Welcome: Amy McGuire

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I’m so pleased to welcome Amy McGuire to our author spotlight….

Can you tell us a little about your background, Amy?

I was born in Campbell River, B.C. and grew up the child of missionary parents in East Africa.  Due to my unique upbringing I have moved many times and experienced many cultures.  This I feel helped in the creation of my first published novel.  Since I was a little girl I have written stories.  In junior high I liked to write comedies but by high school I had graduated to writing romance and have never really considered writing anything else.  In 2009 I began the saga I am working on now, finishing up book 1-3 by the end of 2010.  Romance is my passion and I hope to continue to write love stories for many, many years to come.

I’m with you on the romance thing!  Tell us about who you are when you are not writing.

I’m a stay at home mom and have been since my little bunny arrived in May of 2008.  I love to sit and read just about anywhere, but I truly love the outdoors.  I love to dream and see inspiration in a lot of things around me.  My idea of the perfect vacation is one where I have my feet in the ocean, warm sand sifting between my toes, a book in one hand and a tall glass of root beer in the other.  The only decision I have to make is whether I’ll spend part of the day swimming or sightseeing.  I love the taste of chocolate, the softness of my daughter’s hair, the sound of birdsong, the smell of cut grass and suntan lotion in summer and the amazing contrast of colour in the world around me.

Who are your greatest influences either writing or personal?

I think Lucy Maud Montgomery would be one of my greatest influences.  Since I was very young I have read the Anne of Green Gables series many times.  Her characters are dreamers, thinkers and free spirited.  I think what draws me to her work the most though, is that she writes about Canada.  I read a lot of romance but find very, very few based in Canada.  I don’t know why that is, since Canada is so beautiful and diverse.  As such, I think she truly inspired me to write what I know and love.

If you could give one piece of advice, what would it be and why?

‘No dream is too big if you’re willing to work for it’ and ‘you’re never too old to fulfill your dreams’.  Those are two pieces of advice my mother gives me often.  She has taught me to dream big and go after those dreams.  I know we are put on this earth to care for others and have a relationship with our creator, but I also know we were meant to dream and strive for those dreams, as long as they won’t harm others.

What has been your greatest challenge in life so far?  How did you handle it?

Motherhood, hands down.  It’s been a joy as well as a true challenge to raise a child in this world.  There are moments I question whether I’m the right girl for the job.  I’m so grateful to have a big God to take care of both of us.

Motherhood.  Definitely a new challenge every day!  So, what do you like to read?  What are some of your favorites that you have read?

I like to read romance, the occasional young adult novel and a romantic comedy if it makes me laugh out loud.  My favourites are pretty much anything by Nora Roberts, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, The Twilight Saga (there, I admitted it) despite the writing (the story was good but made a much better movie saga than books), Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness and Piercing The Darkness, The Oath, Visitation, a few of Debbie MacComber’s works, the occasional Fern Michael’s book.

Peretti is one of my literary heroes as well.  🙂  So what are you working on now? 

I am currently working on editing as well as marketing Sweet Love, the first in my The Heart’s Five Senses saga.  I hope to have it in print edition from CreateSpace for sale on Amazon as well as for any book signings I may have in the future.  Book Two, The Essence of Romance is due to come out in e-book format in December with a print edition shortly thereafter.  I have a blog I try to keep updated with all the latest happenings with my books and a website I am proud to say I created myself.  You can find both at www.shesanauthor.com.  I have recently started being a guest on a Google On Air program for Indie Authors hosted by Jason Matthews and AC Cruz.  It runs every night from 6-7 pm PST, 9-10pm EST and we talk about the different elements of self publishing.  I’m very excited to be an author in such a digital age where someone on the completely opposite side of the world can buy my book and be reading it only minutes later.

Where can readers find you on the ‘net? 

My website as I stated before is www.shesanauthor.com and my book can be found at www.shesanauthor.com/webstore and http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Love-ebook/dp/B0077IUEX6/ref=sr_1_44?ie=UTF8&qid=1332876155&sr=8-44

Thank you so much for this fantastic opportunity, Staci.

Thanks so much for joining us, Amy!  It was great to have you.  Please come back and share with us again!

 

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