Murder Simply Brewed is the first in the the Village trilogy, and introduces readers to a fantastic set of characters that you will want to spend more time with! So come, join me as I discuss Murder Simply Brewed with Vannetta!
The Village – a place of
business, community and where the Englisch and Amish intersect. This was fascinating to me! Do such places exist? What was your inspiration for The Village?
Yes, they do exist! My inspiration for this story was the
Essenhaus in Middlebury, IN
.
I thought it was awesome
that the Amish faith challenged something in Amber, and Amber’s confidences and self-sufficiency challenged something within
Hannah’s heart.
How likely or unlikely are such friendships? Why does this one seem to draw
one character to another?
I think these types of friendships are very possible. One of the
first Amish women I met was a lovely woman in Shipshewana, IN who worked at a
bed and breakfast. Her and the owner, an Englisch woman, were fast friends. It
was obvious that over the years they had shared many special experiences. This
was probably much of my inspiration for my Amish stories, as they often
features friendships between Amish and Englisch.
Murder among the Amish is
almost an oxymoron, but I know the Amish are merely human and susceptible to
temptation of every variety. How
difficult was it to construct a believable scenario of murder and
investigation? What research did it
require?
It wasn't that difficult! Every community has
problems--jealousies, old disputes, and misunderstandings. The beautiful think
about a murder mystery is that it allows me to show God's grace in the worst of
situations. As far as research, I'm rather a news addict, so it's easy enough
to find the information I need in today's headlines for the most part.
Do the Englisch law
enforcement have much to do with the Amish people? Is their role in any way limited by their
faith? Please share insight into this
relationship.
Amish are slow to turn to Englisch authorities, as I described in
my Shisphewana mysteries. However, they do so when necessary. For instance, a
man was robbing Amish women on "pay day" as they made their way home.
This happened on a regular basis for a few weeks, and the bishop determined it
was very important to go to local officials, who then did catch and convict the
man. I don't think they'd go to the police for minor matters, but if someone is
in danger then they will.
Tate Bowman is, by far,
one of my favorite characters! He begins
as a pretty tragic character but evolves into one of the strongest characters
by the end of the story. Who was your inspiration for this character?
I love writing a reluctant hero - someone who does not want to be
in the spotlight but rises to the occasion when he's needed. My inspiration for
Tate was my husband. He's a very quiet unassuming guy, but he's always there
when someone needs his help.
How often, that anyone is
able to take notice, do Englisch convert to being Amish? Will that be an issue that Amber will walk
through in subsequent stories?
I don't believe many people convert to the Amish faith, but I do
believe that many people choose to simply their life and to make their faith
more central in their day-to-day living as a result of their interactions with
the Amish.
Does Murder Simply Brewed begin a series? If so, how many stories from the Village will
readers enjoy?
Yes! There will be 3 books in all. Book 2, Murder Tightly Knit,
will release and December. We'll have all of the same characters but a new set
of problems!
Can you give readers a
sneak peek at your next project?
I can tell you that we'll find out whether Jesse and Hanna's
relationship can endure hardship. We'll also take a peek into the
"survivalist culture" and see what those folks have in common with
the Amish community. I very much enjoyed writing this book, and I love, love,
love the ending.
What has God been up to in
your writing life that you’d like to share with your readers?
I've been amazed at the letters and emails I receive from readers
telling me how much these stories have touched their hearts. Strange for a
murder mystery? Maybe, but maybe not. AT their heart, I try to write stories of
God's grace.
What closing words of
encouragement would you like to leave with us?
That God does have a plan for each of us. We might not always
understand it, and there might be times when we scratch our heads and say
"What?" But we can trust the Lord our God, and we can rest in that
assurance.
Thanks for having me on your blog!
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