About the Book

Plain? Yes. Simple? Well…

If you live in a conservative Mennonite community, edges are sewn shut and questions have answers. So if you’ve got a saucy tongue and a roving curiosity about the world, you’ve got a story to tell.

As a schoolteacher in a small Mennonite school in rural Wisconsin, Lucinda J. Miller wears long dresses and a prayer covering. But she uses a cell phone and posts status updates on Facebook. So why would a young woman with access to all these technologies remain in a sheltered community like the Plain Mennonites? How can someone with an eye for beauty and a sometimes sardonic wit stay within a tradition that values discipline and submission and uniformity?

Anything But Simple is the stirring memoir of a young woman’s rich church tradition, lively family life, and longing for a meaningful future within her Mennonite faith.

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About the Author

Lucinda J Miller Kinsinger has always viewed herself as a shy little Mennonite girl, but refuses to let that stop her from pursuing what she loves—whether that’s writing with honesty and vulnerability or traveling to a remote village in China. In 2019, she married Ivan, the love of her life, and moved from the flat, tree-lined fields of her childhood home in Wisconsin to the rolling hills of Garrett County, Maryland. The couple has a baby daughter, Annalise. Since the publication of Anything but Simple, Lucinda has published a second memoir, Turtle Heart: Unlikely Friends with a Life-Changing Bond. She is columnist for Anabaptist World and blogs at lucindajkinsinger.com.

More from Lucinda

Me, and The People Who Shaped Me

My dad used to say that every person in your life is placed there by God for a reason. Even the ones you don’t like are there to teach you something.

Learn.

If you don’t, God may send someone else to teach you the same lesson you couldn’t learn the first time around.

Anything But Simple is my story, the story of a shy little Mennonite girl growing up to be a writer and asking questions along the way. It is also the story of the many people who enriched my life.

My dad, with his black hair and handsome face and stories from his past.

My mom, with her smooth sweaters and her sure and solid love.

My bishop with his mouth that turned down like a turtle’s.

My creative writing professor who loved words in a way I had never seen in anyone but myself.

Charlene.

Mara.

Deqo.

Jake.

From these people and alongside these people I arose, breathing, questioning, earnest.

Our journey, like the journey of all the squiggly and intricate humans that wander the face of the earth, is anything but simple.

My Thoughts

Anything But Simple is Lucinda J. Miller Kinsinger’s memoir. We learn about her family history and her growing up years. The author wrote an open and honest story. Lucinda Miller was insecure growing up. She wonders who she will become and what she will do. We get to know her family and her ancestry. The author tells us quite a bit about her preacher father. Lucinda came from a large family where she never felt that she fit in. We follow Lucinda through her early years as she grows up and blossoms into the woman she is today. We learn about her insecurities with herself and with her faith. Lucinda was an avid reader. I thought it was funny how she and her sisters would sneak Christian romances up to their rooms after visiting the library. She was able to travel the world through books. She explains about the differences between Mennonites and Amish. We also learn about the different Mennonites (just like Amish there are different types of Mennonites). I wish there had been more about her day-to-day life. I enjoyed the frequently asked question section at the end. We get to see that Mennonites are regular people who have the same dreams, wishes, and doubts as the rest of us. I enjoyed getting to know Lucinda and the rest of the Miller family. Anything But Simple is one woman’s honest account of her growing up years and what she learned.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lucinda is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book. Be sure to comm ent on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter. Good Luck!

Anything but Simple is available from Amazon*. You can follow Lucinda Miller Kinsinger on Amazon to receive an email when she has a new book release. Anything But Simple is part of The Plainspoken Series. The other four books are Chasing the Amish Dream by Loren Beachy, Hutterite Diaries by Linda Maendel, Simple Pleasures by Marianne Jantzi, Gathering of Sisters by Darla Weaver, and The Pie Lady by Greta Isaac. Thank you for joining me today. Tomorrow I am sharing my thoughts on Rebecca's Amish Heart Restored by Tracy Fredrychowski. It is the second novel in The Amish Women of Lawrence County series. I hope that you have a joyful day. We need more happiness in our lives (to combat the negative news reports). I am going to go work in the garden. I got my mother some plants (she is tired of waiting on my seedlings) and I need to put them in the pots I got for her. I will have the company of Inky. He is a black cat that lives in our neighborhood. He spends a lot of time on my patio (I set him up a bed and food station). He is such a sweetheart (loves belly rubs). Do not forget to enter the giveaway. Leave a comment for an extra entry. Take care and Happy Reading!