Kelly Irvin’s new Amish romance novel titled,
A Plain Love Song (Harvest House Publishers),
tells the story of a young girl who must choose between the desire to remain in
her Amish community or pursue her dreams as a songwriter and performer. It is
the third in Kelly’s New Hope Amish series.
WHERE DID YOU GET THE INITIAL INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?
It actually started with the desire to use Branson, Missouri, as a
setting. I knew
I was setting the New Hope Amish series in Missouri. My husband and
I took a
research trip to Jamesport, Stockton Lake, and Branson. I thought
what a
contrast between the bling of the shows in Branson and the simple
lives led
by the folks in the Amish settlements around the state. I love the
contrast
and the conflict it could represent for an Amish girl who loves
music. One
thing simply led to another and A Plain Love Song appeared.
ADAH MUST DECIDE BETWEEN HER DREAM AND HER HOME. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO AREN’T AMISH FEEL THIS STRUGGLE AS WELL. WAS THIS A CHOICE YOU EVER HAD TO MAKE?
Maybe not with so much at stake, but I did have some
similar struggles
when I left my small hometown of Abilene, Kansas, to go to college.
I was
the first to go away to the university in my family. This was more
than
30 years ago and my parents were particularly conservative. My
dad
didn’t want me to leave home. If I were to have a career, it should
be in
nursing, teaching or as a librarian. I wanted to be a newspaper
reporter. He
was afraid I’d never settle down and get married. As it was I
married at
30. Common these days, even young, but to my parents, who
married at
16, I was the proverbial old maid. They were so relieved when I
finally
did marry. I never moved back home, but I always have my roots in
small
town, Kansas.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGER THEMES IN THIS NOVEL THAT READERS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO?
Today’s society encourages us to follow our dreams.
No-holds-barred. Go
after what you want. Adah’s story suggests we might do well to stop
and
listen and wait for the Lord’s word on what He wants for us. He has
a dream
for us. Sometimes we’re so intent on our dream, we lose sight of the
important things in our lives, such as family and faith. How much is
your
dream worth, in the end? If you have fame and fortune, are you
happier? Or
lonelier?
WHO IS ONE CHARACTER IN THE NOVEL WHO CAPTURED YOUR HEART?
I have to admit it. I love Jackson Hart. He’s a cowboy; he’s cute; he’s a
musician, and he has a brash way about him that makes you want to
smack him.
Such a swagger. Yet, underneath it all, he has a big heart and he
wants to
be loved and to love. He’s a walking love song. No wonder Adah is
swept off
her feet by him.
WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS FOR A GOOD ROMANCE?
Two hearts that are open and willing to take a chance,
even knowing they
might get broken. Passion. A sense of humor. A sense of adventure.
That
elusive thing called chemistry.