An Amish Family

This novel took me by surprise. Somehow with all of my author stalking (and interview with Kathleen just four months ago) I missed the announcement about An Amish Family. My partner in crime, Fizzy and I, are so grateful to Kathleen for taking time out of her busy schedule to sit down with us again to talk about An Amish Family.

Make sure to check out today’s Goodreads Monday to learn more about An Amish Family.

I’d like to take this time now to welcome Kathleen back to the blog! Thank you for joining us, Kathleen!

Fizzy: OK, I just have to say it, when we talked back in February not one word was mentioned about the ‘An Amish Family’ novella collection that is coming out on the 12th. So, spill the beans already.

Kathleen: Um, I didn’t? Oops. Here are the beans: An Amish Family is a novella collection by moi, featuring two new novellas (Building Trust and Surprised by Love) and two novellas previously published (Amish Cradle and Amish Second Christmas). I’m excited about this collection because it’s a great way for new readers to sample my writing and the stories are fun reads. Also, fun fact—June 12th is my twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Yes, I got married when I was five.

Fizzy: Better beans than even jelly beans. Perhaps not as much as chocolate covered espresso beans however. . .just sayin’

Kristin: ‘Building Trust’ and ‘Surprised by Love’ are two brand new novellas included in this collection. Are these all new characters or do they have a role in previously released stories or collections? I want to say that somewhere I saw that at least one of these is a continuation of a previous novella.

Kathleen: Both novellas have new characters and a few that were in previous novellas as secondary characters. Building Trust is a sequel to Building Faith from An Amish Home, and Surprised by Love is the sequel to Lakeside Love in An Amish Summer.

Fizzy: With this surprise collection of novellas it begs the question, which do you prefer to write novellas or full-length novels? Why?

Kathleen: I love writing novellas. I started out writing short stories, so shorter forms of fiction suit me well. Novellas can be a challenge, though, since writing a complete story in a shorter book can be difficult at times. But I definitely prefer the novellas.

Fizzy: Hmm, I need to contemplate on this. Perhaps because I tend to use all the words the succinctness required to successfully pull off a novella is not something I’d feel successful at. Then again, that’s probably why I’m not the writer :D

Kristin: Inquiring minds need to know what one might listen to when one is writing Amish romance stories. Is there a playlist that helps to set the scene and develop the characters or do you need silence to exact your happily ever afters?

Kathleen: One might listen to Disco, R&B, Korean Pop Music, Indie Songwriters, Bluegrass, 80s New Wave, 90s Alternative, and a smattering of Classical. Most of the time I write to the dulcet tones of dogs barking at the mailman, the cats, a stray leaf floating in the backyard, or at absolutely nothing.

Fizzy: Why do I feel like I’m being quoted all the channel titles from the music streaming service of choice?

Kristin: I would not have pegged you to be a K-pop fan. I thought you might things like Hanson. I might have seen you MMMbopping on Facebook a time or two.

Fizzy: We know that coffee, chocolate, and cheese top your favorite food groups. If you could build your own food pyramid what would be your top 5 food groups in order of importance for happy taste buds?

Kathleen: Happy taste buds require sugar, carbs, dairy, meat, and a rare veggie and fruit. However, I try not to appease my taste buds too often, so I eat a reasonable diet. Flip my pyramid around and you have the pyramid I strive for, but don’t always reach.

Fizzy: I didn’t hear bacon there. Are you sure we can be friends?

Kristin: I notice that you travel a lot (I may or may not stalk you on Facebook). Do we know you well enough to admit that we’re author stalkers? (We are harmless, I promise) Where are your favorite places to travel and what do you like to do on vacation? Are you a lazy vacationer like I am? I may have laid in the hammock for about 90% of my time on vacation. Or, are you a vacationer that likes to try all the stuff. (Work with me here, I’m trying to be personal and engaging but it requires the use of all the words and I’m not the author here!)

Kathleen: Stalk away, I don’t mind! It’s funny because I love to travel, but up until the end of last year I was unable to due to my kids being in school, and then I had some debilitating back problems. This year my husband’s job requires that he work in Denver, CO part time, so we go there every month. I’ve had some successful treatment on my back, so traveling is easier now (unfortunately not pain free, though). So the travel I’m doing right now is either for my husband’s job or my job (book signings, conferences/conventions, etc). When it comes to vacations, I’m usually on the move. I would last about an hour in the hammock and then I’d have to do something else. When I’m healthy and feeling good I love to explore places and see new things, then come back and relax. The beach or mountains are preferable.

Kristin: Hey, Fizzy…we have permission to stalk! She has no idea what she just got herself into. I have health issues as well so I totally get the, “When I’m feeling good” thing. I love to explore with my camera but I also love hours in the hammock too. I’m not ashamed to admit that the sloth is my spirit animal. Actually, it’s the turtle but that’s a long story for another day.

Fizzy: I have to go back to our February interview again for a minute. How the gravy do you write in the car??! I mean like pencil/pen and paper, phone typing (shudder), tablet? This has played on my mind for months!

Kathleen: I use my phone or computer, depending on the distance. I don’t get car sick easily, so that helps. I can’t do pen and paper though because I wouldn’t be able to read my handwriting. The car isn’t the easiest place for me to write in, but once I get into a groove I don’t notice my surroundings. I wrote in the car a couple weeks ago on my phone while I was waiting for someone (I can’t remember who. The joys of getting old.) I’d never get a book done if I had to write in the same place at the same time every day.

Fizzy: I may or may not have written a few blog posts on the computer in the car. I totally get the not car sick, I do however get phone typing sick. I just can’t do it!

Kristin: I hate you both. I get carsick while I’m driving sometimes. But, I love you both too. ;-)

About Kathleen Fuller

Kathleen Fuller is an American writer, specializing in Christian and Amish romantic fiction. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas and currently resides in Geneva, Ohio with her husband, James Fuller, and three children.