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. Though Amy grew up in Prince George’s and Calvert Counties, Maryland, she spent most of her summers with her grandparents on the shores of the Wicomico River in St. Mary’s County. The setting was the inspiration for Crabbing With Granddad as well as her novel, The Devil’s Fortune.
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, published in 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, published in 2016, was awarded an Illumination Award as one of the top Christian Romance books of 2016. Whispering Vines was also awarded the LYRA for the best ebook romance of 2016. Amy followed up her success with Island of Miracles in 2017, winner of a 2017 Illumination Award for best Christian novel and a 2018 Catholic Press Award for Catholic fiction. Amy released her children’s book, The Greatest Gift, as well as her novel, Summer’s Squall in 2017. Amy’s novel, Island of Promise, the second book in the Chincoteague Island Trilogy, is the recipient of the Oklahoma Romance Writer’s Best Inspirational Fiction Book of 2018 as well as six other 2018 national literary awards. Amy’s most recent novels are The Devil’s Fortune and the Illumination Award recipient, Island of Hope, the final book in the Chincoteague Island Trilogy.
All of Amy’s books may be purchased in bookstores as well as online on all major print and ebook sites.
Amy grew up in Southern Maryland, received her Bachelor’s Degree from Salisbury University, and graduated from the University of Maryland with a Master’s in Library and Information Science. A former librarian and teacher, she now lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with her husband, three daughters, and two dogs.
Awards
Amy is the recipient of numerous national literary awards, including the Illumination Award, LYRA award, Independent Publisher Book Award, the Golden Quill, the Oklahoma Romance Writers International Digital Award, and the Forward Indies Award, as well as honors from the Catholic Press Association, the Eric Hoffer Book Award, and the American Book Fest Best Book Awards.
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 and eBook 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.