Beverly Lewis is an American author of over 100 books for children and adults. She is best known as the mother of the Amish Romance genre. Her first publications were in the children’s magazine Highlights before writing early chapter books and middle grade, then Amish-themed young adult books. She moved into adult Amish fiction with The Shunning in 1997. She has since written many other Amish fiction novels.
Important Events in the Life of Beverly Lewis
Beverly Lewis grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the heart of Amish country. According to Beverly Lewis’ website, “at the tender age of nine, she began writing short stories and poetry. Prior to that, she made up lyrics to the ‘little fingers’ piano pieces she learned, at the age of five. ‘My mother saved everything I wrote, even the stories I dreamed up during my grade school years,’ Beverly says.”
Beverly’s father was an Assembly of God minister, so she spent many Sundays in a church pew. But she also spent much time with Amish family members from her mother’s side. Her grandmother, Ada Ranck Buchwalter, left the Old Order Mennonites community when she married, so much of Beverly’s maternal family was still a part of the Mennonite order. Beverly’s grandmother is said to loosely be the inspiration for The Heritage of Lancaster County Series.
What Are Beverly Lewis’ Best-Known Books?
Beverly Lewis’s best known for her Amish Romance books. While she has written over 15 stand-alone novels and over 30 middle-grade novels, she is best known for her Amish book series.
With seven Amish Romance series and four young adult book series so far, Beverly Lewis has done an amazing job at letting her readers connect to characters and take them on a lifelong journey.
Her most popular is her Heritage of Lancaster County series, which was made into a movie series in 2007 through the Hallmark Channel.
The Redemption of Sarah Cain is one of her more popular stand-alone books, and was made into the movie Saving Sarah Cain in 2008.
Because of the popularity of Beverly’s books, a highly popular musical titled The Confession has been produced based on material from her books.
What Has Been Beverly Lewis’ Legacy?
While Jannette Oke is considered the pioneer in religious romantic fiction, Beverly Lewis refined the gold mine into a new subgenre we now call Amish Fiction. Her first series highlighting the Amish community was directed at young adults in her Summerville Secrets Series, published from 1995-2000. Since that series, Lewis has written over 30 books in the genre. In 2011 Shane Nelson, trade manager of Harvest House Publishers, stated, “Amish fiction titles are, by far, one of the strongest categories in our published fiction. Sales have been very positive throughout our Amish books.” Even in the 10 years since this quote, Amish fiction has a strong following.
These two questions arise in response to Beverly Lewis’ books. One is whether Beverly Lewis represented the Amish people well. The other is whether these books have been harmless entertainment in the book market or Christianized romance novels that fantasize romance in unhealthy ways.
Let’s start with Beverly Lewis’ representation of the Amish community.
Beverly Lewis’ books show a great fondness for the community she was raised in and respect and care for the people of the Amish or Mennonite culture of Pennsylvania. Much of the Amish community’s response has been positive, and almost a surprise how much Beverly Lewis knows about the Old and New Order communities. One quote from Beverly Lewis’ YouTube Series Glimpses of Lancaster County says that at a Famers market, an Amish woman approached her and said, “don’t paint us too perfect. We’re not all that different than everyone else.”
In a Beliefnet interview, Beverly Lewis says, “I think that we as modern people, there’s something in us that longs for the simple and the peaceful and just a quieter life.”
Daniel Silliman suggests in his book Reading Evangelicals that “Lewis ultimately leaves the authenticity of the Amish life open to individual interpretation in The Shunning. It is a matter of personal choice. Readers can thrill by the setting of the story, enjoying the buggies and the bonnets and the odd Amish words. Or they can identify with the woman who wants to throw off all discipline and follow her heart.”
As to the question of the ‘harmlessness’ or ‘danger’ of Christian romance, there are many polarizing views.
Many Christian romance books are allegories of biblical stories or representations of Christ’s perfect love for His church. For example, Francine River’s Redeeming Love is based on the book of Hosea and also presents a picture of love many readers associate with Christ’s love. Many Christian romance authors would say their books have a strong faith element.
However, many readers have raised concerns over when romance novels become fantasized views of love, even “porn for women.” Pornography (generally, but not exclusively marketed to men) feeds on lust—physical desires. Romance novels generally focus on relational feelings. However, like pornography, it can become a wish-fulfillment version of something good.
There is also the fact that a certain side of the romance market always has mixed romance and lust. Wrey Gregorie of Bare Marriage says, “Quite often we start reading the ‘harmless’ novels—the Janette Oke, the Amish romances, the good clean Christian books. But then we want a little more. So, we branch out a little. And pretty soon, before you know it, we’re reading… really steamy stuff.”
These concerns mean there are fine lines that authors like Beverly Lewis must tread. There is also a fine line that we, as readers, must tread. We have a responsibility to consider why we desire romance novels. We must decide if the content is breeding discontentment in our romantic relationships or pointing us toward the only One who can love us best, Jesus.
10 Quotes by Beverly Lewis
These quotes are a collection of Lewis’ quotes from interviews and interesting quotes from her books’ characters.
1. “The value of friendship, faith, and family; the need for community—these things are universal.” — Beverly Lewis from Family Fiction
2. “Courage is fear on its knees.” — The Fiddler
3 “Whenever someone has moved towards the Lord because of a story or had never known or received Christ for the first time or feel a call… that’s beyond great.” — Heritage of Truth Interview
4 “This is what reading is like to me. It’s finding a spring amid a barren land. Just when I think I might up and die of thirst, I stumble onto this fresh, cold water, and I’m suddenly given this new life because I can-and do-drink to my heart’s content.” — The Betrayal
5 “The tarter the apple, the tastier the cider.” — The Revelation
6 “God works in mysterious ways at times, so we will trust Him for the outcome. And always remember, His mercy holds us up when we reach the end of our strength.” — The Beginning
7 “The power that brought Jesus Christ back from the grave is the same power that today can meet our every need—body, mind, and spirit.” — The Orchard
8 “I’m learning that it’s not what comes our way that matters so much as it is how we react.” — The Timepiece
9 “We can trust the Savior even when we can’t trust ourselves.” — The Brethren
10 “I’ve learned that sometimes I have to give up my right to know and simply believe that God’s knowing is enough.” — The Postcard
Photo Credit: ©Fathom Events, used with permission
You can find out more about Valerie, her books, and her blog at www.valeriefentress.com.
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