This summer I got to travel to Kishacoquillas V alley and fell in love with the place! So much so that I decided to set a series there. That meant research. Here are 10 unique facts I learned about the Valley.
1) It sits between 2 mountains–Jacks Mountain and Stone Mountain
2) The buggies in the Valley are yellow, black, and brown and white.
3) Men wear mostly blue shirts
4) Men wear one diagonal suspender
5) The women dress like the Lancaster Amish with the one piece apron that ties in the back
6) The difference in buggy colors also signifies the three different Amish groups in the Valley– Nebraska Amish (white and brown buggies), Renno Amish, also called Peachey Amish (black buggies), and Byler Amish (yellow buggies)
7) Other names for Kishacoquillas Valley are Kish Valley and Big Valley
8) The most common Amish last name in the Valley is Peachey
9) They serve white church pickles (made with white cucumbers of course!)
10) The Amish and Mennonites in the Valley share a cemetery. It has gravestones ranging from very plain to very elaborate.
I have pictures of all this and more here on Amy’s Amish Adventures. Simply click All Things Amish<Amish Photos<The Amish of PA Kish Valley< Kish Valley part 1 to see the slideshow.
My Kappy King Amish Mystery Series starts January 2018. (Yes, I know that’s a long ways off!). Aside from being set in Big Valley, this series has another unusual aspect: My protagonist is Amish! I’m very excited about this series and just as excited to share with you the pictures and interesting facts I learned while in Big Valley.
And the best part? This post is part of my Christmas Giveaway. How do you enter? Leave a comment below. That’s it! By leaving a comment you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing for one of three sets of The Amish Christmas Sleigh. That means three names will be drawn and three readers will receive 2 autographed copies of The Amish Christmas Sleigh which includes my Amish Christmas novella-A Mamm for Christmas. That’s one copy for you and one copy for a friend! Or two copies to give as Christmas gifts. Or, heck, I guess you could keep them both for yourself! Whatever makes you happy!
Have you ever read an Amish mystery? Did you like it? Do you want to read more? What was your favorite part?
Thanks for reading!
Loved the facts, Amy…so interesting! I am especially interested in those white church pickles!
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I bought a jar when I was there. They taste the same, but they are white. I left them with my Amish friend in PA. Her daughter loved them! 🙂
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Love the facts especially the pickles and the one suspender. I love Amish mystery. Since the Amish always seem so calm and peaceful, it is different when the turmoil of a mystery is involved.
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I’ve really enjoyed writing the mysteries. This one was particularly fin since it has a lot of humor in it. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
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I love the excitement in your post!!! Now I have to wait a stinkin year to read!!!! Oh the agony!!! I do love the idea and you are correct about the area up there it was beautiful and I only saw a little. Thank you for sharing.
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I. Know. I wish I could get it out to everyone now! But maybe if we don’t think about it too much, it’ll be here before we know it! 🙂
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Its been a long time since I read an Amish Mystery. It is always surprising that they have unusual problems in their lives. I liked the facts above. I liked the picture of the orange daylilies on the side of the road with a farm, then mountains and another farm by the other mountains.
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That’s one of my favorite pics too! Thanks for commenting!!
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Loved to read about what you learnt on your trip to Kishacoquillas Valley, especially about the church pickles. I love to read Amish mysteries. It is fun to find out how the crime was solved.
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Thanks, Patricia! This is a really fun series. I can hardly wait to share it with everyone!
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I love Amish mysteries! To great books in one. I have never seen the church pickles . Did you try them? I love your pictures so many hard to really choose a favorite. I would to visit the area someday!
Blessings
Diana
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I did try the pickles! They were good. But just pickles. LOL Only white! I hope you can get up there to visit. It’s well worth the trip!
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Interesting things you learned. It seems strange seeing a yellow buggy, I am used to the black ones in Lancaster County.
I enjoy reading Amish mysteries.
Blessings, Tina
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Thanks, Tina! The yellow ones are very interesting to see on the road. 🙂
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I didn’t use to read until I started reading Amish stories. I am so looking forward to your new one since I am from this area. I loved all the pictures, but really liked the one of you and Stace with The Big Valley in the background.
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Thank, Anna! It’s such a beautiful place! Like a postcard!! 🙂
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I love Amish mysteries. Actually I love all Amish books, especially if you wrote them AMY! I am thinking you must absolutely have a blast doing all the research Amy. I have been to several Amish places and it was tooo fun!
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Thanks for the sweet words, Sonja! It might be my favorite part, going to all those wonderful places! I’m not much of a traveler, but Stace is a great running companion! 🙂
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Love the Big Valley and travel there often. Anxiously anticipating the first book in the series!!
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Awesome, Karen! The Valley is amazing! I’m so glad I got to visit and I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone through the new series. 🙂
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Hi Amy , I love hearing new thing and places about the Amish . Love the sound of your new books .
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Thanks, Liz! I may have to set one in Tennessee next! 🙂
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I Love all the pictures, but # 7 just looks so serene and beautiful.
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It is very serene there. I can;t wait to go back!!
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Interesting facts about Kishacoquillas Valley and see the differences from other Amish communities.
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I love all the differences. I always say, the more I learn about the Amish, the more I realize I have to learn!
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Forgot to say, yes I enjoy Amish mysteries. It’s interesting how the Amish community views a mystery even when it’s happening within. Most definitely would read more Amish mysteries. Bring them on, Amy!
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You got it, Marilyn!
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sounds like a awesome book!!! thanks for writing awesome books…..happy thanksgiving!!
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Thank you, Wilma! It was a joy to write!
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i would love to read your books,
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Thanks, Nancy!
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i have read many amish books but i would truly love to read the amish christmas sleigh
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Oh. This is exciting, I can’t thank you enough. My sister would love to read this
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas
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Love reading Amish books and learning about their simple ways of life.
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Thanks, Patricia! Good luck!
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Love the cover and I can’t wait to read The Amish Christmas Sleighl
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Beautiful pictures. I have read a couple Amish mysteries. I would love to read The Amish Christmas Sleigh.
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Thanks, Ruthann! 🙂
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I have read an Amish mystery.. I remember enjoying it but not details. Horrible memory fails.
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I wouldn’t know anything about bad memory! LOL
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I would love a copy !
I love to read Amish books!
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Thanks, Virginia! Good luck to you!
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Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures and facts about the different customs of the Amish.
I cannot travel right now so I really enjoyed the picture tour as I love to visit Amish country.
I do enjoy all Amish based stories including the mysteries. Looking forward to reading your new series.
Thank you for giveaway.
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Thanks, Jackie! It means a lot to me that people are enjoying these posts! I do what I can to ‘take you there’ when you read. 🙂
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I love hearing about your adventures. Maybe, some day, I will get up the gumption to visit Big Valley.
I also am excited to read your new Amish series…..although, I am not fond of the wait to 2018. (LOL)
Thank you for your wonderful books and for sharing your adventures with all of us.
Love you!
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I’m not fond of the wait either! I wish it was coming out in 2017, but maybe they will start coming faster after 2018. 🙂
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Love reading Amish fiction of all forms. Would love to read this! Thank you for the chance. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thanks for stopping in, Debbie!
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I love any Amish books! I am pretty sure this will be a good series from you. ThAnks for the giveaway!
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Thanks! I’m really excited about this new series!
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That is neat that the Amish and Mennonite share a cemetery. I love all Amish books and have a huge collection of them. Would love to add this book to it. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
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It was a really neat cemetery (if that’s even possible!) but to see all the different gravestones was very interesting. 🙂
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I have never heard of the diagonal suspenders. Very interesting facts. I love Amish mysteries.
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The diagonal suspender is a little odd to me, but that’s what they all were wearing. I wish I had a picture, but we’re always very careful about not photographing the people.
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I read only the Amish books .I love them all but I must confess I never really read any that were Mysteries yet.
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There are some great Amish mysteries out there! 🙂 If you love Amish books you should give them a try. 🙂
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I haven’t heard of Renno, Peachy, and Byler Amish. Would love to hear more about these groups.
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I’m hoping to do a future post on these types of Amish. 🙂 Just be watching! Thanks for stopping by!
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Would love to win a copy of your book . . . although I’ve lived in Florida for the last 20-some years, I do have relatives in The Valley. I was born and raised in neighboring Snyder County! And, I am always ready for a new Amish book.
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The valley is wonderful, but I’m definitely jealous of FLA! Have you been to Pinecraft?
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I sure would like to have a copy of your book if it is meant to be.
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Good luck! 🙂
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I commented but didn’t see it show up, so wasn’t sure😊
Enjoyed reading your post and thanks for chance to win.
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It’s here, Missy! Thanks for stopping by!
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I love reading Amish fiction/non-fiction… They are very interesting. One of the things I like about the mystery ones is seeing if you are right on who actually done the crime….. etc…
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win even one of the books 🙂
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.
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Thank you, Crystal! I love to figure out ‘whodunnit” as well! 🙂
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I love reading your books…..would love to have this one
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Thanks, Bonnie!
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Your books are the best, like reading them.
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Thanks, Nancy Jo! 🙂
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Love the 10 unique facts about the Kishacoquillas Valley Amish. I never heard of the Amish in that area, only been to Lancaster County when my late Aunt and Uncle lived in Quarryville. I really miss going there. I love reading all kinds of Amish books even mysteries. There are so many types of Amish books to read and not enough time!
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Definitely, not enough time, Karen! 🙂
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First, thank you for offering this giveaway of The Amish Christmas Sleigh. I’m sure it is a great read with it being about the Amish and Christmas!!
Thank you for sharing the facts about the Amish that you discovered on your trip. Yellow buggies and white pickles would take some getting used to! Yellow buggies seem so unAmish. I guess I’m just too used to the black ones!
Looking forward to reading your mystery series.
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Thanks, Diane. It was really interesting to see these unique Amish. We actually talked to a ‘yellow topper.” But he acted like it was no big thing. 🙂
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I would love to be able to read this story. I love Amish stories. I didn’t know that they had different colors for their buggies. Also, I’ve never heard of white pickles. Always new and interesting facts about the Amish. Keep writing and informing your readers.
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this was made at 9:24 pm not 2:24 am.
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Thanks, Brenda. I think my blog time got changed to GMT. 🙂
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Thanks, Brenda! The yellow buggies were really fun for us! 🙂 And the white pickles are really good!
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I really enjoy reading Amish books, both fiction and mystery. Your post was very interesting, I like learning about the different sects and how the differ.
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To me, that’s one of the most interesting facets about the Amish.
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Looking forward to the new series. I have read Amish mysteries and enjoyed them. Just another example of how the Amish are just people. Strange things can happen to all of us. The white pickles are interesting! Thanks for sharing your facts…gotta go visit that area! Blessings!
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It’s a “must visit: Linda! 🙂
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Would love to win💖
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Good luck! Thanks for stopping by!
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Awesome, give away. Would love to win.
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Thanks for stopping by!
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That’s so neat! I like reading facts about the Amish from someone who actually did their homework (vs. someone who gets their facts from TV). It’s interesting how different the communities can be. I’m looking forward to this series.
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Thanks, Nicole! Stacey and I really enjoy visiting different Amish communities. 🙂
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i do enjoy Amish books but have never read one with a mystery. I think that would be fun also my prayer buddy loves those kinds of books and I would love to give her one too. Looks like a nice Christmas Story
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