When three scholars sat down to write a book together about the Nickel Mines Amish school massacre, there wasn't exactly a meeting of the minds at first.

But it didn't take long for Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt and David L. Weaver-Zercher to gel their ideas and writing styles into the more than 200 pages that make up "Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy."

The book focuses on the aftermath of Oct. 2, 2006, when Charles Carl Roberts IV stormed an Amish schoolhouse and shot 10 girls, five of whom died. Roberts then killed himself.

After the shootings, the Amish, in an act of faith that inspired many around the world, forgave.

Kraybill, an Elizabethtown College sociology professor and national expert on Amish culture, said that at the beginning of the project he was concerned the book wouldn't flow.

"Everyone has a voice," Kraybill said. "I thought that the book wouldn't be consistent because there wasn't one, single voice. But it came off OK."

After about two months of interviewing dozens of Amish for "Amish Grace," Kraybill, Nolt and Weaver-Zercher began writing in January under a tight deadline.

The book publisher, Jossey-Bass, said a draft manuscript had to be complete by April 1.

The three authors, who have known each other professionally for years, communicated through e-mail and weekly conference calls, when they discussed which parts of the book needed work.

"We attacked it aggressively," Kraybill said.

Nolt said that sometimes meant editing each other's writing and making suggestions.

"We have the type of respectful relationship where we didn't mind being rewritten by each other," Nolt said.

Nolt, a professor of history at Goshen College in Indiana and an expert on Amish history, said the book grew from the subject of the Nickel Mines tragedy to observations about an analysis of the Amish view of forgiveness.

"This book isn't about buggies, bonnets and beards; it's about central Amish values," Nolt said. "After the shootings, there was an interest coming out about these things. There were questions about the Amish belief system and Amish spirituality."

Weaver-Zercher, a professor of religion at Messiah College and an expert on the Amish and religion, said most people's perspective of the Amish is narrow.

"There are many Christian traditions," Weaver-Zercher said. "But Christians who are not Amish see the Amish as bound up in rules, legalities and government. It's more complicated than that. That is a simplistic view. (The reality) is much deeper."

As the one-year anniversary of the shootings approaches, Kraybill said the Amish are not looking forward to a resurgence of media attention.

"I think they are eager to move on as much as they can," Kraybill said. "It's an important turning point and old story in many ways that could be put behind them. They would like to have the media spotlight turned off."

Although the concept of forgiveness is complicated, Weaver-Zercher said, people are fascinated by it. "Especially when you consider the relationship between intention and emotion," he said.

All proceeds from the book, which costs $24.95 and is now on shelves, will go to the Mennonite Central Committee and provide worldwide aid for children who are abused.

Kraybill said donating the money is the right thing to do.

"I didn't want to look like part of a team that was going to exploit tragedy this for personal gain," Kraybill said. "Telling this story and having the profits help children. That's what the Amish would want … to give back to the world."

There will be a book signing at Elizabethtown College's High Library today from 4 to 5 p.m.

Later, at 7:30 p.m., Kraybill, Nolt and Weaver-Zercher will speak at Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren, 777 S. Mount Joy St.

Additional information about the book is available at www.amishgrace.com.

E-mail: mpennino@lnpnews.com