Official site of poet James Schwartz, author of The Literary Party: Growing Up Gay and Amish in America
"James Schwartz congratulations on this book! It was a short read but I found it thought provoking in regards to Amish heritage and politics. Discussion about mental health and the need for resources was insightful and much needed.. like a balm to my heart. Thank you!"
- Mary Byler
"Amish Alchemy" (Alien Buddha Press, 2026) by James Schwartz available in paperback here!
Each copy of Amish Alchemy included a printed QR code for "Acceleration (Detroit Mix)" my recent collab with Butch Baxter!
Amish Alchemy (Alien Buddha Press) is now available in paperback! Read a preview here.
Poet James Schwartz (author of the Lambda Literary Award nominated The Literary Party: Growing Up Gay and Amish in America, 2011) returns to Alien Buddha Press with a sparkling collection of poetry mining his Amish heritage into gold.
Through a raw autobiographical haiku sequence and love sonnets Schwartz confronts homophobic religious intolerance and loss, death and grief transforming to spring, love, freedom and renewal.
Amish Alchemy is a transformation of the Ages, illustrated with stunning images from the Public Domain Image Archive spanning antiquity and offering alternative mirrors of contemplation.
In this Amish themed journey through the Midwest and beyond lies beautiful temples of knowledge, fountains of wisdom and the alchemy of an exquisite artistic endeavor.
Let the Way of the Heart shine through... Valentines Day poetry reading at #OcalaRainbowGathering2026! Thank you Rainbow family!
I have a new poem titled After the Enlightenment in the literary journal semiosis issue #1, dropping in February!
Post update now available!
Press Release: "Amish Alchemy" by James Schwartz
Poet James Schwartz (author of the Lambda Literary Award nominated The Literary Party: Growing Up Gay and Amish in America, 2011) returns to Alien Buddha Press with a sparkling collection of poetry mining his Amish heritage into gold.
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I was honored to collaborate with my friend Butch Baxter, the end result "Acceleration" is now on SoundCloud and YouTube! I'm officially a Detroit techno songwriter! Also on Apple, iTunes, Spotify!
Happy New Year! Grab your copy of Alien Buddha's Chaos Countdowns 2 anthology, now on sale! Includes my short story The Golden Age of Trance!
The Alien Buddha Zine #82 (January 2026 issue) is now available! Selections from me are my recent New Verse News poem The Great Louvre Caper and a new poem February Blues.
The 90s were a trip! My new 90s themed short story The Golden Age of Trance (in The Alien Buddha's Chaos Countdowns 2 anthology) references several trance / dance songs from around that time. I have also created a playlist, enjoy!
Congrats Mary (and Rosanna!) on your newest book, We're Not Wrong, You Are: Amish vs. Mennonite now available! Sure to shake up the systems!
My new short story The Golden Age of Trance is now available via The Alien Buddha's Chaos Countdowns 2 anthology!
Wishing you happy holidays and the festive joy and warmth of the season,
The Alien Buddha's Arcane Magick anthology is now available! Includes my poem Dark Academia!
"Gay Amish people have been excluded from the very start of the Anabaptist movement. We are still oppressed and shunned today. America is quick to laud the Amish for their lifestyle but remains silent on their homophobia. Amish practice shunning which is forced family separation and conversion therapy which is illegal.
The harm caused by the church has led to LGBTQ Amish suicide and physical, emotional and spiritual abuse.
The Amish communities place a great emphasis on their ancestors who were martyred yet today persecute their LGBTQ minority."
‐ James Schwartz
Most people that leave the Amish church tend to gravitate toward other Plain Anabaptist or Mennonite denominations although I have personally known ex-Amish that are now atheists, Baptist and other Protestants. Keep in mind before the Amish and Mennonite forefathers known as Anabaptists broke away from the church they were Catholic. I have an ex-Amish relative in my family tree that joined the Catholic church. I considered it myself at one point in my spiritual journey! Instead I went from Old Order to New Thought!
I have been attending the Centers for Spiritual Living and studying Science of Mind since 2017 and have been a member of the CSL teaching chapter Center for Spiritually Integrated Arts for over a year. I really believe in maintaining a spiritual framework in my life. I tell my atheist friends to connect with nature on Sundays or read Rumi but a spiritual life is important!
My favorite Science of Mind teachers are Rev. Cathy Hough and Rev. Dr. Raymont Anderson who kindly wrote a beautiful Foreword to my recent book Big Island Beatnik: Poetry & Photography from the Lower East Rift Zone (Alien Buddha Press) which included elements of native Hawaiian spirituality - The Bowl of Light by Hank Wesselman is a favorite read. I am grateful for their spiritual tutelage!
Whether you're an atheist enjoying the peace in nature or Madonna studying the wisdom of Kabbalah there are many paths, pick one and if it doesn't fit try another.
Sunday is my favorite day of the week (maybe because I was born on a Sunday?) and I look forward to my Sunday morning ritual of coffee and reading Science of Mind!
THE LITERARY PARTY: GROWING UP GAY AND AMISH IN AMERICA (EBOOK) BOOK REVIEWS: As a country boy in Kentucky, I’m acquainted with the Ami...
