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 (2021), is Amy’s latest release.
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.
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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