25 Trends in Publishing: Amish Fiction

About the column: A handful of agents and interns who work with Cyle have learned the latest and (sometimes so, sometimes not so) greatest trends in publishing right now. Tune in each week to find out what’s trending, ranging from ABA to CBA, children’s to adult. The authors of these columns have included social media tags at the end to keep up with trends they are finding. They can also be found here. 

Trend #10 of 25: Amish Fiction

Contributor: Hope Bolinger

Ever since Beverly Lewis’ The Shunning hit the book market in 1997, Amish fiction has received popularity in both the Inspirational and General markets. Three of the most popular Amish fiction writers (Beverly Lewis, Cindy Woodsmall, and Wanda Brunstetter) have sold more than 30 million books.

What has caused this pique of interest in Amish culture, and often, romances featuring Amish protagonists? 

• Does this come from interest in a technology-free lifestyle, as suggested in this blog? Since we live in such a technology-saturated culture?
• Does it stand as a firm contrast to the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon, as proposed by the Wall Street Journal? Do readers want to see protagonists who exemplify purity, chastity, and fidelity?
• Do people just simply want a different kind of romance than what’s been presented in the market before?

No matter the reasoning behind the popularity (people differ all over the board), publishers are wanting to see Amish Romance, Amish Fiction, and even Amish Suspense. A short listing of some I’ve come across in my line of work includes: Harlequin, Harvest House, Gallery (S&S), Kensington, Bethany House, and Howard Books to name a few. If you have an Amish fiction, suspenseful or romantic, now is the most ideal time to pitch it to publishers. Especially if the book includes recipes or an animal.

Hope Bolinger is a literary agent at C.Y.L.E. and professional writing major at Taylor University. Her YA novel Den was contracted by IlluminateYA while she was still in college (to be released June 3, 2019).

More than 200 of her works have been featured in various publications. She is a multi-award winner from being a finalist in the Jerry B. Jenkins short story contest to her one-act earning second place in the Searchlight Playwriting Contest. She has served in various publishing capacities from working at newspapers, magazines, and publishing houses.

She can be found at hopebolinger.com.

Want a critique of the first page of your manuscript before you pitch it to a publisher of agent? Hope does that for $5. Her email address is listed on her website. She can provide referrals for past first-pages she’s evaluated.