In this episode, Leslie Gould shares how God shaped her journey from short stories to bestselling Amish fiction. We talk about how her background as a museum curator and love for Shakespeare influenced her writing, and how a cross-country road trip in a VW camper sparked a lifelong love of storytelling. Her latest book, The Shop Down the Lane, inspired by You’ve Got Mail, blends birdwatching, anonymous letters, and second-chance romance in a uniquely Amish setting. Plus, she opens up about adoption, the power of friendship, and what 42 years of marriage has taught her about real love. This episode is filled with wisdom, warmth, and the reminder that nothing is ever wasted when we co-create with God.

Listen to the episode here.

Leslie Gould is the #1 bestselling and award-winning author of fifty novels, including the Amish Memories series and the Plain Patterns series. She’s sold 800,000 books over the last two decades. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and communications and an MFA in creative writing. Leslie enjoys research trips, church history, and hiking, especially in the beautiful state of Oregon where she lives. She and her husband, Peter, have four adult children and two grandchildren.

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Psalm 84:3 (NKJV)
“Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young—Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God.”

Lois Yoder has always found solace in the quiet life of Paradise, Pennsylvania, where she manages a gift shop that reflects her Amish community’s simple values. Her tranquil world is upended when Moses Lantz, former Amish man turned Mennonite and the man who broke her heart, buys the shop with ambitious plans to transform it into a tourist hub–a move that Lois fiercely opposes.

Seeking a distraction, Lois joins a birdwatchers’ circle letter under an alias–but unknown to her, Moses does the same at the urging of a friend. While their correspondence blossoms into a tender romance, the enmity between Lois and Moses in real life only intensifies. Can they overcome their animosity and embrace the love they’ve found through their letters, or will their stubborn hearts keep them apart forever? 

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