Audra Jennings

Everyone has a story, and as Lorilee Craker writes in the new book Homespun: Amish and Mennonite Women in Their Own Words (Herald Press), “I knew from early on that there were lots of different kinds of Mennonite stories.” She should know. She’s a self-described simple Mennonite girl from the prairies. In the pages of Homespun, Amish and Plain Mennonite women swap stories and spin yarns while the reader sits in. As the book’s editor Craker collected these personal writings and authentic perspectives on life, hospitality, home, grief, joy, and walks with God from Anabaptist women’s periodicals. Among the stories shared are essays penned by well-loved Amish and Mennonite writers such as Sherry Gore, Linda Byler, Lovina Eicher, Dorcas Smucker, and Sheila Petre. While her own story isn’t included Homespun, here she shares a little bit of about how she was adopted into a loving Mennonite home, and adopted by a Father who knows all of our stories. Why I’m Grateful for My Adopti...

Part 2 of an interview with Lorilee Craker, Author of Homespun Behind Amish romance novels, tourist spots and “reality” TV shows stand real people, with longings and loves just like the rest of us. Every Amish and Mennonite woman has a story. What would it be like to be welcomed into their homes and share those stories over a cup of coffee? In the pages of Homespun: Amish and Mennonite Women in Their Own Words (Herald Press) , Amish and Plain Mennonite women swap stories and spin yarns while the reader sits in. The book’s editor, Lorilee Craker, bestselling author of Money Secrets of the Amish , collected these personal writings and authentic perspectives on life, hospitality, home, grief, joy, and walks with God from Anabaptist women’s periodicals. Among the stories shared are essays penned by well-loved Amish and Mennonite writers such as Sherry Gore, Linda Byler, Lovina Eicher, Dorcas Smucker, and Sheila Petre. Here she shares more of her own background and experien...

Part 1 of an interview with Lorilee Craker, Author of Homespun Ever wish you could visit with a group of Amish or Mennonite women over a cup of coffee? In the pages of Homespun , Amish and Plain Mennonite women swap stories and spin yarns while we listen in. Lorilee Craker, bestselling author of Money Secrets of the Amish , collects these personal writings about hospitality, home, grief, joy, and walks with God. The stories include one woman who struggles with feeling inferior to her sister, from another about her longing for a baby, and from a third who accidentally bought stretchy material to sew her husband’s pants. Each woman’s story is a testament to the grace of God and the blessings of community. Q: What was the inspiration behind your new book, Homespun ? How did you collect the stories included in the book? Herald Press approached me about being the general editor of a collection of writings from Amish and Mennonite women. I collected the stories from ma...

A big thank you to all the bloggers who are on the tour! About the book from Herald Press: Straight from the pens of Amish and Mennonite women . . . Ever wish you could visit with a group of Amish or Mennonite women over a cup of coffee? In the pages of  Homespun , Amish and Plain Mennonite women swap stories and spin yarns while we listen in. Lorilee Craker, bestselling author of  Money Secrets of the Amish , collects these personal writings about hospitality, home, grief, joy, and walks with God. Hear from one woman who struggles with feeling inferior to her sister, from another about her longing for a baby, and from a third who accidentally bought stretchy material to sew her husband’s pants. Each woman’s story is a testament to the grace of God and the blessings of community. Behind Amish romance novels and tourist spots and television shows stand real people, with longings and loves just like the rest of us. Every Amish and Mennonite woman has a ...

Story makes the world go ‘round The stories of Amish and Mennonite women in their own words Behind Amish romance novels, tourist spots and “reality” TV shows stand real people, with longings and loves just like the rest of us. Every Amish and Mennonite woman has a story. What would it be like to be welcomed into their homes and share those stories over a cup of coffee? In the pages of Homespun: Amish and Mennonite Women in Their Own Words (Herald Press/ August 7, 2018/ISBN: 978-1-5138-0316-6/$15.99) , Amish and Plain Mennonite women swap stories and spin yarns while the reader sits in. The book’s editor, Lorilee Craker , bestselling author of Money Secrets of the Amish , collected these personal writings and authentic perspectives on life, hospitality, home, grief, joy, and walks with God from Anabaptist women’s periodicals. Among the stories shared are essays penned by well-loved Amish and Mennonite writers such as S...