P.L. Gaus's Blog: From Ohio's Amish Country, page 7

Whiskers of The Lion, the Ninth Amish-Country Mystery, Coming March 31, 2015

Whiskers of The Lion is the story of Fannie Helmuth, a young Amish woman who finds herself running from a viscious drug cartel.  It is the novel that finally will answer all of the questions left hanging in the previous story, The Names of Our Tears.  Where has Fannie been hiding all summer long?  What can be done to protect her from Teresa Molina?  Who really is Jodie Tapp, friend or foe?  And what is Sheriff Bruce Robertson willing to do in order to solve the latest murder in Holmes County, and to protect Fannie Helmuth from the murderers?

 

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A Ninth Amish-Country Mystery is Coming in 2015

My ninth Amish-Country Mystery, Whiskers of The Lion, will be published by Plume on March 31, 2015.  It is the continuing story of Fannie Helmuth, one of the young Amish women caught up in a drug smuggling scheme in the eighth novel, The Names of Our Tears.  Now with Whiskers of The Lion, Fannie’s story is revealed, starting with the day when she arrives on a Greyhound bus in Memphis, with her friend Howie Dent.

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A Lecture and Book Signing at the Public Library in Dover, Ohio, and Announcing My Ninth Novel

My book talk at Dover Public Library is coming up on October 7, 2014, from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm, and I hope very much that fans and readers of mine can attend.  I will have copies of the first eight Amish-Country Mysteries for sale and signing.  The address is 525 N. Walnut St., Dover, Ohio 44622.  Contact Jim Gill, the library's director, for more information, at 330-343-6123.





Then in new news, I am happy to announce that the ninth Amish-Country Mystery, Whiskers of the Lion, will be published by Plume on March 31, 2015.  Here is the cover for the novel.

Photos From Ohio's Amish Country: Summer-20

A golden sun sneaks in under a summer storm, lighting field rakes with the glow of an orange sparkle. Of all of my images of Amish farms, this is my favorite.

Photos From Ohio's Amish Country: Summer-19

In Holmes County, it is the time of year when the wheat is harvested.  Here the mower stands idle while the family stacks the wheat in shocks.  It is slow and quiet work, and everyone helps with the task, even the youngest and the oldest of the families.  This is a particularly large field, and the job will take several days.

Photos From Ohio's Amish Country: Summer-18

Sometimes Amish women work the fields.  Here is one baling hay.  Notice that the wheels of the baler are made of plain steel.  That's an indication of a more conservative Amish practice.  But also notice that she is not taking up the hay with a hand rake and a flat wagon.  That would be the strictest, oldest order practice.

Photos From Ohio's Amish Country: Summer-17

When an Amish family needs a new barn, people come from several church districts and townships to help with the task.  Here the younger men are working hard in the rafters.  In addition to the men you can see, there was an equal number inside the structure, building lofts and stalls.  What you don't see in the picture is all the women and children in the yard beside the barn, putting together the noon meal.  If you can arrange to see one of these barn raisings, I think you would be amazed by the organization and industry it takes to finish the job in a single day.

Photos From Ohio's Amish Country: Summer-16

This Old Order Amish farmer is raking hay.  He'll turn the rows of hay a couple of times before he takes it up, so that it can dry in the sun on all sides.  You've heard the adage that one should 'make hay while the sun shines?'  That's so the hay can dry thoroughly before it is taken in.  Otherwise wet hay can smolder to the point of spontaneous combustion.  The result is a barn fire.  That's why no farmer will allow wet hay in the barn.

Photos From Ohio's Amish Country: Summer-15

An Old Order Amish woman waits for the bus with her son.  Clothes like that have got to be hot in summer.

Photos From Ohio's Amish Country: Summer-14

A father and three of his sons had their wagon out the other day, heading into the fields.  That's a slow ride in a slow life.  Maybe they are lucky.  Afterall they will never spend a minute worrying about their investment portfolios.  They will never be searched by airport security.