Kelly Irvin shares how her characters reflect their author in her latest Amish Romance, With All Her Heart, plus a romantic excerpt, and a chance to win a print copy, U.S. only. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing. Deadline: Feb 8th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Kelly:
Truth or Fiction: My characters and I share some surprising traits.
It seems to me every author pours a few ounces—or gallons depending on the story—of themselves into the characters they create. Often without realizing it until the story is done. I don’t outline or do character sketches before I write so it often comes as a surprise to me when a character is finally fully alive on the page, and I see some of myself in her—and him.
This turned out to be particularly true in With All Her Heart, the third installment in my Amish Calling series. For some obvious reasons and some not so obvious. Let’s start with Bonnie. I couldn’t have written Bonnie’s story earlier in my life. Bonnie has an inherited, genetic disease called type three spinal muscular dystrophy that causes muscle weakness, difficulty walking, frequent falls, and other mobility limitations. Bonnie uses a rollator and may eventually need a wheelchair. My mobility impairment has a different cause, but with the same results/symptoms. I use a rollator, fall occasionally, and have trouble accomplishing many daily tasks others find easy. My disability began at age 58 instead of in childhood, but I know quite a bit about Bonnie’s physical and emotional challenges.
Like Bonnie, I’m determined to be as independent as possible. Unlike my character, I have a loving husband who serves as a caregiver in many ways. He buys the groceries, cooks, and does more than his fair share of housecleaning. I’ve already raised my children. In the Amish society, women are expected to do all these things and more, including planting gardens, canning, and many other tasks without the electrical appliances we take for granted. Still, I understand better than most, her anxiety and distress.
Elijah and I also share qualities. Elijah is an introvert. He’s awkward in social situations. He prefers the company of his dog Slowpoke and would rather toil in his woodworking shop than make conversation—even with people he knows well. Most of all, he doesn’t want to stand in front of a crowd and call an auction. I’m also an introvert who prefers to converse with my imaginary characters than talk to real people. I don’t like parties or big crowds. No one would ever call me the life of the party. The difference is that I worked in public relations/marketing for more than 20 years. I had to do media interviews, host a cable TV show, speak in front of crowds, emcee ceremonies, and attend social events. I learned to do it. Still my co-workers saw me as “unfriendly,” “aloof,” and “distant” because I ate my lunch in my office with the door shut, avoided social occasions that weren’t a requirement of the job, and never really made friends.
I have the gift of hindsight to know something Bonnie and Elijah don’t. My husband is an extrovert. He’s the life of the party, quick with a quip, never at a loss for words. In social situations, I let him take the lead. He doesn’t mind if I stay home sometimes, and he goes to social engagements on his own. We’ve made our differences work for us. Bonnie is an extrovert. She immediately recognizes that Elijah isn’t. Most importantly she doesn’t expect him to be like her or to change himself. She accepts him as he is. That’s where their romance truly begins.
Excerpt from With All Her Heart by Kelly Irvin:
The kind of patience a person needed to coax a shy person from his shell. [Bonnie and her] co-owners loved what they called “helping the underdog.” Elijah definitely fell in that category. “Sophia and Carol will be here in a bit. They come in later and stay later so we can have extended store hours.” Bonnie patted the table. “You can set your box right here.”
Elijah obliged. Bonnie restrained herself from peeking. Elijah’s mother, Elizabeth, and his sisters always talked about how talented he was, but Bonnie had never seen his work. Unless they were a member of the Millers’ massive extended family, most people hadn’t. Restraining herself, she inhaled the enticing scent of fresh coffee and cocked her head toward the nearby coffee and pastry bar. “Would you like some kaffi? We have cinnamon rolls and banana-nut muffins if you’re interested.”
The complimentary offerings kept browsing customers in the store longer, which frequently led to more sales.
Elijah rubbed his clean-shaven face with both hands. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Nee, but danki.”
Likely he was too nervous to think about food or drink. “Maybe later, after we’re done with business. I don’t know about you, but I could drink kaffi all day long. I do, in fact. My mamm baked the pastries so I can vouch for them being mighty tasty.” Elijah heaved a breath. A little less tense now? Bonnie tapped on the box. “I’d loved to see what you’ve brought us. May I?”
Elijah nodded. Slowpoke woofed in obvious agreement.
“Wunderbarr.”
It was hard to know where to start. Elijah had filled it with handmade flannel bags. One contained a set of miniature farm animals, all painstakingly painted in realistic colors. Another held forest animals. Deer, raccoon, fox, rabbits, frogs, squirrels, and a wolf, all whittled by hand. A third featured zoo animals. “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my.” Bonnie bestowed her most encouraging smile on him. “These are beautiful. Almost too beautiful to let kinner play with them.”
“Nee. Toys.” Elijah touched the rooster with an oversized red crest. “For kinner to have fun.”
Now he was talking. Bonnie nodded. They would make an arresting display next to the dolls, stuffed animals, and puppets she and her friend Opal Hershberger created—when Opal, who was married and had a baby now—had time. The usual pesky envy twinged in Bonnie’s chest. Smaller than it had been when Opal confided that she and David would marry. Hard work kept the ugly envy at bay.
Focus on the shop. The shop gave Plain folks like herself, with disabilities, a way to earn their keep when traditional Plain tasks couldn’t be accomplished. More importantly it gave them a sense of self-worth, a sense that they contributed just as their abled family members did.
Elijah didn’t have a physical disability, but his shy nature might be considered a disability by his family of outgoing auctioneers if it kept him from fulfilling their expectations that he, too, be an auctioneer. Maybe he never wanted that life. Maybe his craft fulfilled him.
“We’ve been wanting to expand our toy section. These beauties will make great birthday and Christmas presents.” Bonnie smoothed her fingers over a horse pull toy and admired its regal bearing. “Even the Englisch shoppers will want them so they can display ‘Amish-made’ knickknacks in their homes next to their quilt wall hangings. You do beautiful work.”
“Danki.” He ducked his head, making it hard to see his face under his straw hat. After a second, he reached into the box and pulled out a sheet of paper. Without looking at her directly, he held it out. “Lots to choose from.”
Indeed. “Yo-yos, tic-tac-toe games, Noah’s ark with two dozen animals, wooden tractor and wagon, alphabet boards, a barn with farm animals, a corral with horses, a wooden piggy bank.” Bonnie ran down the inventory list on which each item was meticulously described. “And that’s just a start. I see you have kinner’s furniture as well. Did you bring any of those for me to see?”
Elijah’s head came up. The beginnings of hope mixed with obvious surprise flitted across his face. “I can get them if you really want to see them. They’re not much. I mean, I try to make them nice . . ..”
“If they’re anything like what you’ve shown me so far, they’ll be just what I’ve been wanting.” Bonnie popped the rollator’s brakes, wheeled around, and pointed it toward the door. “I’ll come with you.”
“Nee, nee, I’ll bring them to you.”
“If you’re going to do business here at Homespun Handicrafts, the first thing you have to learn is not to treat us like we’re not able to do for ourselves.” Bonnie silently berated herself. She could’ve been more diplomatic about it, but this was her number one pet peeve. “I know you’re just trying to help, but the best thing you can do is ask if I need help first. If I do, I’ll let you know.”
His face red as a candied apple, Elijah nodded jerkily. “Is it all right if I get the door for you?”
“That would be great.” She reached for her most conciliatory tone. Mom was always telling her she was way too prickly. Mom didn’t have everyone trying to wait on her hand and foot. She probably wished she did sometimes. “One day I’d love to install one of those doohickeys that opens the door automatically, when we can afford it.”
They had electricity in the store, but it was bare bones and needed to be upgraded. They had to be careful not to overtax it. First priority was keeping the air-conditioning working, which the English customers expected. Ceiling fans weren’t enough during the summer months. They wouldn’t browse if they were sweating, and if they didn’t browse, they didn’t buy. Plus the automatic door mechanisms were expensive themselves.
Slowpoke led the way to the buggy. He hopped into the back as if he would do the show-and-tell himself. He really was a good friend and business partner. Bonnie hung back to give Elijah a chance to gather his thoughts. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Elijah leaned into the buggy and pulled out an old-fashioned rocking horse with the ease of a man who did heavy lifting. His biceps strained against his shirt’s faded blue cotton sleeves. He set the horse on the sidewalk. He nudged the head and set the horse rocking. The woodworking was beautiful. Bonnie ran her hand over the padded, leather-covered seat and examined the yarn mane and tail. “This is really nice. Beautiful work. Is it walnut?”
“Oak with a medium walnut stain.” He ducked his head, his face darkening to a scarlet hue. The man had a hard time taking a compliment. “My schweschdre helped me with the yarn. Josie and Sherri help with painting the animals too. What they do, Sadie has to do, of course.”
Elijah’s sister Sadie was born with Down syndrome—not that she let that stand in her way.
“Opal Plank helps me with a lot of the fine sewing needed for my dolls and sock puppets and my stuffed animals.” Bonnie’s fingers weren’t nimble enough for the fine work. “It’s gut to have help, especially family. They must be excited for you to start your own business.”
If that was what this was. Someone as talented as Elijah could go a long way toward earning a living with his skills. Bonnie studied his face. His expression had gone wooden. His callused fingers smoothed the horse’s mane. “Some of them,” he mumbled.
Some of them. But not all. Don’t you worry, Elijah, we’ll win them over. In time. Just as Bonnie had won over her parents when they’d objected to three young, single, Plain women, all with disabilities, opening their own business. It hadn’t been easy. But that was a story to be shared at another time. “What else did you bring?”
Next came a child-size table and four chairs. Then a child’s foot stool and a wagon big enough for two kids. Followed by a child’s desk and chair. And then a child-size push lawn mower with moving parts.
“This is wunderbarr. How fun.” Bonnie rolled closer. She gave the mower a gentle push. The inner workings made a clink-clink as the barrel turned. “Englisch kinner will have fun with this too.”
They wouldn’t know what it was used for since their own parents likely used gas-powered or electric mowers. Plain children didn’t have to wait long before they were enlisted to cut the yard with a real push mower. “These will make great nostalgia pieces for older Englisch shoppers.”
“You think so?” For the first time, Elijah seemed to forget his awkwardness. “You’re really interested in selling them?”
“Of course we’re interested. Do you know how consignment works?”
“I make the toys. You sell them. We split the proceeds.”
Simple as that. “It’s a sixty-forty split. Does that sound fair?”
“I get forty. You get sixty. That seems fair.”
“Nee, nee. You get sixty. We get forty.”
“Ah, ah.”
“Why don’t you bring them into the shop? Then we’ll fill out the paperwork. It’s important to get everything in writing.”
The beginning of a smile blossomed into a full-fledged grin. Her grip tightening on the rollator handles, Bonnie paused, suddenly breathless. She racked her memories. Surely she’d seen Elijah smile during their school years. Maybe not. She would’ve remembered that knock-your-apron-off smile.
Question for Readers: Are you an introvert or an extrovert and how has this personality trait had an impact on your occupation, your romantic life, and your friendships?
About Kelly: Award-winning author Kelly Irvin has written more than thirty books and novellas, including Amish romance, romantic suspense and her debut women’s fiction title The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos released last year. Her latest Amish romance, With All Her Heart released Jan. 28. The best-selling novelist worked as a newspaper reporter before spending more than twenty years in public relations. Kelly now writes fiction full-time. She lives with her husband, photographer Tim Irvin, near San Antonio. They are the parents of two children, four grandchildren, and an ornery senior cat. Learn more & connect:
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About the book – With All Her Heart:
Bonnie is successful in her crafts shop but fears no man will see past her disability to her strong and loving heart. Elijah dreams of leaving the family business to focus on his carvings. Can they find a new path together?
Elijah Miller is a quiet and painfully shy man with a talent for carving the handmade toys and furniture that tourists in the Amish shops love. The large, boisterous Miller family is anything but shy. With a thriving auction business, they want him to do what he hates most: taking the stage and calling the auctions. He loves his family and wants to support them, but will they allow room for Elijah to follow his own dream?
Bonnie Yoder began the Homespun Handicrafts with her friends, Sophia and Carol. Each has a physical disability to overcome but together they prove that wheelchairs and rollators will not stop them from building a business and a craft community. Bonnie, with her chestnut curls and pretty face, yearns for a husband and family of her own but fears her spinal condition will keep any Amish man from choosing a life with her. Can a man like Elijah see past her walker to the woman behind it?
With the support of his beloved dog, Slowpoke, Elijah finds the courage to bring in samples of his handcrafted toys for Bonnie to consider for display in the shop. Through her advice, Elijah begins to see a possible new life doing what he loves best. Bonnie, in reconnecting with this old school friend, fears that the hope for a relationship that she feels may be another disappointment.
Can Elijah and Bonnie help each other find the lives they want and the love they desire?
Release date: January 28, 2025 – available for preorder now!
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Kelly’s other titles?
Get your copy/copies now!
With All Her Heart – Amazon – print With All Her Heart – Amazon – audio
With All Her Heart – BarnesandNoble With All Her Heart – Christianbook
Come back Jan 29th for Laura DeNooyer!
I am a little bit of an introvert and an extrovert. I worked in retail for over 40 years and I really enjoyed talking to the customers and vendors. I don’t think I could have done it for so long if I was only an introvert.
I am an extrovert ,I love being around people that is why I loved taking care of patients for 4o plus years.Thanks for the chance to win!!!😀
I bet you’re really good at it too. People can tell when someone really loves what they’re doing!
Some people are a little of both. I wish I was! I think you can learn to handle situations, the way I did with my job, but you never really get comfortable if you’re truly an introvert!
This was such a delightful read to start my Monday morning! I was longing to see those tiny, wooden animals that Elijah made and already to start shopping. Then I remembered I was reading and not in person! I was right there in that shop! Good news, though! My informed delivery says I am receiving a book today and I’m pretty sure With All Her Heart is it! Hallelujah!
Yay! I hope you enjoy it!
I enjoy quiet activities, so I must be an introvert. But I like people, too (just not crowds), so who knows? Kelly, you sound like a multi-layered, interesting person.🙂 Great book excerpt!
Thanks, Priscilla!
I think I am a little of Both Thank you for sharing this post and this amazing giveaway Have a Blessed Day!
Good for you! I wish I had more extrovert in me!
I’m a little bit of both. However, I am a little shy around people that I have never met before.
That’s the way my daughter is. She can be very outgoing, but she’s shy in crowds or with people she doesn’t know. She’s a big talker around family, but dreads going to parties.
I guess I am a little of both. Growing up I was more of an introvert, spending much of my free time reading or learning to knit. As an adult raising 8 children and working in a bookstore I had to come out of my shell some, even becoming the president of our schools PTO. Now retired I am back to knitting and reading and too much baking.
I think we all do what we have to do in our jobs and as parents. We’re forced out of our comfort zones. That was certainly true of my PR job. I’m happy to be working from home writing and reading and not doing public speaking now!
I am truly an introvert. My job required me to speak with college students daily years ago. My husband is an introvert like me and my friends appreciate that I am more of a listener than talking a lot of the time.
It’s good to have friends who understand and accept us as we are!
Extrovert, definitely! I like to be in control and speak my mind to take care of others. This personality helped me in my 39 year career as an elementary teacher. I spoke up for my students (and others) to make sure their educational needs were a priority.
That’s wonderful. It’s so important for children to have teachers who advocate for them. Being an extrovert is very helpful in those situations!
I am more of an introvert, but having a daughter with disabilities meant that I had to learn to speak up and advocate for her.
I can only imagine how important it must be for your to advocate for your daughter. Kudos to you for putting her needs ahead of your own discomfort in situations where you have to stand up for whatever she may need!
I am an introvert who has learned to push myself to go out of my comfort zone and act extroverted for periods of time. It is very draining for me to do it though.
Good for you. I know exactly what you mean! Draining is a good word for it!