Star-Journbal Editor
Kate Weaver comes from the unfamiliar world of the Amish.
But the husband and wife team who created the fictional character hope that her spiritual journey will inspire readers from all walks of life to become more open to the truth, freedom, and rewards of a God-graced life.
As always, Maynard Knepp and Carol Duerkson, the authors of the well-known Amish novels in the Jonas Series and the Skye Series, felt excited and blessed this past week when they opened the box from the printer containing first copies of their newest book, "Who's Kate?"
"It's our 11th book, so it probably is not as exciting as 'Runaway Buggy' [their first book] was," Duerkson said.
"But it's always exciting."
Knepp and Duerkson are a Christian couple approaching their 25th anniversary, who live on a farm between Hillsboro and Goessel.
They have co-written 10 other Amish-themed books that have sold more than 55,000 copies over the past decade.
Their books portray the Amish as real people who face many of the same decisions, joys and sorrows as everyone else, as well as those that are unique to their culture.
This week, as they embark on another new book marketing campaign, the self-publisher's prayers are for more than just sales, but also that "Who's Kate?" will help renew souls.
"When we began writing, it was more storytelling and informational," Duerksen said. "Now it's also about challenging people's beliefs, ideas, and perspectives on life."
The couple has scheduled a book signing for "Who's Kate?" from 10:30 a.m. until noon Friday at Thee Bookstore, 117 N. Main Street, in Hillsboro.
While they expect to see many loyal readers of their previous books Friday, they hope to attract new readers; readers who might discover something spiritual and universal in common with this atypical, middle-aged, Amish woman's journey of faith.
"Her spiritual journey happens to be on a buggy, but in the process of the book she's trying to decide if she wants to stay on the buggy," Duerksen said. "It's a spiritual journey for her and hopefully for the people who read it.
"A book like this also was a process for us to think about what we believe. I was working through some of the same stuff Kate was. We just want people to go deeper in their spiritual thoughts, like Kate did."
Although most of the books are written at about the eighth-grade level, they are popular with readers from 10 to more than 100 years old, especially men, who enjoy the quick-read style, she said.
In addition to making their books thought provoking and an adventure to read, the couple takes seriously their role of presenting an accurate picture of Amish life to a curious public.
To help them make sure they're staying true to the tenants and customs of the faith, they often consult with Knepp's oldest brother, a bishop at an Amish congregation near Yoder.
Maynard grew up Amish near Yoder in a house without electricity. Like most Amish, he went to school through the eighth grade, and then worked outside of the home, bringing his pay back to the family from the time he was 16. At 18, he left home and did not return to the Amish way of life. Instead, he later joined a Mennonite fellowship in South Hutchinson.
Carol grew up in a Mennonite home and attended Bethel College. She was working as a full-time freelance writer, editing business newsletters, Christian youth magazines, and writing Sunday school curriculum and devotional materials.
The couple decided years ago not to "do diapers," and instead have put their love and energy into the young people at Tabor Mennonite Church near Goessel, and into exchange students with American Intercultural Student Exchange.
Their current exchange student, junior Lisa Rohner, from Germany, recently placed third overall and led Goessel's girls to a second place team finish in the Class 1A State Cross Country Championship.
They also share their farm with a variety of animals, and each summer host the "Day on the Farm" outreach for inner city children and their grandparents. At Christmastime, they host the "Night in the Barn" program.
All tolled, there are 17 former exchange students living in Europe whom Carol and Maynard consider to be their adopted children.
After their first book was accepted, then rejected, by a big-time publishing house that changed its focus away from fiction, the couple formed their own publishing house, WillowSpring Downs.
They borrowed enough money to print 1,500 copies of "Runaway Buggy" in the fall of 1995, and hand-carried copies to local bookstores. By the end of the year they needed to order more books, and the rest is history.
They never thought they'd wind up writing a series of books, but their first book editor suggested that they add, "The Jonas Series, Number One" to the cover of "Runaway Buggy" anyway.
Carol mails postcards to the 2,000 or so people on their mailing list, letting them know another book is published. At the same time they'll make sure that local book outlets, including a restaurant in Yoder, continue to have all of the titles available.
According to the book's synopsis, "Who's Kate?" is "an extraordinary sequel to "Nobody's Kate," a novel of personal discovery, faith journeys, and unique relationships.
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Pushed to open her heart and mind to new thoughts and beliefs, the woman known as Nobody's Kate discovers she belongs to God, herself, and those she meets on her journey of faith.
All of the books continue to sell at a steady pace, including the first book, which tells them that new readers are finding their books every day.
While earthly fame and fortune aren't what these Mennonites seek, a bookseller on the Internet web site eBay recently has given them 99 reasons to smile.
"Somebody on eBay is trying to sell a first edition, signed copy of 'Runaway Buggy' for $99," Carol said. "We were like, 'That's so cool!'"
