New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 12 million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nation’s most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.
Martha Bolton is the author of over eighty books of inspiration and humor. She has received nominations for an Emmy, a WGA Writing Award, and a Dove Award. Along with composer Wally Nason, she has written ten musicals for Blue Gate Musicals, including Josiah for President, the Musical, The Confession Musical, based on Beverly Lewis’ popular Amish trilogy, and Half-Stitched, the Musical, based on Wanda Brunstetter’s book of the same title, and others.
In this interview, Wanda and Martha answer questions about their new Amish Romance book, The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie’s Biscuits.
Wanda’s Q&A
FF: What inspired the story in your book?
The two main characters, Foster Bates and Fannie, had significant rolls in a wonderful musical play that was based loosely off the three books in my Daughters of Lancaster County Series. It was fun to revisit these two special characters and create a new storyline where they would both be featured.
FF: What can you tell us about the main characters in your book?
The two main characters are Amish quilt-maker, Fannie Miller and Detective Foster Bates. Despite the fact that Fannie is Amish and Foster is not, there’s a certain spark between them. The thing that they most have in common is their interest in solving crimes. Working together to solve some mysterious happenings going on in their community draws Fannie and Foster together once again.
FF: Which character surprised you the most?
Many of the antics that the three Plain sisters did at their bakery often surprised me and brought a smile to my face. Of course, Foster and Fannie are quite humorous too.
FF: Why do you think storytelling is such a powerful way to share truth?
Readers quite often will relate to certain characters or the storyline in a book. I have heard from many of my readers over the years that something they read in one of my books gave them a sense of hope or helped to get them through a difficult time in their life.
FF: What can you tell us about your next book?
My next book, The Peacemaker, releases in March 2025. It’s the second book in the Mifflin County Mystery Series that involves the disappearance of a young Amish woman that took place in The Protector.
FF: How do you get into the right frame of mind to write for your genre/audience?
I have many Amish friends give me inspiration for stories. Also my entire office, as well as several rooms in my home, are decorated with various items purchased in Amish country or were given to me as gifts from Amish friends. My husband and I also visit Amish communities as often as possible, where our friends live, work, and play. Being surrounded by Amish items and spending time with Amish friends keeps me in the right frame of mind to write in my genre.
FF: What do you want readers to take away after reading your book?
I hope they will not only enjoy a fun-filled story, and the opportunity to try and solve a mystery, but will be blessed by the uplifting verses of scripture scattered within the book.
FF: What are the biggest challenges for you as an author writing in your specific genre?
Since I know so many Amish well, and can reach out to them with questions if needed, I don’t face too many challenges while writing in my genre.
FF: What authors or books have inspired you as an author?
As a child I was inspired by Author, Betty McDonald, and as an adult there have been many favorite authors, particularly those who write inspirational historical fiction.
FF: How has your faith or world view impacted the way you tell stories?
All of my stories are faith-based, because the acceptance of Christ as my Savior has impacted my life in every way. I am thankful for the opportunity to share the love of God through the words in my stories. It blesses me when a reader says he or she has been helped or encouraged by my faith-based stories.
Martha’s Q&A
FF: What inspired you to write this book?
Fannie Miller (created by Wanda Brunstetter) and Foster Bates (created by Martha Bolton) were such a hit in the Blue Gate Musicals production of Stolen (based on Wanda’s novel about an Amish baby who is kidnapped), that we decided to bring them back together for another cozy mystery. This time the mystery takes place in a baking contest.
FF: What can you tell us about the main characters in your book?
Fannie is Amish and Foster is not, yet there is a lot of chemistry between them. Beyond the romantic tension, their main connection is crime solving. Fannie fancies herself a professional detective because she reads mystery and detective novels, and Foster is a recently retired Chicago cop who moved to Sugar Creek, Ohio for the peace and quiet. Just to occupy himself, he opens a private detective office in Sugar Creek, Ohio, but doesn’t list his hours because he doesn’t really want to be bothered.
FF: Which character surprised you the most?
Foster and Fannie are evolving into two very loveable, fun, and interesting characters. They have years of life experiences to pull from in their conversations, and as they get to know each other better, their friendship deepens in a fun and real way. That has pleasantly surprised me.
FF: Why do you think storytelling is such a powerful way to share truth?
When a reader gets caught up in the story and loves the characters, the author can bring important truths into the conversation that will resonate with the reader long past the turning of that last page.
FF: What can readers expect from the rest of this series?
Fannie and Foster are two fun and loveable characters who can continue solving mysteries and crimes together in the Amish community for many years to come. Future books would have new crimes to solve, and bring these two unique, crime-solving characters together once again.
FF: What kind of research did you do for this book?
My husband is a retired Los Angeles police sergeant, and also worked in private security for another twenty years, so I bring decades of experience in being around law enforcement and the security world. So, in writing this book, whenever I had a question about police protocol, all I had to do was wake him up from a sound sleep and ask him. Once he gave me my answer, he could roll over and go back to sleep, never remembering any of it in the morning. I also used other means of research in the writing of the book.
FF: What do you want readers to take away after reading your book?
I hope they have a fun time reading about Fannie and Foster and all the nefarious goings on in the Tuscarawas and Surrounding Counties Baking Contest. Scripture verses have been used within the story, as well as plenty of life lessons learned by the contestants and other characters in the story. The story line deals with loss, marital problems, gossip, and the healing power of selfless acts of kindness. It is our hope that these will help the reader in their own personal lives.
FF: What are the biggest challenges for you as an author writing in your specific genre?
The biggest challenge in writing Amish romance/cozy mysteries is remaining true to the Amish culture and boundaries. Like Wanda, whenever I have a question about Amish traditions or protocol, I have Amish and Mennonite friends that I can turn to for the answers.
FF: What authors or books have inspired you as an author?
In the beginning of my writing career, I was inspired by writers such as Mark Twain, Erma Bombeck, and a variety of comedians and television writers. I also love reading biographies, memoirs, and how-to books.
FF: How has your faith or world view impacted the way you tell stories?
In my writing I endeavor to not only entertain my readers, but also inspire them. I look for those moments where I can weave faith into the story in a very natural way. Not as an afterthought, but as a very real part of life.
The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie’s Biscuits
Wanda E Brunstetter & Martha Bolton
Barbour Fiction
Genres: Amish Romance
Release Date: January 1, 2025
ASIN: B0CYD821C4
ISBN-13: 979-8891510111
Book Summary:
Why Are Baking Contestants Disappearing?
Mysteries have a way of following Fannie Miller, so when she makes it into the finals of the Tuscarawas County Baking Contest and contestants start disappearing, she calls on her old friend Foster Bates, a retired cop and part-time private investigator. Could it be that other finalists—like the couple on verge of divorce who need the prize money…or the three Beiler sisters, always in a huddle whispering—are somehow responsible for these disappearances, thinning out the competition? One thing is certain—Foster and Fannie will stay on the case until the end, and everyone involved will learn something important about baking contests, mystery solving, and life.
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