Today, Cyndi Lord is providing a guest post on how her Amish book came about. Before devoting full-time to writing, Cyndi had a career as an investigator and research paralegal. Cyndi lives in northeast Texas on a ranch with her husband. They have nine adult children, eighteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Here is her story.
Since spending four days and three nights at the Zook’s Bed and Breakfast in Lancaster County several years ago, it became inevitable to write a book. We were given a spare room in their sprawling, two story farm house which stood at the front of a hundred acre dairy. Nine well behaved children worked with both parents to run the house, milking operation, and farm. We opted for the choice of following their lifestyle during our stay.
To learn how Amish lived, beyond the fictional books I’d read, I eagerly grabbed the opportunity. My literal, rude awaking transpired at 4:00 the first morning. The evening before, sent to bed at 7:30, I wrote in my journal about our afternoon, and evening with the family. Spoiled by a keyboard, a sore spot rapidly turning into a blister from the pen, forced me to blow out the lantern an hour or so before midnight. The early morning tap on the door startled me from a deep sleep.
“Yes?”
“Time to get breakfast. Are you up and about?” Mrs. Zook pushed the door open and the flame of her lantern flicked into our bedroom.
“No. I’ll be right down.”
In the kitchen, three teen-aged girls, and an eight year old worked together. Soon, five boys ranging in age from four to eighteen scurried about gathering up boots and hats. My husband grumbled something and went out the door behind Mr. Zook.
After a large breakfast, Mrs. Miller and her seven girls came over to pick strawberries and can jam. My husband came in from the barn for lunch smelling of cow dung and straw. I wrinkled my nose and we smiled at each other. Our lives with the Amish began.
Later, exhausted and thrilled, we lay in bed exchanging our stories. I wrote about community team work, and the adorable, kindhearted Mrs. Miller. Her twelve children, husband, and an injury to her youngest son’s leg, told to me while we picked strawberries, made their way into my book, A Plain Wish.
Our time with them ended far too soon to feel anything except sadness. My binder held a wealth of information. I’d made endearing friendships that last today with the Zooks and Millers. I cherish the letters received.
A deep understanding of the plain people and their separation from the modern world came from my visit. I grew to love and respect them in a deeper sense than ever imagined. A quandary internalized, for I longed to protect them and the privacy they strictly adhere. The journal and memories were held close to my heart for years. When outrageous television shows began airing, it angered me. People I loved were portrayed falsely, in my opinion, for monetary gain. The desire to show a real Amish family became overwhelming.
I located my journal, well protected letters, and prayed God would guide my words to never allow beloved friends to be betrayed. I chose to reach out to young adults. My protagonist, Kristi, is not Amish, but a modern, troubled, girl with an Amish pen pal. A Plain Wish opens at her father’s house, and chapter two takes you to the Miller’s Amish home. It continues this way and lets my readers see what it happening in both worlds. Kristi’s ‘plain wish’ is to find the family she lost. When she runs away to Lancaster, two worlds collide in a fabulous, heartfelt, humorous way.
Through calculated promotions and a prayerful desire for lost teens to learn about Jesus along with Kristi, I was blessed and humbled when A Plain Wish held number one in Amazon’s Hottest New Releases, Religion and Inspirational, for twenty-eight of the allotted thirty days. For ten weeks, it remained in the top ten. Ex-Amish who have read the book left reviews impressed with my accuracy in the Amish lifestyle and family dynamics. I praise God for answered prayer, and thank an ex-Amish man for his help with the complicated Pennsylvania Dutch. The Plain Series will have the second book released this fall.
JIM: To learn more about Cyndi, visit http://cyndilord.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/cyndi-lord-author/
Cyndi,
I thoroughly enjoyed the recounting of your visit with the Amish family, and I admire your ability to keep such great notes while working long days side by side with them. I too experienced waking up at 4:00 as a child on my Aunt’s dairy farm, and it wasn’t easy. I’m excited about getting to know Kristi.
Really enjoyable read. This is an interesting and educational blog and Cyndi’s account of her journey to publishing is amazing. I loved the steps she described in her creation of A Plain Wish and recommend this book and this author to all readers.
Great account of the steps leading up to the publication of this fine book on Amish living. I know many of the disappointment writers go through and you, too, experience several on your journey. Enjoyable blog and excellent author result in a really delightful read. I enjoyed this blog and the story of Cyndi Lord’s creation of A Plain Wish. Great job.
I so enjoyed the backstory of A Plain Wish. I’ve read the book more than once, and every time I’ve loved it more and more. I’ve given this wonderful book as a gift to a number of people in my life, including my mother-in-law. She stayed up through the night to finish the book. The realistic story and characters are so compelling. Cyndi, I’m glad you’ve preserved these experiences and given them to us, and in such a beautiful way.
What an amazing experience that must have been for the both of you! How fascinating to see inside the lives of such a misunderstood group.
Often the inspiration for our novels is gleaned from our personal experiences. It sounds as though you took your cues well and used the experience to paint a vivid picture of your surroundings.
Great! Looking forward to reading the book!
What an amazing story and the way it was born.
Looking forward to reading this book.
What a wonderful recounting of life with an Amish family and telling of the real story of their simple life.
I’ve always respected these people and grew up on a farm as a young boy so I see parallels to some of those early experiences. Cyndi, you’ve convinced me to read your story. I want enjoy this to the full extent!
I think this would be a book my mother would really like. It does sound very interesting.
Cyndi,
To spend time with an Amish family and adapt to their lifestyle was, in my opinion, a marvelous way to learn and then be able to accurately describe a day in the life of a typical Amish family. And. . .developing lifelong friendships was an added bonus.
Look forward to reading about Kristi.
Experience adds such depth to a story and yours is no exception. Thank you for the insight into another way of life.
What a terrific how-it-all-started story! Enjoyed it very much and really appreciate having a venue for this!.
Jim, Thanks for featuring Cyndi on your blog. I always enjoy seeing a local author in the spotlight.
Cyndi, I visited Amish country back in the 70’s, so this brought back some wonderful memories of that trip!
~Ann
Great article. Always wonderful to hear how a story came to be.
I really enjoyed reading this article, Cyndi is a wonderful Author and I expect wonderful things from her in the future. xxx Tasha
Very interesting. But no way would I get up at 4 in the morning. 🙂
I enjoyed reading your comments Cyndi. Look forward to getting the book and reading. May God Bless you.
I enjoyed hearing about your book Cyndi. Thanks Jim for the blog.
How rewarding that a personal experience led to the writing of this book. Look forward to more adventures of Kristi and her Amish family.