Welcome back, Beth. Do
you have a favorite genre to write? If so, what is it?
I’m blessed to be able to “genre hop” between Amish Fiction
and Contemporary Fiction. I got my big writing break with an Amish series, at a
time when no one in the industry really knew if Amish stories were going to
stick. But after two Amish series and numerous Amish novellas, it’s still a hot
genre eight years later. I enjoy writing about the Plain people, but I’ve also
penned several non-Amish books—Need You
Now, The House that Love Built, and The
Promise. I’m grateful to my publisher, HarperCollins Christian Fiction, for
allowing me to try new things. I think that by alternating between Amish and
Non-Amish stories, it keeps me from getting bored with one genre or the other. I’m
not sure I can pick a favorite genre, but all of my stories are relationship
driven. I can’t imagine writing a book that didn’t delve deep into a
character’s psyche.
If you didn’t live in
the part of the country where you do, where would you live?
This is a question my husband and I continue to ponder. We
love to travel, and there are still a lot of places we hope to visit. Hubby
Patrick says we will know when we see that perfect place we were meant to live,
but I’m wondering if I could ever leave my home state—Texas . You know what they say … it’s great
to go on a trip, but it’s even better to arrive back home.
What foreign country
would you like to visit and why?
That would be
wonderful. Describe what you think would be the most romantic vacation you
could take.
I’m pretty sure we’ve had the most romantic vacation we
could take. I can’t imagine anything being more romantic than a recent trip to
the Mexican Riviera. My husband’s employer gifted us with an “over the top”
trip in 2014. We stayed in the Presidential Suite at Riviera Maya, complete
with private butlers, our own pool, indoor/outdoor bathtubs, exquisite meals,
private beach cabanas, and a host of other amenities that made it beyond
romantic. Following a wonderful meal prepared by chefs in our suite, we
followed a trail of rose petals to a bubble bath where rose petals floated atop
luxurious bubbles, lit candles, and champagne. They were speaking my language,
lol.
Sounds wonderful.
James and I have spent time in Manzanilla, which is near the Mexican Riviera
I have one book set
in Montana
There are four short stories in An Amish Year. Two of the
novellas have been published before, and we added two new tales to the mix. While
these short stories are romantic in nature, there are also strong secondary
characters sharing the stage with the main players. These subplots not only
enhance the romance, but also add aspects of interest to readers who don’t want
just a straight romance. All of my books are reflective of my own life and
always include themes of forgiveness, faith, hope, and love.
Tell us about the
story.
My favorite story in the collection is A Love for Irma Rose. In 2008, I released my first book—Plain Perfect. It was Book #1 in the
Daughters of the Promise series, and it included my most beloved
characters—Jonas and Irma Rose. This elderly couple stole the hearts of
readers, and for the past eight years readers have asked me to write their love
story when they were teenagers. I was finally able to do that in this novella
collection. The year is 1957, Burger King had just released the Whopper, “Jail
House Rock” was playing at the movie theater, and Amish boys raced buggies for
sport, much like they still do now. It was fun to write about that time period,
incorporating the Amish ways into a story that revived my two most popular
characters, and finally being able to give readers a story they’d asked for.
Sounds like a fun
read. Please give us the first page of the book.
A Love For Irma Rose by
Beth Wiseman
1957, FIFTY-THREE
YEARS EARLIER
Jonas clutched the reins with sweaty hands, his fingers
twitching as he waited for Amos Hostetler to blow the whistle, signaling the
start of the race. He glanced to his right and scanned the crowd, at least
fifteen onlookers—including Irma Rose Kauffman. This buggy race down Blackhorse Road was
more than a friendly competition. More than just a group of Amish kids enjoying
their rumschpringe on a Saturday afternoon. He peered to his left at Isaac
Lapp’s flaring nostrils, knowing that his rival for Irma Rose’s affections
wanted to win as badly as he did. Jonas knew that pride was a sin, as Isaac
surely did, but when it came to Irma Rose, Jonas figured Isaac’s thoughts were
as jumbled as his own. Jonas had been waiting to court Irma Rose for three years,
since right after his father died. He recalled the way she lit his soul at a
time when his grief threatened to overtake him. And now that she was sixteen,
her parents were allowing her a few freedoms.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
I hang out at “Fans of Beth Wiseman” on Facebook, but my
website—www.bethwiseman.com —is a “one stop” for everything. There are book
descriptions and trailers, a place to sign up for my newsletter, and the first
chapter of all of my books are free on my website. A true “try before you buy”
system, lol, with links to most retail sites. I’m also on Twitter @bethwiseman,
and I have a site at Fine Art of America where I showcase my photography.
Thank you, Beth, for sharing this book with us. I know my readers will enjoy it, and I look forward to my copy arriving. I want to read about Jonas and Irma Rose.
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