The Captive Heart (31 page)

Author's Note

F
or the benefit of my non-Amish readers, and in deference to my Amish kin, I feel I should point out a few things about bed courtship, or bundling (the terms are interchangeable). In the old days before the New Order came along, when a boy and girl were “going steady,” after a Saturday night date it was customary for the boy to remain at the girl's house and sleep in her bed. This was done quietly and never openly discussed, even among family members, though the parents were aware of it. According to the Amish, the reasoning behind allowing such a thing was entirely practical: Their uninsulated houses were extremely cold at night, beds were at a premium because of the large families, and since the farms were some distance apart, the boy often faced a ten- or fifteen-mile buggy drive in the dark of night, in single-digit temperatures.

Bed courtship has an important (albeit secondary) role in
The Daughters of Caleb Bender
, as it does in
Levi's Will
, but the reader should bear in mind the historical contexts of these works. While bed courtship was widely practiced until the mid-1900s, since that time most of the Amish have made a concerted effort to stamp it out.

Amish churches vary from one district to the next as to their place on the liberal/conservative continuum, but they generally fall into three categories: New Order, Old Order, and Schwartzentruber, with New Order being the most liberal group.

As far as I know, the New Order churches, which emerged sometime in the 1960s, have never practiced bed courtship. Around the 1950s many of the Old Order churches began to recognize the moral dilemma inherent in bed courtship and have since taken a stand against it. If the practice goes on at all today, it's more likely to be among the more conservative and insular sects like the Schwartzentruber. But the more conservative Amish never talk about such things, especially with outsiders, so I cannot speak for them one way or the other.

The group that went to Mexico in the 1920s was mostly members of what was then known as the Abe Troyer Church, an offshoot of the Schwartzentruber—very conservative. It is a fact that they did allow bed courtship in the early part of the twentieth century, but the church instituted a number of changes under the leadership of a man named Tobe Hostetler (they're now known as the Tobe Church) and they have spoken out against the practice for many years.

Acknowledgments

B
y now I have learned that the writing of a novel is anything but a solitary pursuit. There is always an army of friends and family who offer advice, feedback and esoteric knowledge in the early stages, and an army of professionals who polish and package and correct, making me look better than I am in the latter stages. Among others, who may go unmentioned but not unappreciated, I am grateful to the following:

My wife, Pam, who sees it all before anyone else and never fails to bring a feminine touch to my writing.

My father, Howard Cramer, who gives me insight into the Amish mind and culture and contributes a long memory full of wonderful stories and details.

My cousin Katie Shetler, who does her best to help me understand Amish customs and rules, and the diversity that exists among them. Thanks to her, I sometimes get it right. When I don't, it's entirely my own fault.

Marian Shearer, a local writer who grew up in Mexico, who corrects my Spanish and graciously shares her encyclopedic knowledge of Mexican life, culture and geography.

Lori Patrick, a freelance editor, friend and champion, who writes the back cover copy and provides unflagging support through the whole writing process.

Hoot Gibson, for the monkey story.

A host of friends too numerous to list (but you know who you are), who help me shape early drafts through brainstorming sessions, fireside chats and first-draft feedback.

My editor, Luke Hinrichs, both cheerleader and coach, who brings all the various aspects of writing, editing, cover art and marketing together into a cohesive whole.

My agent, Janet Kobobel Grant, a keen-eyed editor and wise counselor.

Last, but certainly not least, this work owes a great deal to a book by David Luthy titled
The Amish in America: Settlements That Failed, 1840–1960
. To my knowledge, it is the only comprehensive written record of the Paradise Valley settlement, and it was instrumental in creating the backdrop for this novel.

About the Author

D
ale Cramer is the author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed novel
Levi's Will
, based on the story of Dale's father, a runaway Amishman. Dale's latest series,
The Daughters of Caleb Bender
, is based on an Amish colony in the mountains of Mexico, where three generations of his family lived in the 1920s. Dale lives in Georgia with his wife of thirty-six years, two sons and a Bernese Mountain Dog named Rupert.

For more information about the author and his books, visit his website and blog at
dalecramer.com
. Or readers may correspond with Dale by writing to P.O. Box 25, Hampton, GA 30228.

Sutter's Cross

Bad Ground

Levi's Will

Summer of Light

The Daughters of Caleb Bender

Paradise Valley

The Captive Heart

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