Suzanne Woods Fisher: The World I Write In

My office is a little tiny laundry room. It’s so narrow that if someone wants to use the washer or dryer, my chair gets bumped as they pass. (A good excuse for typos!)

People think I’m crazy, that I should move into a bigger space and spread out. Especially, they point out, as my children have gone to college and space is freeing up. It does seem crazy—I have typed fourteen novels in this laundry room and I host a weekly radio show in it.

But I just can’t seem to move. I’ve tried a couple of times and find myself migrating back to the laundry room.

One of the reasons is very practical: the laundry room is in the heart of the house, right off the kitchen, so I can jump up and get the phone, get dinner started, answer the door. The laundry room is painfully short on horizontal surface space, I admit, but it is valuable real estate.

There’s another reason that is harder to explain.

Years ago, when I took the plunge and decided to write a novel, I kept it a secret. I spent four months in that little laundry room, quietly typing away. I didn’t tell anyone I was writing a novel. Not my husband, not my sister, not my children, not a single friend. When I was done with the first draft (remember—the first draft is the ugly draft), I made an announcement at the dinner table one evening. “I wrote a novel,” I proudly said.

My sons, who are so extremely sensitive, looked at each other and said, “That’s why there’s no food in this house!” True story.

I’m getting sidetracked. Like usual.

Fast forward a year or two. One Monday afternoon, the doorbell rang and set the dogs off on their typical bark-fest (Labrador retrievers take greeting responsibilities very seriously). I opened the door to the UPS delivery guy. He was grinning ear-to-ear. Next to him…were six stacked boxes of books.

My first published novel.

The laundry room is off the kitchen, but if you were to look at the footprint of our house, it’s actually situated only a few yards away from the front door. I’ll never forget, as I held my first novel in my hands, with that fresh-from-the-printer-y smell, the realization that it all started in that tiny laundry room, with an idea. It traveled to an agent, to editors, back with zillions of rejection letters, at long last, back came an acceptance, then revisions to the manuscript, back and forth with the editor. And here it was, back home again in another form. What a long journey!

And that’s why my office will stay in the laundry room. It just…works.

Suzanne will be giving away a copy of her latest release, The Lesson, on Friday. Be sure to stop by The Borrowed Book for your chance to win!

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Did You Know? ~ Sewing Machines-Introduction

I began sewing many of my own clothes when I was 14. Using the family sewing machine, I stitched my way through high school, making my prom dresses, as well as everyday clothes. But it wasn’t until 1978, when I was 21, that I finally got my own machine, a Kenmore from the Sears Outlet Store. I loved that machine. Over the next 22 years, I used it constantly, sewing clothes for me, my daughter, and her dolls. I learned to quilt, discovering a whole new sewing hobby.  
 
But in 2000 my life was turned upside down. In years following I lost the joy I’d once found in many things, including sewing. I put my machine away, along with my stash of quilting fabric. I wondered if I would ever return to sewing or if it was something gone forever.

Then a couple months ago my stepdaughter and husband needed their pants hemmed—again. I was tired of doing it by hand so I dug out the old Kenmore. And in that simple task, I rediscovered my sewing joy. . .that peaceful feeling I used to experience when the sewing machine hummed.

Glorious day! I was ready to sew again. Unfortunately, my Kenmore wasn’t. It had grown cranky from age and neglect. Perhaps, I thought, the time had come for a new machine. And so I blithely began shopping only to discover the space age of sewing. Wow! Things have changed. Sewing machines are computer driven and do things easily that used to be so hard, like making button holes. The choices are confusing. I felt like my grandmother must have felt when she went from her old treadle machine to an electric sewing machine.

But in the midst of all this sewing machine brouhaha, I began to wonder when the first sewing machine was invented and by whom. As usual, I uncovered some interesting facts, but I’ll have to wait until next week to share those with our readers since my introduction to this topic was so wordy.

Next week. . .sewing machine patent wars.

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The Story behind The Lesson (Revell) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

In every novel, I try to weave some true-to-life elements from the Plain life into the plot line. In The Budget (an Amish-Mennonite newspaper), I had noticed references to Plain families fostering children whose mothers were serving jail terms. The Plain families weren’t trying to convert the children—they cared for them, took them to visit their mothers, and the result was a noticeable reduction in recidivism. I used that piece of information in the plot line for The Lesson, my newest novel. 

There’s something I hope sticks with a readers after reading The Lesson: the impact of love. There is a theme of unconditional love in this story that weaves its way through many characters’ lives and changes them forever.  

Amish fiction is all about good characters. The main character in this story is one of my favorites: Mary Kate (M.K.) Lapp. She is one of a kind. Bright, curious, amusing, with a nose for trouble. She means well, acts first and thinks later. We first meet M.K. as a young girl in “The Keeper” and “The Haven.” Fast forward to “The Lesson.” M.K. is nineteen and restless for adventure. It arrives on page one! Two young people with a mysterious past land in Stoney Ridge on the very day a sheep farmer is shot and killed. M.K., who fancies herself a part-time detective, decides the local sheriff needs a little crime-solving help. Naturally, she ends up creating all kinds of complications. Not exactly the “simple” life you’d expect in an Amish novel.  

I’m often asked why Amish fiction is such a “hot” genre. There’s probably a couple of reasons: the tragedy at the Nickel Mines one-room schoolhouse shone a national spotlight on the Amish, then the sub-genre took off as the recession hit in full force. The character-driven stories invite readers into another world, pastoral and uncomplicated, where one feels renewed and re-energized after closing a book. The very goal of inspirational fiction!  

But there’s a deeper layer to the Amish. Those buggies and the bonnets and the beards—they distract us. There’s so much more to learn from the Plain people than how to dress or drive. 

What has touched me in a deep way is the intentional forgiveness of the Old Order Amish. We just don’t emphasize that enough in our modern churches. To the Amish, it’s a daily attitude of “letting things go, big and small.” They place great importance on forgiving others because of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount: “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15). It gives one pause for thought… 
I enjoy writing Amish fiction because it’s a quiet way to point people toward a better life, using Amish characters as the illustration. The Amish are the first to say they aren’t perfect, and I try not to over-glamorize them, but at their best, they are close to the heart of Christ. They make choices that are counterintuitive to human nature (turning the other cheek even if you run out of cheeks, for example). It’s challenging and inspiring to take those moments of decision, common to all of us, and turn them into a story. A good one, I hope!

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Keeper, The Haven, ‘The Lancaster County Secrets’ series, A Lancaster County Christmas, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is fascinated by faith-based communities. Her interest in the Anabaptist culture can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is the host of Amish Wisdom, a weekly radio program, is a columnist for Christian Post and has a free downloadable app, Amish Wisdom, that delivers a daily Amish proverb. She lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

You can find Suzanne on-line at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com, at www.Facebook.com/SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor and her twitter handle is @suzannewfisher.  

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May I Borrow From Your Book? ~ Piece de Resistance

About this Feature: Writing letters to characters and/or authors is nothing new, but here's the twist: these letters will be all about borrowing, in keeping with our blog title. They can be funny or serious, sweet or sassy, short or more in-depth. My hope is that the letters will be entertaining or inspiring to read and will show appreciation to authors - and to the Lord for giving us creativity! (You can click the button and then scroll down to read previously posted letters.)

I'll plan on sharing a letter every other week. If you'd like to submit a letter of your own to be posted here, feel free to e-mail me at amberstokes@corban.edu.

Today's letter is for Lexi, the heroine of Piece de Resistance by Sandra Byrd:

Dear Lexi,

It was great catching up on all the exciting happenings in your life! (I missed your big trip to France, but it sounds like it was quite the experience!) A few months ago, when I read about your initial after-college adventures and misadventures, I could really relate to your uncertainties and struggles to find where you belong and what you really love to do - and discover how to support yourself and find some independence. I'm still in that stage of my life, but look at you! You've gained so much confidence and really opened yourself up to God's leading. Not to mention the wonderful people you've met along the way! *wink* 

I'm inspired by your honest faith and your ingenuity. I recently started a business of my own (freelance editing - a bit different than wedding cakes, I suppose!). I love how you navigate the marketing waters! In fact, would you mind if I borrow some of your business savvy? We could meet up at Bijoux and brainstorm for a bit. I know this is still pretty new to you, too, but you've got some great ideas, and I would love a heart-to-heart chat, some friendly advice, and maybe a few cake samples... 

Sincerely,
Amber 

The first book in this series, Let Them Eat Cake, is currently FREE for Kindle! And the second and third books (Bon Appetit and Piece de Resistance) are only $.99 each for Kindle! This special deal (plus a scrumptious petit fours giveaway) lasts through Valentine's Day - a great treat for the holiday!

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Sunday Devotional: Weary in the Waiting

And let us not grow weary ...

But Lord, I am weary. I am so stinking tired.

... while doing good ...

Or, as the King James says, in well-doing. Which, as I recall from a Beth Moore study, I know is from a Greek term which carries the connotation of “being excellent.” Which translates to, don’t get tired of pursuing excellence. But just how long do I have to keep trying to be better, Lord? When am I “good enough”?

... for in due season ...

Yeah, yeah, when the season is right ... here we go with seasons. This is familiar territory. I grew up watching the fields being planted in the spring with various crops, saw them grow until you couldn’t see the dirt between the rows, and finally—finally as the days stop being hot, and the evenings are crisp and cool, and when the plants are finally spent and dead—

Oh.

Fall comes, the plants die.

The plants have to die, and then the harvest is brought in.

But it isn’t that way with every crop—summer gardens, for instance, can go on and on, and some plants actually produce for weeks before the plants are finally spent.

Still, there is plucking, and tearing, and in some cases, uprooting of the whole plant to get to that harvest.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap ...

Is that it? Is there some part of me that must wither and die and be ready to fall away before You can bring the harvest, Lord?

... we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

And I wonder, how can I not lose heart when the wait is so long, when spring turns to summer, and summer turns to fall, and the green in my leaf is drying and the stalk is withery and dry?

But then—the wind of your Spirit blows over me, and I hear Your voice whisper, I have not forgotten you. You shall reap.

It seems a Catch-22: I will reap, but only if I do not lose heart—but I find the strength to not lose heart because I believe His promises are true, and therefore, I will reap. One of the weird and wonderful paradoxes of His word.

There is the heart of the matter—can we trust His word? He calls Himself Faithful and True—do we believe He keeps his promises? And when I’m at a point where I cannot hold myself to faith, does He hold me there?

Can we dare to believe the mystery that strength is to be found in the waiting itself?

From Isaiah 40 (NKJV):

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

(Galatians 6:9 also from the NKJV)

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Winners!!

Happy Saturday, BB fans! Thanks to everyone who participated in our "puzzling" Friday giveaway! Keep all those facebook and Twitter notifications, coming!

This week's winner is: Bluerose - Catherine's Pursuit by Lena Nelson Dooley! 

Congratulations, Bluerose! Thank you all so much for stopping by The Borrowed Book!

Don't forget...everyone's a winner when you download your copy of Maggie's Journey, FREE until 02/12/13.

Christianbooks.com

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

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Weekly Drawing

It's Fun Friday at The Borrowed Book!

I'm thrilled to announce that we have TWO books available to our readers this week!! Maggie's Journey, by Lena Nelson Dooley, is available February 5th - February 12th for FREE download for Kindle, Nook, Kobo and Sony ereaders. To get your own copy visit:

Christianbooks.com

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

And now, to enter the drawing for a copy of Catherine's Pursuit by Lena Nelson Dooley:

Leave the time it took you to complete the puzzle in the comments section as well as your email address for notifying you if you've won. Winners will be drawn from ALL of the times, so the person with the fastest time may not be the actual winner, but by leaving your time, you double your chances.

Want another entry? Tweet your puzzle time and mention The Borrowed Book, get another entry. RETWEET our Tweet, get two entries!

Post your puzzle time on BB's Facebook wall and...you guessed it...get another entry!

Post it on your OWN Facebook wall and you could get as many as FIVE entries.

It's all a way to spread the word about the great giveaways on BB. So c'mon! Help us spread the word, and have a little fun at the same time. :-)

This week's puzzle feature is brought to you by Lena Nelson Dooley and her newest release, Catherine's Pursuit.

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