Marian Beaman
Memoir Author & Storyteller
Stories of faith, family, and a life that moved from Plain to Fancy.
Welcome — this is a place my memories find meaning. I spent my first 24 years as a Mennonite girl in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (the Plain), before moving south to Charlotte, North Carolina, and eventually settling in Jacksonville, Florida (the Fancy).
Every other Wednesday I post a new story about faith, nostalgia, and the family ties that bind us together.
Marian’s Memoirs
Mennonite Daughter:
The Story of a Plain Girl
This is where it all starts — a childhood shaped by tradition inside a strict Lancaster County Mennonite community. It’s an inside look at what that world actually felt like: the expectations, the faith, and the quiet work of figuring out who you are underneath the plain dress and the plain rules. Stories with treasured family photos and a family tree shape the memoir.
My Checkered Life:
A Marriage Memoir
Built around a quilt metaphor, this book looks at what fifty-plus years of marriage actually looks like up close — culture clashes, a travel trailer disaster, tight money, and learning how to fight fair. There are old diaries in here, family recipes, restored photos. It’s as much a love story as it is a record of two people figuring out how to build a life together.
Join The Inner Circle
Subscribers get more than blog updates and book news — sign up and you’ll find authentic connections with other readers and writers here.
Latest Reflections & Reviews
Autumn Leaf, Gray Beret, and Smoke
Have you ever looked for one thing and found something else as you searched? Found something unexpected, maybe even something quite special?
7 Flashes of Memory
“Sometimes a note in the mail triggers memories. In this case, it was a letter from long-time friend Hazel Charles’ “snail mail” she sent to me recently.”
Our Battle with Backyard Bandits
Battle #1: Birds and Squirrels by Day A Look Back “There he goes!” From his studio window, Cliff observed a squirrel stealing birdseed from our new feeder. Again. I rushed outside into the lanai, and saw the squirrel scarfing down the...
About Marian Longenecker Beaman
I’m a writer, a former teacher, and a speaker. I love words— and especially the connection they make possible. Whether you’ve been reading for years or just found me today, I’m glad you’re here.
Got a story of your own, or want to set up a book club talk? I’d love to hear from you..