A: I’m the daughter of Mennonite farmers and grew up in central Indiana. The Hochstetler family has always carefully preserved its history, which is not unusual among the Amish and Mennonites. They tend to have a great interest in family history and the history of their faith. That’s probably why I became interested in history as a young person. I never expected to be a writer, though, even though I’ve been a voracious reader ever since first grade. If nothing else is available, I’ll read the back of the breakfast cereal box. My real ambition, however, was to be an artist in the mold of Caravaggio, Rembrandt, or Andrew Wyeth, not a writer.

Q: What led you to begin writing?

A: Well, I had this dream. Seriously. I had a dream one night back in 1977 that was so intriguing I had to write the story to figure out who these people were and why they were doing what they were doing. That turned into my medieval epic tragedy, which I swear I’m going to finish and get published someday!

Q: What kind of books do you write?

A: I write mainly historical novels, though I have written one contemporary—which is my latest release, One Holy Night. My other published books are Daughter of Liberty and Native Son, books 1 and 2 of the American Patriot Series set during the American Revolution. Book 3, Wind of the Spirit will release in March 2009. Currently I’m working with my cousin, author Bob Hostetler, on a historical novel set during the French and Indian War that we’ve entitled Northkill. We’re doing a fictional treatment of the story of our Amish ancestors, who came to this country seeking religious freedom and got caught up in the war when their home was attacked by a band of Indians. Three members of the family were massacred, and the three survivors were carried off into captivity, returning home some years later. It’s a really exciting and inspiring story, and we hope we can do it justice.

Q: Tell us about your latest release, One Holy Night.

A: One Holy Night is at heart a modern-day nativity story, but it isn’t a story just for Christmas. It deals with all the gritty issues that impact our lives every day—intergenerational and interracial conflict, violence in various forms, addictions, war, illness, death, divorce. Brokenness of one kind or another affects every family and individual. And the more I thought about it, the more I questioned how we can make sense of our lives and find reconciliation in our relationships. Where do we find purpose, strength, and healing?

I first started tinkering with the idea for this story back in the late 1980s. Then the Gulf War came along and shaped my thinking some more. Life happened, and the story lay fallow until 9-11. Right around that time a young woman in our church was diagnosed with intestinal cancer, and then died within a year. Shortly thereafter, my parents both died as the result of a car accident. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were in all the headlines, and opposition was growing along with the casualty count. Commentators were beginning to compare the war in Iraq with the quagmire of Viet Nam—a conflict I was well acquainted with since I was in high school and college during those years.

So all these things started to find their way into this story set during 1967 about a family in a small town in Minnesota that is faced with these issues while the son is away, serving in Vietnam. The conclusion I came up with is pretty well summed up in the little blurb for the book:

On this bleak Christmas Eve, God has in mind a miracle. As on that holy night so long ago . . . in a world torn by sin and strife . . . to a family that has suffered heart-wrenching loss . . . there will be born a baby . . .

Q: For whom did you write One Holy Night?

A: I think this story will appeal to anyone who is looking for a moving story that is a good read. It’s especially directed to readers who are searching for answers to difficult issues of life in the uncertain times we’re living in, for hope and encouragement when things look scary and out of control, and for healing for broken relationships.

One Holy Night addresses war, specifically WWII and Vietnam—a conflict that’s very relevant to us today. It deals with one of the main characters’ unresolved issues from his service in the South Pacific in WWII, issues that leak over into his concern for his son, who is now serving in Vietnam, and for his wife, who is dealing with cancer. The basic message is that we find hope and healing in a source greater than ourselves, in a beneficent being who has a purpose and plan for our lives and will carry us through when our own strength and understanding fail.

A large part of the reason I wrote One Holy Night is to honor our service men and women and their families who make incredible sacrifices to preserve our freedom even when it isn’t a popular thing to do. In fact, I’m also writing a historical fiction series set during the American Revolution to honor our founding generation who handed down to us this precious legacy of liberty.

Q: How does your family figure into the equation of being an author?

A: As Yoda said to Luke Skywalker: “Never here, you are. Always somewhere else is your mind.” Or words to that effect. When I’m actively writing, I feel somewhat schizophrenic, like I have a foot in two different worlds at the same time. I’m talking to my family members and doing things with them, but my responses come a bit slowly because I’m really in a time long, long ago and a place far, far away. That can be annoying to the people who love you and want your attention.

Family members keep you grounded, however. They keep you from taking yourself too seriously. They’re patient with the crazy urge you have to immerse yourself in fictional worlds. And they make sure you eat from time to time and get out and do stuff instead of sitting bathed in the blue glow of your computer monitor for weeks at a time. For that, I’m very grateful!

Q: Where can readers find your books?

A: My books are available at most bookstores, but if a copy isn’t on the shelf, the bookstore personnel can order it for you. You can also order my books from the major online retailers like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christian Book Distributors (CBD) or directly from Sheaf House at sheafhouse.com.

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