Popular Amish-fiction author Wanda Brunstetter was on hand to help Barbour Publishing host its third annual Barbour Fiction Café at the show.

Along with five other Barbour authors, Brunstetter signed books and mingled with retailers who entered a drawing with the chance to win a $100 gift card. Lorraine Valk of Banner Books Parable Christian Store of St. Joseph in St. Joseph, Mich.-whose store just won the Jim Carlson National CBA Spirit of Excellence Award-won the Barbour drawing.

"The idea is that it's really good for the stores to get to know the authors on a one-on-one basis rather than just going through a book-signing line, to have an opportunity to really just talk with the authors," said Mary Burns, vice president of publishing. "The retailers seem to enjoy it, and the authors really like to be able to be able to spend a little time talking to them."

Visitors were also given advance readers copies of Brunstetter's next book, Lydia's Charm, a standalone title releasing in September. It will be followed by The Journey, the first in a new, three-part series, "Kentucky Brothers."

Burns said that there seemed to be no let-up in interest in Amish fiction. "We don't see any sign of it running out. It's just one of those things that goes on."

Among the visitors was Marie Palmer, buyer at IHS Christian Books, Gifts & More in Livonia, Mich., who said that Amish fiction remained popular at her store. "It's just so distinctly opposite to what we live in Detroit," she said. "It's a real draw for me and my customers because of what they have-the simplicity, the total forgiveness."

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