Amy writes inspirational Catholic fiction, children’s books, devotionals, and Bible studies. She has been writing all her life as an author and freelance writer. 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. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Salisbury University, and graduated from the University of Maryland with a Master degree in Library and Information Science. Amy also holds a Certificate of Theology from the Augustine Institute.
Amy enjoys a busy life on the Eastern Shore of 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.
The recipient of numerous national literary awards, including the Illumination, LYRA, Independent Publisher, International Digital, Indies, and Golden Quill Awards, as well as honors from the Catholic Press Association and the Eric Hoffer Book Award, Her 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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