Texico resident signs book deal

Texico resident Pamela Desmond Wright has signed a new six book deal with Harlequin for two "Love Inspired Amish" romance series: Texas Amish Brides and Humble Blessings.

"Love Inspired" is a series of books about Christian romance, Wright said.

The idea to write Amish romance novels stems entirely from her imagination as she has never lived in an Amish community nor met anyone Amish, she said.

After writing for some time, she "purchased a batch of Harlequin titles off eBay and a few Amish titles were in the mix," she said. "I liked the genre and decided to try my hand of Christian material, which my family had been requesting for years."

She said she started writing in her twenties but didn't "break into New York publishing" until she was in her forties.

"A veteran of the e-book revolution of the late '90's, Pamela moved into traditional print publishing, writing in the paranormal and adult romance genres for Kensington and NAL/Penguin," her bio states. "Nominated two times, she won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2010."

She first wrote "adult titles and paranormal romance," she said. "My family wasn't really fond of the genre and wanted something they could read" and share with family members, so she eventually started writing Christian-based novels.

Another reason she writes about the Amish is she "grew up playing in an authentic log cabin on my grandparent's farm," she said. "I learned to cook on a wood burning stove and I love the idea of a simpler life. I also enjoy the wholesome family values, which can be found in Love Inspired titles. My grandparent's cabin is now on display at the Muleshoe Heritage Center in Muleshoe Texas. It can be viewed by the public."

Her latest novel, "The Amish Bachelor's Bride" will come out in February 2023, she said. This will be her second in the Humble Blessings series with Harlequin publishing. The novel is set in Humble, Wisconsin.

"The Cowboy's Amish Haven" is part of the Texas Amish Brides series, which was a Publishers Weekly Bestseller.