Twist of Faith: The Story of Anne Beiler, Founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels »

Anne Smucker Beiler was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where she attended a two-room Amish school. Bred into the fabric of her close-knit family and into her soul were the elements of sincere Christian faith, an excellent work ethic, and an eye for good business opportunity. Anne's journey is a remarkable story of failure and success. She persevered through a series of difficult personal struggles-including the tragic death of her second child, being betrayed by someone she trusted implicitly, and a terrible six-year depression-to become the leading female franchise owner in the United States. Anne is one of the few women who have founded national companies in America. What makes her story most extraordinary is her determination to help others by telling her full story-the good, the bad and the ugly.

Publishers Weekly

At first glance, this spiritual autobiography might appear to be another of those rags-to-riches memoirs that retired business owners love to write. Happily, Beiler puts an unusual "twist" on her story, interweaving the chronicle of her business's startup and phenomenal growth (farmer's market stand in 1988, 700 domestic and 119 foreign locations 15 years later) with a candid personal account of bereavement, abuse and adultery; family and workplace struggles; and extended periods of grief and depression. Sometimes the chronological leapfrogging can be confusing-are we in Texas now, or Pennsylvania? and what year is it again?-but often insights from one time period illuminate struggles from another as Beiler alternates between incredible naïveté, especially about predatory males, and sharp-eyed business savvy. Money does play an important role: "I see God giving you things you wouldn't believe," a friend predicts. "I see houses, I see land, I see cars...." Yet Beiler's first priority is philanthropy, not accumulation. Religious readers will appreciate not only her generosity but also her inspirational accounts of prophecies, answered prayers and, above all, forgiveness. (Mar.)

1 My Angie 1

2 Into the Darkness 21

3 A Homecoming 31

4 The $6,ooo Loan 50

5 From a Store to a Business 70

6 A Family Business 91

7 Graveside Confessions 111

8 Surviving Prosperity 129

9 The Red Light 143

10 No More Secrets 162

11 A Secret Is Told 182

12 Enlarging the Future 208

Acknowledgments 224