I’m super excited to feature amazing author Amanda Flower here on the Books & Hooks Blog. She’s the author of several mystery series, and she has two upcoming releases in April and May. Check out these sweet book covers:


Amanda is sharing her favorite things to do in Amish country, plus an Amish country travel tip.

Hershberger’s in Holmes County

By Amanda Flower

I’m lucky enough to live about an hour from Amish Country, and I visit there as often as I can. During the warmer months, I’m there every few weeks. I go because I’m always looking for new story ideas for my Amish Candy Shop Mysteries and its spinoff series, the Amish Matchmaker Mysteries. I write both series set in a small town in Holmes County that I based off many of the towns and villages in the area. Although my fictional village of Harvest is not real, I love peppering in real places in the series like Millersburg, Charm, Sugarcreek, and Berlin.

In the summer months, I visit Holmes County much more often, and my favorite place to visit is Hershberger’s Farm and Bakery in Millersburg. It has adorable animals and a great market to buy Amish goodies. In the summer, the farm is open as a petting zoo. You can hold the bunnies, pet the goats, and walk among the chickens. May and June is especially fun because that’s when all the baby animals are born. For a few dollars you can purchase carrots and crackers to feed the animals. I will warn you to keep an eye on the goats. They are used to be hand-fed and might take a bite out of your shirt if you’re not paying attention. Also in the summer, they sell homemade ice cream and Amish kettle corn from outdoor stands.

Other great highlights are a small gift shop with Amish goods and buggy rides around the farm. Last year, my fiancé and I bought bluebird houses at the gift shop that we have put up at our farm. And if you have never gone on a buggy ride, I highly recommend it. It’s not only a fun experience, but many times the Amish driver will answer any questions you have about the Amish. Honestly, I had learned many of my most interesting details about Amish culture from Amish buggy drivers. In general, we Englishers believe that the Amish are closed mouth. Some of them are, but others, just like us, love to talk, and they love to talk about their culture too.

My number one tip for Hershberger’s is going on a weekday when it’s less crowded. Saturday is very busy, and since it’s an Amish business, the farm is closed every Sunday. If you do go, you won’t be disappointed. It’s a great place for young and old alike.

Happy travels!

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Amanda Flower, a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over thirty cozy mystery novels, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. In addition to being an author, Amanda is a former librarian with fifteen years’ experience in Northeast Ohio. Her latest Amish mystery is Matchmaking Can Be Murder, the first in the Amish Matchmaker Mysteries. Her next two Amish Candy Shop Mysteries are Botched Butterscotch (4/28/20) and Marshmallow Malice (5/26/20). Visit her online on her website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Thanks so much, Amanda. Make sure to check out Matchmaking Can Be Murder, Botched Butterscotch, and Marshmallow Malice!

Question: What is one of your favorite things to do in Amish country?