Interview with Kim Vogel Sawyer
about "Bygones, Book One of the Sommerfield Trilogy"

Added June 26

In the Library Reviews welcomes Kim Vogel Sawyer!

Joyce: Bygones is a beautiful beginning to the Sommerfeld Trilogy. Will all of the books take place within the Mennonite community?

Kim: Thank you for your kind words about Bygones. The following books, Beginnings and Blessings will also be set in the little town of Sommerfeld.

Joyce: Why did you create Mennonite characters? What do you want your readers to know about these faith-filled people?

Kim: To be honest, I created these characters because I got a request from an editor at Barbour. She knew I have a Mennonite background, and there is an interest in Amish stories. She thought it would be interesting to juxtapose the Plain/Old Order Mennonite with the Amish. And given my interest in the Mennonite faith, I was thrilled for the opportunity. The most important thing I hope people carry away from the stories is the sincerity of the Mennonite faith. They live their faith, literally, on their shirt sleeves and all the way to their hearts. They are human and imperfect, just like the rest of us, but their goal is to be a beacon of Jesus to the world. I really admire their dedication to their beliefs.

Joyce: In the novel, I noticed you highlighted the diversity between a contemporary lifestyle and the more serious one of the Mennonites. What is your novel saying about these differences?

Kim: You know, there really isn't anything "wrong" with living simply OR living in a worldly fashion--it comes down to conscience. I was raised Mennonite without the simplistic clothing (prayer cap, below-the-knee dress, etc.), and my Christianity didn't suffer. Acceptance of Jesus as our Savior is what saves us, not the clothing or the doing without a fancy car. The Mennonites know this. Yet by choosing to be "different" on the outside, the Old Order Mennonite are sending the world a message that their "inside" is different--the outside trappings are reminder to the world and to the wearer that they are living to glorify God rather than man.

Joyce: Sometimes, a person's past makes it difficult for them to "let bygones be bygones". Do you have any advice for a reader who may be struggling, like the main character Marie, with decisions that changed the course of their lives?

Kim: I don't believe there are any stronger words in the human language than, "I forgive." We have to forgive ourselves for mistakes, and we have to forgive others for hurting us, or we're forever trapped by regret and recrimination. Unfortunately, when one holds onto regret, bitterness takes hold--and bitterness doesn't just affect the holder; it spills over onto all we encounter. By choosing to forgive, we free ourselves to move forward in peace, and we bring a sense of peace to those around us. In the midst of writing this book, my family suffered a horrible emotional blow that was extremely painful and would carry life-long consequences. God used Marie's story to minister to me and help me make the decision to forgive rather than wallow in anger and bitterness. The consequences are still in place, but we're discovering healing. That can't happen without forgiveness.

Joyce: The world tells us, "You can't go home again", yet Marie returned after a twenty year absence. What do you think are the elements needed for the 'prodigal' to successfully return home?

Kim: First of all, there has to be a willingness to set aside pride and fear. Then there must be a willingness to reach out in forgiveness and acceptance. Frankly, it's easier to just stay away. It takes effort to reconcile. Yet there is joy in casting off the cloak of bitter regret. Not only does the prodigal benefit, but all who mourned the prodigal's absense can find healing, too.

Joyce: Can you give us a preview of the next story in the series? Will we see some of the characters from the first book?

Kim: The second book includes Marie and Henry as secondary characters, and stars Marie's daughter Beth. Beth is starting over in everying--her career, her place of residence, her relationships... Two men vie for her affections, one Mennonite and one worldly, but in which world does she belong? (As the mother of three girls who are between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five, I could really relate to Beth's conflict of finding her God-chosen pathway.)

Joyce: Thank you Kim, for answering our questions and for writing a spiritually sensitive book. We'll be looking forward to the next one in the series.

Kim: Thank you for the opportunity to share with you! I've enjoyed it!

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