Bestselling author Beverly Lewis, whose evocative novels bring the “Plain” heritage and rolling farmlands of Pennsylvania to life.
Exploring The Heart Of Lancaster County Through Authentic Storytelling
Through her personal family history and deep community ties, Beverly Lewis crafts authentic Amish narratives that explore universal themes of forgiveness, grace, and the search for belonging in modern society.
B everly Lewis is a name synonymous with the “Plain” lifestyle of the Amish. As a pioneer of Amish fiction, she has sold over 19 million copies of her books, which have been translated into a dozen languages. Her narratives do more than just entertain; they serve as a bridge between the modern world and the sequestered communities of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In this exclusive insight, sourced from Mosaic Digest, Lewis reflects on her inspirations, her deep-rooted family history, and the spiritual threads that bind her work together.
The seeds of Lewis’s literary career were sown in her childhood. Growing up in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, she was fascinated by the Old Order communities. However, her connection was more than merely observational; it was deeply personal. Her maternal grandmother, Ada Buchwalter, had been an Old Order Mennonite who chose to leave her community to marry. This decision resulted in Ada being excommunicated and shunned—a heartbreaking family legacy that eventually inspired Lewis’s breakout novel, The Shunning.
A masterful pioneer of faith-based fiction, Beverly Lewis balances cultural sensitivity with profound emotional depth to inspire millions of readers.
Authenticity is the hallmark of a Beverly Lewis novel. To maintain this, she relies on decades of personal interaction rather than just academic research. “From my youth, I have engaged with Amish vendors at farmers’ markets and roadside stands,” Lewis explains. Following the success of her early work, she began staying with Amish families during the summer months to immerse herself in their daily rhythms. This dedication earned her the trust of the community. Today, Amish women serve as her primary research consultants, often bonding over their shared Plain heritage. Out of respect for their privacy, Lewis maintains a strict “trust factor,” never revealing their identities in her acknowledgements.
Highlights
- The Inspiration of Grandma Ada: Discover how the real-life shunning of Lewis’s grandmother inspired her landmark novel, The Shunning.
- Unrivalled Authenticity: Insights into how Lewis conducts research by living with Amish families and consulting with “Plain” women.
- The Magic of Hickory Hollow: The story behind the fictional town that has become a pilgrimage site for fans in Lancaster County.
- Universal Themes: Why stories about a cloistered culture resonate so deeply with global audiences through the pursuit of love and purpose.
- Writing Advice: Lewis’s tips for aspiring authors on immersive research and finding a protagonist’s true voice.
In her latest work, The Christmas House, Lewis explores the delicate balance of community and belonging. The story follows an Amish protagonist, Liz Lantz, who attempts to bridge the gap with an “English” (non-Amish) family that has moved into the area. Through Liz, Lewis encourages a philosophy of listening without judging—a message she believes is vital for the real world. “I create characters who are relatable and long for the things all humans yearn for—to love and be loved, to have a purpose, and to triumph over life’s challenges,” she says.
While many of her stories are set in the fictional town of Hickory Hollow, the setting feels so tangible that fans frequently travel to Pennsylvania in search of it. Lewis admits she based the location on a specific area west of Route 340, and while there is no official signage for the town, the “sea of cornfields and two-story barns” she describes are very much real. This immersive atmosphere is where Lewis masterfully balances romance with cultural exploration. In her tales of “English/Amish” attraction, it is often the outsider who must make the larger concession, drawn in by the tenacious adherence to centuries-old traditions and the unique Pennsylvania Dutch language.
At the heart of every sentence is Lewis’s own faith. She views her storytelling process much like a handcrafted Amish quilt, where themes of forgiveness, grace, and mercy are painstakingly woven into the fabric of the plot. “I depend on divine guidance for the writing of each new story idea,” she notes, hoping her work provides a “wholesome reading option” that educates readers about a misunderstood people group.
For aspiring authors looking to tackle culturally specific or faith-based narratives, Lewis offers pragmatic advice: “Write what’s burning in your heart… as though the reader is your dearest friend.” She stresses the importance of deep immersion and impartial feedback, urging writers to go far beyond “adequate” research to find the soul of their story.
Through her commitment to authenticity and her empathy for the human condition, Beverly Lewis continues to be a cornerstone of faith-filled fiction, touching both the minds and souls of readers across the globe.
