Interview with Pamela Desmond Wright 2026

I'd like to welcome Pamela Desmond Wright, our Featured Author this week. Pamela released her book An Amish Widow’s Hope with Love Inspired in January. This book has some surprising layers that I’m excited to ask her about, so let’s dive in!

Congratulations, Pamela, on the release of An Amish Widow's Hope! How is this story different from other Amish romances you've written?

This story is a little different from some of my earlier Amish romances in that it begins in a place of deep grief rather than new love or new beginnings. My heroine is a widow, and so much of her journey is about learning how to breathe again, how to trust life—and God—after loss.

Because of that, the romance unfolds more slowly and gently. It’s not just about falling in love, but about healing, rebuilding, and deciding whether there’s room in her heart for hope again.

Sixteen years before the story begins, Evan chose a career in law enforcement over his Amish community and his relationship with Isla. What drew you to a second-chance romance with such a long separation?

I’ve always been fascinated by the kind of love that doesn’t simply disappear just because time and distance intervene.

With Evan and Isla, that sixteen-year separation gave me space to explore how choices made in youth can echo for years, especially when those choices come with sacrifice. Evan choosing law enforcement over his Amish community and over Isla isn’t
just a romantic conflict; it’s a life-altering fork in the road for both of them.

I was drawn to the idea that neither of them truly “moved on” in a clean, easy way. Instead, they carried each other with them in different ways while also building separate lives. That creates a very layered second-chance story—one where forgiveness, trust, and understanding have to stretch over a long history of hurt, regret, and unanswered questions.

Recovery from alcoholism isn't a topic readers often encounter in Amish romance. What inspired you to explore that struggle through Evan's character, and how difficult was it to write?

Evan’s struggle with alcoholism came from wanting to portray a very real, very human battle that doesn’t always fit neatly into the expectations of any community—including the Amish world I write in.
This part of his story was especially close to my heart because I have family members who have dealt with substance abuse issues. Watching that firsthand gives you a deep awareness that addiction isn’t a simple moral failure—it’s painful, complicated, and often tied to trauma, loss, or the pressure of trying to hold everything together when life feels unmanageable.

I didn’t want to approach it lightly or use it as just a plot device. Instead, I tried to write Evan’s recovery with honesty, showing his setbacks as well as the hard-earned victories. It was important to me that his journey felt realistic, not rushed or overly neat, because recovery rarely is.

Hope is central to both the title and the story itself. What do you hope readers will take away from Isla and Evan's journey?

Hope really is the heartbeat of this story, both in the title and in what Isla and Evan go through together.

More than anything, I hope readers come away with the reminder that hope doesn’t always arrive all at once. Sometimes it shows up quietly: through second chances, through forgiveness that takes time, and through the courage to keep showing up even when the past feels heavy.

With Isla and Evan, neither of them gets a clean slate. They have history, hurt, and hard truths they can’t avoid. But they also have an opportunity to choose something different for themselves. I wanted readers to see that healing doesn’t mean forgetting what’s been broken—it means learning how to live and love despite it.

What does a typical writing day look like for you, and where do you do your best writing?

I work a part-time job, so only about four days a week are devoted to writing. I’m also not a morning person, so my writing happens late afternoons and evenings. Because I’ve lost part of my vision, I do all my writing on a 27” iMac so I can see the screen.

As for where I do my best writing, it’s usually at my desk in a quiet space where I can focus. By the time I sit down, I’m ready to dive into the story. Once I’m in the flow, that’s where the real progress tends to happen.

Every author has a different process. Are you a detailed planner, a seat-of-the-pants writer, or somewhere in between?

I lean more toward being a planner, especially because Harlequin requires a detailed outline before a book can move forward.

By the time I start drafting, I already know the major arc of the story, the emotional beats, and where I need the characters to end up. That structure gives me a foundation and keeps the story focused from the start.

That said, I do leave room for discovery. Even with a solid outline, characters sometimes surprise me—how a conversation unfolds, or the way an emotional scene lands on the page. Those are the parts I don’t always see coming but can be happy
surprises when they do!

What has surprised you most about your publishing journey so far?

What has surprised me most about my publishing journey so far is honestly that I got this far.

Growing up, I was told writing wasn’t a very practical path and that I should focus on something more “reasonable.” There were even long stretches where I stepped away from publishing and lived like a normal person.

For some reason, I always ended up returning, changing genres and starting over. So reaching this point—and being a NYT bestselling author—has been both surprising and meaningful.

Just for fun: If readers were to visit you while you were writing, what would they likely find on your desk?

Lots of pens and handwritten notes! Really, I’m very organized and there’s a place for everything and everything in its place. However, I have a fear of not having enough pens and have dozens filling cups and mugs on my desk. I’ll most likely die before I use them all.

Please tell us what's next for you. Are you working on a third project?

I just signed on for 6 more books in a new Amish series for Love Inspired called The Amish of Millbrook.

Set in Maine, Millbrook is a more remote wilderness setting, which naturally shapes the way the community lives. It’s still an Amish settlement, but it’s less modern than what readers might expect, simply because of its isolation and the rugged environment around them.

Each book will center on a different couple, but the community itself is very much part of the larger story. I’m really looking forward to exploring how faith, relationships, and survival all weave together when it’s off the beaten path.

Lastly, if you could read only one work of fiction one more time, what would it be and why?

Gone with the Wind. The characters are complex, the stakes are high, and the story never takes the easy way out. Scarlett O’Hara is not always likable, but she’s unforgettable. I can only dream of writing a novel like that.

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At the age of thirteen, Kimberly Keagan discovered romance novels. Whenever possible, she ignored her chores in favor of a book she couldn't put down. In time, she earned a degree in accounting and enjoyed a brief career in investor relations, writing financial reports and press releases—terrific jobs, but not very romantic. By God's grace, she married her own handsome hero and raised two wonderful children, whom they homeschooled. Now, she is following her long-held dream of penning historical romance. Her debut novel releases in 2025.