveable (and some not so loveable) characters to work with. After all, there are “Stoney Ridges” all over the country.

On a practical note, I’ve started to add a “Cast of Characters” at the beginning of each book that includes info about when each character first walked on stage. Plus, on my to-do list is to create a family tree on my website. It’s turning into a three-season task...but it’s in the works.

Jen: You write the successful Amish Wisdom, your radio-show-turned-blog. How do you balance your time between writing your blog and writing your novels? Do they fuel each other or do you find that it’s difficult to stop working on one in order to write for the other?

Suzanne: One word: teamwork. I have some wonderful people who help support the details of the blog. I get a lot of personal satisfaction in providing Amish Wisdom for interested readers and authors. I had the same sense of genuine fulfillment with the radio show. When the door opened to me to write about the Amish, I knew that I was meant to benefit others. With that said, I do benefit, personally, from the gathering of material for Amish Wisdom. It’s very symbiotic, like a big circle.

Jen: Reviewers often comment that your writing first-and-foremost focuses on the characters. You don’t show the Amish life as idyllic, because you show the person who is struggling with flaws and conflict. I love this! How do you do it?

Suzanne: Amish fiction tends to be character-driven rather than plot driven (like suspense). It’s actually quite a challenge to write vivid characters, ones whom readers grow attached to, ones they care about. Nothing makes me happier than when a reader e-mails to ask “what happens next?!” To me, that means it worked! As for not romanticizing the Amish—it is very difficult to avoid that. It’s the reason people want to read Amish fiction in the first place. The more I know the Amish, the more I see them as very real people, with hopes and dreams and flaws and fears. That’s the joy of writing about them— delving into their inner life.

Jen: A few of your earlier titles were set outside of the Amish world. Would you ever consider writing in a different genre? And if so what genre would you choose?

Suzanne: Say, thanks for noticing those first little books of mine. Historical fiction is where I would camp out; I love to find untold stories or cliffhanger moments of inspired living, and bring them to life. I’m going to be writing a three-book series, about Quaker Nantucket, called Petticoat Row, after I finish the current Amish series. Fascinating to learn how the Quakers shaped our country—anti-slavery, women’s rights, freedom of religion. And even more fun to travel to unique areas for research. I’ve had lots of unsolicited offers to be my assistant for that Nantucket series!

Jen: What’s next for the Bishop’s Family? Can you give us a hint at what we can expect?

Suzanne: Next up is THE QUIETING, a story that introduces Abigail Stoltzfus, David’s niece from Ohio. Abigail is on a quest to break through a “brick wall” in a client’s genealogy. In her enthusiasm, she finds an unexpected connection to a local horse trainer, a young man who is curiously smitten with her, as well as shocking information that upends the little church of Stoney Ridge.

After THE QUIETING…well, I’m working on Book 3 (still untitled) right now. Stay tuned…

Thanks for hosting me today! Loved your out-of-the-box questions. ~Suzanne

Jen: Thanks for joining us! It's been a pleasure. :)

About Suzanne Woods Fisher

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author of Amish fiction and non- fiction. Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, who was raised Plain in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She travels back east a couple of times each year for research. For fun, too.

Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. She has an underlying belief in her books– you don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate many of their principles into your life: simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily, trusting in God.

When Suzanne isn’t writing, playing tennis, or bragging to her friends about her grandbabies (so cute!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To her way of thinking, you just can’t take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone’s underwear in its mouth.

Keep up on Suzanne’s latest news by receiving her e-newsletter, as well as connecting on Facebook, Twitter and her blog!

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About THE IMPOSTER

Katrina Stoltzfus thought she had life and love all figured out: she was going to marry John and live happily ever after. Those plans started to crumble when her father moved the family to Stoney Ridge, then completely collapsed when John decided to marry someone else. Katrina is devastated. How could she have felt so loved, yet been so deceived?

As she struggles to face a future without him, a widow asks for her help to start a new business and Katrina quickly agrees. She needs time to heal her broken heart, to untangle her messy life, to find a purpose. What she doesn't need is attention from Andy Miller, a farm hand who arrives at the widow's farm just when help is most needed--and who always seems to say the right thing, and be in the right place, at the right time. Is Andy for real, or too good to be true? Deceived once before, Katrina is determined to keep her feelings in check.

When a cascade of events is set in motion by some surprising information, the little Amish church is turned upside down. Soon, everyone has a stake in the outcome, and the community struggles to find the best response to an imposter in their midst. Can they forgive even the most deceitful deeds?

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher introduces her loyal fans to a brand-new series set in their favorite town--Stoney Ridge. As always, Fisher delivers endearing characters and plot twists that keep readers turning page after page after page.