MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
For nearly 30 years, author and journalist Kevin Williams chronicled the lives, traditions and recipes of Amish families through a newspaper column that became a favorite in communities across the country, including Kansas.
Now, Williams is sharing the behind-the-scenes story of that journey in his new memoir, Not So Simple: My Adventures Among the Amish, Mennonites, Shakers, and Other Plain Communities.
Williams said the idea for the nationally syndicated Amish Cook column began while he was still a teenager.
"I was a young journalist," Williams said. "I had a magazine assignment to write about the Amish, and while I was visiting an Amish community, I found a handwritten Amish cookbook. I thought it would be neat if readers could learn about this way of life every week."
Finding an Amish writer willing to participate wasn't easy, but Williams eventually partnered with Elizabeth Coblentz, an Amish woman who shared stories about daily life, family traditions and recipes in a weekly column.
At its height, the column appeared in approximately 140 newspapers from coast to coast, including the Hutchinson News and the Newton Kansan. While the column never gained traction in larger metropolitan newspapers, Williams said it found a loyal audience in small-town communities.
"The columnist would share a little bit of her life every week—living without electricity, traveling by horse and buggy—and include a recipe," Williams said. "I think it resonated because people are searching for simplicity."
Although the column enjoyed widespread popularity, Williams said turning it into a sustainable business proved far more difficult than readers may have realized.
His memoir recounts several ventures that nearly succeeded, including a line of Amish-themed pies that briefly appeared in Dillon's grocery stores before manufacturing problems ended the project.
"We came so close to having things work out," Williams said. "Every time it just didn't. In many ways, it was a heartbreaking journey."
Kansas played a significant role throughout Williams' career. He frequently visited Amish communities around Yoder and Partridge and developed close friendships with local Amish families. One family even traveled with him to Hutchinson for a book signing, where he recalls visiting the city's prairie dog colony.
Later, Williams worked with a Hollywood production company to develop a respectful reality television series about Amish life. The pilot was filmed in part with an Amish family near Partridge, but the project ultimately never moved forward.
"We missed the wave of Amish popularity," Williams said. "People were more interested in Alaska-themed programming by then."
Williams said one of the most eye-opening experiences during his travels was witnessing the internal challenges Amish communities face, including church disagreements over seemingly minor issues.
He recalled learning about an Amish church split near Yoder over whether horse-drawn buggies should be allowed to use rubber tires.
"It may not seem like a big deal to outsiders," Williams said one Amish leader told him, "but to us it really is."
Beyond the Amish, Williams also visited Mennonite communities and traveled to Sabbathday Lake, Maine, home to the nation's last active Shaker community. Those experiences, along with humorous and sometimes bittersweet personal stories—including an unexpected trip to jail while transporting Amish-themed pies—are featured throughout the memoir.
Among Williams' favorite memories is the story of a teenage friendship with a young Amish woman he met while researching his first magazine article, a relationship that remained meaningful long after they parted ways.
Not So Simple: My Adventures Among the Amish, Mennonites, Shakers, and Other Plain Communities is available through bookstores nationwide as well as online retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, Williams said.