Amy has been writing all of her life as an author and freelance writer. Her first children’s book, Crabbing With Granddad, is an autobiographical work about spending a day harvesting the Maryland Blue Crab. Amy grew up in Southern Maryland and spent much of her childhood at her grandparents’ house on the shores of the Wicomico River, the inspiration for Crabbing With Granddad as well as her novel, The Devil’s Fortune. Amy received her Bachelor’s Degree from Salisbury University, and graduated from the University of Maryland with a Master’s in Library and Information Science. Amy also holds a Certificate of Theology from the Augustine Institute. A former librarian and teacher, she now lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with her husband, daughters, and their family dogs.
Amy’s debut novel, A Place to Call Home, was released in 2014 by Sarah Book Publishing. A second edition was published in March of 2015. Picture Me, A Mystery (2015) was the winner of a 2016 Illumination Bronze Award as one of the top eBooks of 2015. Amy’s critically acclaimed novel, Whispering Vines (2016) was awarded two literary awards for Christian literature, and its sequel, The Good Wine (2021) received several literary awards. Amy’s Island of Miracles (2017) won two literary awards for Christian and Catholic fiction. She released her children’s book, The Greatest Gift, as well as her novel, Summer’s Squall in 2017. Amy’s novel, Island of Promise (2018), the second book in the Chincoteague Island Trilogy, was the recipient of nine national literary awards. In 2019, Amy released The Devil’s Fortune and the award-winning, Island of Hope, the final book in the Chincoteague Island Trilogy. Amy’s new series is the Buffalo Springs Series. Book One, Desert Fire, Mountain Rain (2020), is the recipient of a Shelf Unbound 2021 Notable Indie. Book Two, Under the Summer Moon was release in 2021, and book three, Sapphires in Snow was released in 2022.
Amy enjoys a busy life on the Eastern Shore on Maryland where she schedules the altar ministry for the Chapel of St. Michaels, leads the Saints Peter and Paul Women of Faith Study Group, organizes pilgrimages, and runs a week-long Girl Scout Camp every summer. She and her husband, Ken, teach Marriage Prep classes for their diocese. In 2017, Amy was honored by Bishop Malooly with the Merit of Order for her contributions to Saints Peter and Paul Parish and the Diocese of Wilmington. Amy and Ken raised three daughters and welcomed their first grandchild in September of 2022.
Amy’s writing has been hailed “a verbal masterpiece of art” (author Alexa Jacobs) and “Everything you want in a book” (Amazon reviewer). Amy’s books are available internationally, wherever books are sold, in print, eBook, and audiobook formats. Amy’s retreats and talks to women have been described as “a blessing,” as well as “interesting, informational, and inspiring.” An attendee of one of Amy’s retreats said, “Amy’s passion and faith show through all aspects of the retreat. She implants a want for more and wakes up the group with love in her words and examples.”
For the Love of Research
Before I was a writer, I was a librarian, and before that, I was a researcher. Every history major is trained to be a researcher, and that was fine with me. Doing research has always been a favorite pastime of mine. That’s why I’m so excited when I begin a new book and start diving into the backgrounds and lives of my characters. In most cases, my writing, though fiction, compels me to do a lot of research, and what fun that is!
I used to kid that, while writing A Place to Call Home, I was probably on the FBI watch list because of the research I had to do into human trafficking and the laws that try to prevent it. For Picture Me, I delved into how to live off the grid, off-shore bank accounts, and untraceable debit cards. Certainly the best quest I had was the prep for Whispering Vines. Not only did I read a lot about World War II and Italy, but I visited some incredible Italian wineries and tasted many different wines. I toured several Italian cities and learned about the War in Italy, the culture, art and sculpture, grape harvesting, wine production, and wine tasting. What a great expedition that was! Then, my research brought me back home to the Eastern Shore. Island of Miracles takes place on Chincoteague Island, a place with a rich and intriguing history. I dove into learning about the island, the Coast Guard, Army snipers, heart conditions, and the world’s indigenous peoples.
I never know, when I begin writing, where my work will take me. I’m often led down a long and winding road that I never imagined. I love seeing where my characters and the events of their lives lead me. I guess I never stopped learning once I graduated from school, and I am often amazed at the knowledge I gain as a fiction writer. It’s truly a labor of love, and I hope that you get as much satisfaction and enjoyment out of my research as I do. Thank you for reading my books and for allowing me to indulge in some of the things I love most — reading, writing, researching, and bringing joy to others.
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