Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on. ~Louis L’Amour
Last post I shared how my editor encouraged me to write two more books featuring the Shakers and their history. When I had reservations, she dangled a carrot out in front of my writer’s nose. She said that if I would do these extra Shaker stories then I might gain more readers who would then be willing to give other books I wrote a try. Books that weren’t about the Shakers. Books like the one on her desk that she had yet to read.
Besides, how many years had I wished for any editor to want to see a book I wrote and here was an editor enticing me to send her not one book but two that might have a very good chance of being published if I could tell a good story. About the Shakers. If I agreed, I’d make points with said editor. I was very eager to make points with said editor who would be reading Angel Sister, my story inspired by my mom’s memories of growing up in the 1930s. I wanted said editor to think kindly about my writing and not think I was a difficult author who wasn’t willing to take a challenge when offered one. An exciting challenge when I thought about it. Two books in one year. Perhaps if they sold, twice as much money in one year.
Nothing wrong with thinking about that with my family growing. The kids were all married and my sons were giving me the blessing of grandkids. Our house was small. When all the kids came to visit at the same time, we were wall to wall people. We had decided to build onto the house. Years before we had built an office for me and a second bathroom on the back of the house. Now we wanted to add a large room across the end of the house that would give us more space when the kids came to visit. That building project was underway when I plunged into writing these new Shaker books.
First, since it had been so long ago since I had written The Outsider, I had forgotten most of my Shaker research. I had to bury myself back into Shaker history books and tour the nearby Shaker village while coming up with new 
characters and new happenings. The Outsider did have Shaker history, but it also had much history of the War of 1812. I decided for this second Shaker story, I would concentrate more on sharing the Shaker history and why people decided to join a Shaker village with their unusual rules, especially that of living celibate lives as brothers and sisters. Marriage and individual families were taboo. If a married couple came into the village, they were parted with the men living on one side of their houses and the women on the other. They even had separate stairways so that a chance touch between a man and woman wouldn’t plummet the believers into sinful thinking.
And of course, I wanted romance in my stories. You can imagine the challenge of introducing romance where romantic feelings between a man and woman was looked upon as sin. I had to sneak romance in through the back door of those Shaker houses, and of course, by the end of the story, my characters, if love made an appearance, did leave the village for their happily ever after lives. The Believer is my Shaker book with the most Shaker history. I came up with a young woman with a younger brother and an unusually free-spirited little sister. When their father died and left them with no options, they went to the Shaker village, where Hannah, the little sister, struggled to follow the many rules.
A word after a word after a word is power. ~Margaret Atwood
I kept my fingers on the keyboard and in spite of workers banging right under my feet as they put in a new heat and air system and plenty of pounding and wall tearing down going on as the room was built, I somehow got that story written and without taking time to pull in a relaxing breath, went straight to Chapter 1 of Shaker book 3, that eventually was titled, The Seeker. It is set during the War between the States and has history about how that conflict affected the Shaker villages in Kentucky and about the Battle of Perryville. I got those stories written in a year just as my editor had wanted.
Meanwhile, my editor, Lonnie, had finally read the manuscript of Angel Sister. Turns out she hated to fly, but sometimes due to her work, she had to take to the air. Often she would read manuscripts to take her mind off the fact that she was floating in a big machine through the air. So, she took the manuscript of Angel Sister on one of those trips. She also liked to read paper copies. That’s rare these days with everything digital, but that was a few years ago when I sent in my manuscripts after carefully typing them on great quality paper I bought by the box. Turns out that Lonnie had copies made to leave back in her office. I, of course, kept a paper copy too. But she took the fine paper copy with her. When she told me this story, she said that I was probably going to be distressed to know that when she was reading on a trip, she would throw away the pages she read. My fine, expensive paper straight to the trashcan once she’d read the pages. No doubt she took notes about what she liked or didn’t like.
She had read about half the story when she need a restroom break. She took what she’d read to throw in the trash and lighten the load in her carry-on bag. But when she got back to her seat to continue on with reading the story, she discovered she’d accidentally thrown away the part she hadn’t read yet instead of the already read part. Now if she’d been a digital reader, that would not have been a problem. For me, the good part of her story is how much she wanted to read the rest of the story. She didn’t want to wait until she got back to her office to find out what happened next. She decided to retrieve the discarded pages from the trash. There were two restrooms. The one with the manuscript in the trash was occupied. The other one was not, but she hung out waiting for the right door to open while she felt like all the other passengers were staring at her. And what was taking the woman in the necessary restroom so long?? Eventually, she did get into the restroom. She did manage to retrieve the pages although she said that was not easy either. I told her she was lucky nobody decided she was acting suspiciously.
I suppose all’s well that turns out well. Lonnie loved the story. And although publishing it had to wait until after the Shaker books which was a sorrow for me since my last remaining aunt who loved to read had died suddenly. She would have loved the story. And my mother began a decline into dementia that made reading difficult. When I realized publication of the story was going to be delayed, I let her read the story in manuscript, but by the time the book was published, she couldn’t really keep a story in her head any longer.
Shortly after I wrote those two Shaker stories, my agent, Wendy Lawton, and my editor, Lonnie Hull DuPont, decided to take a road trip together and come visit me. What a treat that was, and of course, we had to go tour the Pleasant Hill Shaker Village near where I live. The picture is one we took while we were at the Shaker village. While they were here, they talked me into writing a Shaker Christmas story, Christmas at Harmony Hill. For somebody who didn’t want to write but that one Shaker book, I was already up to four with promises to write two more.
Angel Sister did make it out to readers before I wrote more Shaker novels, and whether it was because I had gained readers with those two extra Shaker books or because people loved the cover with that adorable little girl to match my character, Lorena Birdsong, on the cover, readers did read the story and fall in love with my Merritt sisters plus one. More to come on that along with more writing stories in this writing journey.
Remember, the giveaway is still going on for another week or so. Deadline to enter to win a choice of one of my books is September 6, 2025 at midnight EST. To enter, just leave a comment on this post. Each time you leave a comment on one of my Writing Journey posts, you get a new entry. I did hear from Janice from Kentucky, who surprised me by also wanting a copy of Small Town Girl. I love it when people read my Rosey Corner stories.
And thanks for following me down this writing road.
Was the Shaker history in my Shaker stories interesting to you? If you haven’t read any of the Shaker stories, do you know anything about the Shakers?
Comments 30
I read the Shaker stories some years ago and really enjoyed them. I hope to read them again before too long.
Author
I love it when a reader wants to read my stories over, Mary. Thanks for that. Make me think maybe I can come up with another story you all might like.
I think the Shaker history is interesting. I didn’t know any thing about them until I read one of your books. I did realize that Shaker type furniture was for sale in some stores and it looked very durable and sturdy.
Author
The Shakers were known for their furniture and even more for their hard work and superior workmanship. Whatever they did whether making chairs, brooms, tonics, or packaged seeds for sale they aimed to do it as perfectly as possible. One of their sayings was to do there work as if they had only one day and as if they had a thousand years to finish their labors. That meant they weren’t to waste time but also that they were to take the time to do their work well.
I have read all your Shaker books. I am a fan of Amish stories. I thought the Shaker stories were going to be similar but needless to say they were not. They were different but interesting. I enjoyed the one about the young woman you lost her husband and had to go the live with the Shakers for a while. I enjoyed all of the Angel Sister books. Love your writing!!!!
Author
I tell people all the time that the Amish and Shakers are not that much alike, especially when it comes to family thoughts. But I’m glad you gave my Shaker books a try, Ann, and even happier that you liked the Rosey Corner books. Thank you for such encouraging words and for reading my stories.
I thoroughly enjoyed your Shaker stories. It was fascinating to see how you would introduce romance into a story with a belief system that basically bans relationships. I have had slight knowledge about Shakers for two reasons; my husband is a fan of their furniture and the fact that there is a Shaker Village here in Maine. (We have not visited only seen articles about them.) If memory serves there were only a couple of members left a while ago.
It struck me a little sad as in a community where there are no couples and no children born to them that eventually they could cease to be.
Author
Many people are fans of their furniture, Susan. The Shakers intended to make things to last and to be easy to keep clean. While we admire that now, back in the 1800s, most of their worldly neighbors thought it strange that they didn’t add all the Victorian decorations to their designs.
I’ve read about the Sabbathday Lake Village in Maine. The last I saw, they did have those two members, but they also have an active friends group that helps keep the village going. It would be interesting to visit the village and hear their stories.
As to the no marriages, no children, I found that sad in my research as well. But the Shakers believed the Lord would supply the children. They took orphans in hoping they would embrace the Shaker life, but 9 out of ten left the village when they got older since most of us know that urge to find love and have children to raise. And as you know from reading my stories, my Shaker characters had to leave the village when love came into play. I really enjoyed writing that in a little different way in The Refuge when it was love for motherhood that pushed my characters to abandon the Shaker way.
It’s interesting to read.
Author
That’s great, Diana. So glad you think my posts are interesting enough to read. Thank you.
I enjoy reading Shaker stories. I haven’t read any of yours yet.
Author
I’ve only come across a few other novels featuring Shakers, Una, but there are many historical books or books about their crafts or the restoration of their villages once the Shakers died out in those places. The Shaker village near me was part of a farm with m any of the building used for other purposes for years before a group came together to raise money to restore the village. On one tour I too, the guide said the Shaker Meeting House had been a garage for a while. That just seemed wrong. Now it’s been beautifully restored and when the workers or a group come in to demonstrate the Shaker worship and song, you can be amazed at how wonderful the acoustics are in the building. The Shakers were amazing workers who built things to last.
interesting to read about
Author
Glad you think so. Thanks for reading my posts.
I have enjoyed all of your books but especially the Shaker stories.
Author
How nice, Phyllis. I’m glad you liked the Shaker stories and that you read my other books too. I have had many readers tell me how much they liked visiting my fictional Shaker village of Harmony Hill to see what was going on there.,
Oh, my goodness, how I LOVE this blog post about the Shakers and your Shaker books. I have all of your Shaker books after winning one, but I have not read them yet. This post was so good, I had to read it twice! Now, I know what I’m going to read this fall. I know a lot about the Amish, but nothing about the Shakers. I had no idea about the Shaker village, and had to look it up. How interesting! I need to go do a little research on my own before I read your books. Thanks for all the GREAT info!!!!
Author
So glad you enjoyed reading this post, Susan. Your words were encouraging to me. I hope when you get the chance to read my shaker books, that you will like the stories. They are a little different from my other books because of the Shaker history. The Shakers were just so different from the “world” around them. At least, they intended to be so, but they had many good ways and were always kind and generous to those in need.
I visited Pleasant Hill when I was young and again several years ago with a friend. But I didn’t absorb much of their history until I read your Shaker books. Your stories brought their history to life for me.
I’m glad Lonnie rescued that manuscript! Angel Sister is one of the first books I recommend when I tell friends about your books.
Author
Well, the story wouldn’t have been lost forever if she had left that part of the manuscript in the trash, Lavon. She would have just had to wait until she was on the ground again to keep reading. Lonnie was such a lovely woman and always liked my stories. I was privileged to get to talk with her at several book events and always loved getting her notes about how to improve my stories.
Glad my books made a history lover like you learn more about the Shakers.
I enjoyed your shaker stories so much and wanted to visit a Shaker village afterwards but sadly never got to. Afterwards I was a fan of your books and wanted more. Blessings!
Author
I’m so glad my Shaker books made you want to read my other books too, Lucy. I like being able to write about different historical times and different storylines. I’ve really enjoyed setting some of my stories in the Appalachian regions. Thank you for reading my books.
I’ve read almost all your books except the Shakers and they are on my TBR list. I know a little about the Shaker history and have been to Shaker Village a few times but I’m sure I have much to learn. Looking forward to diving into those books.
Author
I hope when you get a chance to dip into my Shaker novels that you will like the stories, Dana. I enjoyed doing the research and learning more about the Shakers although, of course, my books are fiction. I did try to realistically portray their Shaker villages and ways.
I haven’t read your series yet. But growing up, Like the Willow Tree was the only book in the Dear America series that i actually liked. The book follows a girl and her brother who go to live in a Shaker village after being orphaned during the Spanish flu epidemic.
Author
The Shakers did take in many children orphaned by various epidemics, Marti. They brought in a number of boys from New Orleans after a yellow fever outbreak. We really don’t realize how much better off we are with healthcare these days and take it for granted. The book you liked sounds like one I should have found and read while I was doing research. I always enjoyed coming across books for young people that made everything very plain and easy to picture.
The books are wonderful. My first foray into Shaker History was an assignment from English class in college. To pick a commune and research and write about it. Being from Ky and having visited Pleasant Hill I chose The Shakers. I was an older adult returning to higher education and had never written a term paper. This class was massive and educational in both areas. 100 Biblio. Cards required, 100 note cards with quotes from sources, pages typed and spaces measured on every page with footnotes and ad litum. I learned and earned in this effort. But loved doing so and still love the subject.
Author
I could have picked your brains about the Shakers when I was working on these books, Ruby. Sounds as if that was one major picture to write and notate. Glad you liked doing the class assignment. I’m glad I didn’t have to do footnotes on everything I came up with. 🙂
I read all the Shaker stories years ago, in paperback form, before I started reading on my Kindle, but I still remember those stories and how much I liked them. And the same for the Rosey Corner books.
Author
I’m so glad you head to my fictional Shaker village of Harmony Hill to enjoy those Shaker stories, Ann, and that you like going to Rosey Corner for some stories too. You have me smiling when I read your comment.