Notable Indie Awards

Shelf Unbound’s April/May issue lists their 2018 Indie Best Award winners, and The Return has ben honored with a Notable Indie Award! Check out all the winners at http://www.shelfmediagroup.com/pages/contest-winners.html

Seventh Quinquennial Hochstetler Family Gathering.

The Seventh Quinquennial Jacob Hochstetler Family Association Family Gathering is scheduled to take place this year in Berlin, Ohio, on July 27 and 28. Berlin is a center of Ohio Amish culture and offers all the sightseeing, shopping, eating, and visiting anyone could possibly want, so attendees may want to spend a few extra days in the area.

The Gathering begins with a dinner meeting at 6:30 Friday night at the Heritage Community Center. After dinner Gerald Mast, a historian and professor of communication at Bluffton (Ohio) University, will speak on “Building a Chair for Jesus and other Holmes County Stories from our Genealogy of Faith.”

Saturday’s events begin at 8 a.m. at the Hiland High and Middle School in Berlin and include not only numerous break-out sessions, but also genealogy and other resources, a general meeting, local tours and museum visits, a hymn singing, and more. Both Bob and I are attending and will present a session on “The Truth of Historical Fiction.”

Below are scans of the official brochure. When you click on the images, they enlarge. You can then right-click on the image, select “save image as” and save it to your hard drive. You can then print it if desired. For further information, email editor@jacobhochstetler.com or call Paul Miller at 330-683-0596.

Voting Open for Christian Indie Awards!

Voting for the Christian Indie Awards is now open, and Bob and I covet your vote for The Return! Voting is open through March 31, 2018. To vote, go here, click on the link, scroll down to The Return, under Historical Fiction, and submit your vote. We greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word about this series, closely based on the inspiring true story of our ancestors!

Below are some of the latest 5-star reviews for the Northkill Amish Series. We thank all our readers for their encouraging feedback!

“This first book in the two-part Northkill Amish series was a reading experience unlike any other. What makes this novel even more gut-wrenching is that the story is based on true events that happened to the ancestors of the authors. In astonishing descriptions based on solid research, the authors bring to life the story of an Indian attack on an Amish family during the French and Indian War. It is brutal and painful to read, yet so astounding in the depth of the spiritual struggle of the captives that are forced to undergo suffering and separation from loved ones. It is a book I could not put down and will never forget. I am anxious to read the sequel.” —HistoryLover (Amazon)

“I stayed up till 2 am this morning so I could finish The Return ... This heartrending saga relates the story of an Amish family whose lives were shattered when Indians attacked their home and three family members were killed while three were kidnapped. This novel ... is based on true events. It was also written by descendants of the family, who obviously poured themselves into the research behind this book and produced a stellar series.

“I barely know where to begin with my review because this book is more than a historical tale. It is a life changing experience as you read about people of faith who must deal with the reality that God sometimes allows suffering. The why of it is not always plainly seen. Sometimes God’s truth and purposes in that suffering are revealed in time. Yet there are situations in life that make no sense from our earthly perspective and may never make sense in this life.

“Powerfully written and engaging, The Return is a must read for Christians who think that pain and suffering only happens to sinners. For indeed it does, because we all have sinned. Yet not all of us must go through such suffering. Read this series and be changed forever. Five plus stars.” —HistoryLover (Amazon)

“Beautiful story. It is like Swiss Family Robinson, The Odyssey, Daniel Boone and Light in the Forest all rolled into one.” —Bill Hostetler (Amazon).

“I have heard the stories about my Amish ancestors, but they always seemed more legend than reality. The authors have succeeded in filling in the gaps of the family folklore by giving flesh-and-blood reality to the characters in this drama. I was impressed with the thorough research that supported the narrative, and with the vivid description of frontier life for Amish immigrants. But I was most impressed by the quality of the writing that kept me engaged throughout.” —Arvilla (Amazon).

The Return Wins Award!

The Return is being entered in a number of contests for 2017 book of the year in historical fiction. The first results are in, and book 2 of the Northkill Amish Series has won the Interviews & Reviews 2017 Silver Award! Thanks go to all the readers who voted for this inspiring story!