Behind the Scenes of Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries (Part 1): A Conversation with Chevonne O’Shaughnessy!Behind the Scenes of Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries (Part 1): A Conversation with Chevonne O’Shaughnessy!
Anchored by the Sword
Film producer Chevonne O’Shaughnessy shares how a painful experience with her daughter led her to create faith-friendly, family-focused movies and the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries series. The conversation blends behind-the-scenes stories, career lessons, and reflections on staying grounded in faith while working in entertainment.
21:31•14 Apr 2026
Faith, Film, and Amish Mysteries: Chevonne O’Shaughnessy Shares the Story Behind Sugarcreek
Episode Overview
- Chevonne shifts from stunt-heavy action films to family-focused stories after seeing how a horror film harmed her daughter’s wellbeing.
- Her goal is to make films that hint at faith and hope while remaining accessible to broad international audiences.
- The Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries grew from a 35-book series into successful films and now an extended TV series set in Ohio.
- Chevonne stresses the importance of studying a channel’s format and audience so your story actually fits where you want it to air.
- Prayer, preparation, and a willingness to keep moving forward help her handle setbacks and stay calm under pressure.
“If I have the power of making movies, I want to make movies that a family can sit down and watch together.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation with producer Chevonne O’Shaughnessy offers a different angle: what happens when someone in the film industry decides to use their influence to build stories that calm anxious hearts instead of stirring up more fear.
Anchored by the Sword host Gina sits down with Chevonne to chat about the new TV series *Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries*, why it matters to families of faith, and how a frightening moment with her young daughter changed the direction of Chevonne’s career.
After her daughter secretly watched a horror film and was left with severe anxiety, Chevonne recalls thinking, “If I have the power of making movies, I want to make movies that a family can sit down and watch together.” From that point, she shifted from “crash boom bam” action films to faith-friendly, family-focused stories.
You’ll hear how the Sugarcreek project grew from Amish novels into hit films and now an eight-hour series for UPtv and UP Faith & Family, plus some fun behind-the-scenes moments from filming in small-town Ohio, where locals pulled up lawn chairs to watch the set in action. Underneath the industry talk sits a strong thread of purpose and perseverance.
Chevonne speaks honestly about being a single mum in a tough business, staying grounded by prayer, and facing roadblocks like a clerical error that nearly shut the series down. Her calm on set, she explains, comes from doing the work early and trusting that a bigger hand is guiding the rest.
Anyone who’s trying to rebuild life with faith at the centre—whether from addiction, burnout, or loss—will relate to the way Chevonne keeps getting back up, learning her audience, and refusing to give up on the stories she feels called to tell. Maybe it’ll nudge you to ask: what kind of story are you helping write with your own life?
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