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Guest post by Patricia Davids plus giveaway!

Posted Michelle Dawn

The Things I’ve Done for Amish Research by Patricia Davids

If you want to be a writer, or you are a writer, you have to be prepared to do some research. I always knew that. Happily, I love research. Spending hours and hours in the library, pouring through old books, finding out wonderful obscure facts. That is fun.

As it turns out, sitting in the library will only get you so far when it comes to writing realistically about something you aren’t familiar with. Take the Amish. There is still a lot I don’t know about the Amish even after 12 books in my Brides of Amish Country series. Their culture is so diverse that what works for an Amish romance set in Ohio won’t necessarily work for a story set in Pennsylvania.

Because I didn’t want a dozen books about farmers and quilters, I had to investigate businesses run by Amish families. There are many. I’ve been to visit an alpaca farm, ridden in a buggy, sat behind a draft horse in a wagon, took a tour of a printing press company and museum. I’ve visited a fabric shop and quilt store in an Amish community, visited with Old Order Mennonite women at a family run cafĂ©, spent hours talking to my nephew’s wife about being nurse-midwife, and I even interviewed the cutest small town sheriff ever. (If I get arrested, it will be in Council Grove.) I have watched a buggy wheel being made in a blacksmith shop and seen a huge sewing machine for making leather harnesses. In all, less than one tenth of what I’ve learned goes into any given book. But they don’t call me the trivia queen for nothing. Just ask me. I’m sure I’ll have an answer and if I don’t, I will make one up. I write fiction, you know.

For my latest book, THE SHEPHERD’S BRIDE, I had the privilege of visiting a sheep farm during lambing season. Talk about hard work, awesome dogs and cute, cuddly baby lambs. I will admit that alpacas have won my heart, but a baby lamb comes in a close second.

So I’m going to open it up to questions here. What would you like to know about the Amish, sheep or even alpacas?

Did you know sheep can be buried under the snow for nearly a week and survive? The heat from their bodies will melt breathing holes. They’ll dig down to grass or eat each other’s wool for food. They can get enough water by eating snow. Boggles the mind.

 

Wow…sheep are smart! Thank you so much for sharing Patricia. I love alpacas too 🙂 I am happy to announce that Patricia is giving away a copy of The Shepherd’s Bride to one lucky reader. How about that?

To enter leave a comment below. If you would like an Extra chance share this link on Facebook or Twitter. Remember to leave another comment if you did.

**Contest starts today Monday, April 14th and ends on Monday, April 21st.**

 

shepherds

 Finding Refuge 

Shunned by the Amish community, shepherd Carl King has given up on his dream for a family. Yet when captivating Lizzie Barkman shows up at the sheep farm where he works, Carl sees the wife he once dreamed of. Lizzie is looking for a new start, for herself and her sisters, and discovers Carl to be a kind and gentle man who cares deeply about the Amish way of life. But he is under the Bann. Is it possible that this forbidden man holds the key to her family’s safety—and the one to her heart?

 

 

PatMac1

USA Today Bestselling author Patricia Davids grew up on a Kansas farm with four brothers. After college she began a wonderful career as a nurse. In 1973 Pat wrote a letter to a lonely sailor. Little did she know her talent with words would bring her love, marriage and motherhood.

An avid reader, Pat longed to write a book, but put her dream on hold as she raised a family and worked in an NICU, a place of true miracles. It wasn’t until 1996, after her daughter left home, that Pat began writing seriously. Today, Pat loves to travel, but mostly she enjoys crafting emotionally satisfying romances where love and faith bring two people together forever. She lives in Wichita, Kansas with two dogs, her daughter and her granddaughter and still visits her parents on the farm where she grew up.

46 thoughts on “Guest post by Patricia Davids plus giveaway!”

  3. I am looking forward to reading The Shepherd’s Bride and The Amish Nanny.Thank you for the opportunity to win.I enjoy reading your books.

    Reply

  6. Would love to read one of your books. We love visiting the Amish both in Ohio and PA. I will like and share your post. Thank you for the chance.

    Reply

  9. I am really looking forward to getting your new book, it would be really great if I’d win it here, lol. I do have a question, I’m always reading about how so many farmers didn’t like sheep because of the smell, do they really smell as bad as I read in the books?

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

    Reply

  13. Love reading your Amish books. Would love to visit an Amish community sometime….OH, PA, or IN. My great Grandma’s family was Amish, I believe, and their mode of travel has always intrigued me, as I LOVE HORSES! Would be wonderful to win your book!
    Do you have a website where all of your books are listed in series?
    I have never been to KS. but our granddaughter is there in college this year!Blessings to you….CJ

    Reply

  22. Patricia,
    I have already completed this book and found it just as gripping as the rest of the series… I just wanted to say thank you for giving me such a beautiful and vivid place in Hope Springs to allow my mind’s eye to wander through while reading your books… Such peaceful joy I have found there…

    Thanks,
    Kevin

    Reply

  23. I love Amish fiction. I have shared on FB, pinned on Pinterest & Tweeted. I always share my books with family & friends. Keep up the good work.

    Reply

  24. Interesting and informative article. Would love to win a copy of this book. Thank you for another wonderful giveaway.

    Reply

  28. I’ve heard that sheep were stupid animals. Why would someone say that? I think lambs are the cutest!

    I love your books and would love to win a copy of, The Shepherd’s Bride. Thanks for such interesting research info!

    Blessings!
    Judy B
    judyjohn2004(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

    1. I think they are considered stupid because they blindly follow the leader but most herd animals do that. I’ve seen them trained to pull a cart the same as a horse. Lambs are the cutest.

      Reply

  34. i really love reading amish books! they are so inspiring and show that no matter what you are going through, if you turn to God, it will be more bearable. your problem will not go away, but it is so much easier to handle. [email protected]

    Reply

  35. I enjoyed this post and learning about The Shepherd’s Bride.
    Years ago I helped a friend with her barn chores where she raised sheep along with horses.
    I loved being around them. You do get used to the smell and lambing time is such an amazing time. I had not heard about their survival abilities in snow.
    For some reason when I read the comment about herd mentality I thought about all the references about sheep and shepherds in the Bible.
    thank you .

    Reply

  37. This books sounds great can’t wait to read it. Thank you for the chance of winning a copy of this book. I can’ t always find the Love Inspired books at a lot of stores, but I hope the stores will start carrying the books more often, I have put in a request for the books. thanks for the great storyline in this book.

    Reply

  39. I shared this lovely contest on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you for giving us a chance to win your book! Happy Easter weekend!

    Reply

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