It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an aspiring author who interviews her writing heroes, must fangirl over said heroes.
Hi, reader!
Are you ready for a literary treat?
Then, let me introduce you to a new powerhouse author, and absolutely hilarious girl that you need to know about.
I met Amy a few months back, while attending a Writers Conference. We happened to be in the right place at the right time, and it isn’t an exaggeration when I say that I feel like it was Writerly Providence that brought us together.
She is funny, thoughtful, and incredibly talented.
And of course I had to spotlight her.
But before we jump into her Q&A, I have to tell you about her books (and newsletter). Oooh…you will love it all!
Clever, Cursed, & Storied, her award-winning retelling of the classic Scottish fairy tale, Kate Crackernuts, was an absolute indulgence to read. Not only did I feel completely engaged THE ENTIRE TIME, but I was also reminded of the magical (and distinct) prose from old fairy tales.
I’m a total nerd here. I’ve read everything from the Brother’s Grimm Fairy Tales, all the way to The Blue Fairy Book (and Orange, and Lilac, and all the other colors), and of course, Hans Christian Andersen. Yes, I even have special editions of some of those books.
Like I said, a total nerd.
So when I say that reading Amy’s book was like being sucked into one of those old fairytales, I mean it.
The romance was smoldering sweet. Yes, smoldering sweet. Is that even a thing? I don’t know. But it is now.
I was pleasantly surprised with how fast I read her book. It kept me hooked the whole time, and the romance…did I mention the romance? It was sweet, smoldering, and at times, absolutely heart-melting.
A damsel on a quest for magic… A terrible curse has transformed Kate’s stepsister, Annie, into a sheep. Kate knows the only hope of saving Annie is magic. With her “pet” lamb in tow, Kate flees to the North Mountains where she poses as a court storyteller, hoping to find magicians or anyone with knowledge of magic who can help. But when she becomes the personal storyteller to Prince Henry, who is bedridden and suffering from a mysterious wasting disease, Kate’s plans are derailed.
A prince in distress… Henry is demanding, rude, and completely captivated by Kate’s stories. Despite her initial annoyance, Kate begins to see the wit and passion beneath Henry’s brusque exterior. When Kate discovers Henry dancing in the mountains, she realizes that he too is under a curse that only magic can break. As Kate races against time to save both her stepsister and the prince, she finds herself falling in love with Henry. But can she save both her stepsister and her prince before it’s too late?
Here are some quotes from my favorite scenes:
Aren’t those lovely?
Amy has two other books in her Enchantment Retold Series, Smoke, Steel, & Ivy, and a FREE novella, Curses, Diamonds, & Toads, which you can read through her newsletter. In addition to those, she also has written two sweet rom-coms and has published short stories through a variety of magazines. You can check those out here.
Now, about her newsletter. You already know my thoughts about Author Newsletters. They can be a tricky mess and a waste of time. But every single newsletter I’ve received from Amy has blown my mind.
She provides insightful author interviews, treats (yes, treats—the eating kind), and giveaways that will make you want to win every single time. She is also incredibly mindful of her readers and what they would consider valuable in their inbox.
Of all the author newsletters I’ve subscribed to, I think hers takes the cake. You can check that out here.
And now, after gushing for an eternity, here are Amy’s Author Spotlight questions:
Why do you write?
Once upon a time, long (long) ago, my cousin, an exceptionally talented photographer, gave me a critique on my photography. He asked me casually, “Do you love it?” And the honest truth was no. I didn’t love photography the way he did. And that answer terrified me, because the world at seventeen is terrifying, but also because I worried I’d never love anything as much as Ryan loved photography. More than twenty years since that conversation, I know this is not the case.
I write because I love it, and it’s who I am. I am a writer. Writing is how I show up in this world. It’s how I process truth, joy, grief, you name it. It’s how I communicate my love, my joy, my values. It’s also a really good time. Writing is my preferred form of play, and it’s a fun escape. It’s fun to type away on my laptop, playing make believe, escaping into an HEA. It’s a release; it’s a puzzle; it’s a triumph; it’s my version of Star Trek‘s holodeck. Fantasies, themes, wishes are all explored and fulfilled. AND it’s a way to connect and communicate. I often get tongue-tied and anxious when it comes to real life conversations. I get excited whenever I get to write anything.
What/who inspires you in life (not in your writing, but in general)?
Travel. World building is part of every story, and travel is one of the best ways I know of building/expanding my world. Art. It helps me understand POV in big and small ways. Fairy tales, especially the little known ones. Not only are these prepackaged plots or backstories, but they are also sources of joy. Seasons. We live in a beautiful, dynamic paradise of a world. Live theater. Storytelling in real time gets me excited! I love the connection, the sensory elements (the lights dim, the curtain opens, applause, then a hush…) and the ritual.
What are some of your favorite things?
Cookies. Fairy tales. Curiosity. Whimsy. Flowers. Art Museums (I’m a big fan of the Victoria and Albert). Romance. Staying up late because a book is so good you cannot put it down. Old fashioned handwritten mail with stamps and everything. Walks. Yoga (but mostly after I’ve done it and am in the shavasana pose). Travel. My cat.
What would your perfect day look like and how is it different from your actual everyday?
My cat would sit in my lap, purring contentedly as I finish the draft of one of my novels that for once would not require extensive revision. My inbox would ping with glowing letters from my readers and editors. I’d be able to stay in downward-facing dog for upwards of two minutes and would blithely come in and out of crow pose, just for fun. Healthy family. Healthy food. Cookies would abound and would only disappear one at a time instead of in handfuls. My ploffice (that’s a playroom/office) would be organized, clean, and cozy like the rest of my home. I’d effortlessly transition from mama to writer back to mama with the rhythms of my day.
IRL my cat doesn’t want anything to do with me unless food is involved. My drafts are messy and often require debilitatingly intense revisions. My inbox is filled with more junk mail than anything else. I tend to rest in child’s pose more often than not, and am still trying to understand what healthy eating looks like when all I want to do is eat cookies. My home is definitely cozy, never clean for long, and organization is a pipe dream. Nothing feels effortless (except eating cookies), and everything is a never ending work in progress.
If you could invite a group of writers (dead or alive) to a tea party, who would it be?
For my birthday a couple of years ago we celebrated by having a tea party on a bus in London. It was absolutely ridiculous, and I loved every minute of it. “Tea party” is a green light for my mind to wander to the upstairs of a red double decker bus outfitted with enough tables and seats for quite a crowd of talented writers. Taylor Swift (she is our poet laureate), William Shakespeare, me (Amy Trent), Randy Shilts, Toni Morrison, Shah Rukh Khan (I don’t know what he’s written, but even if it is only his autograph, SRK gets on the bus), Shannon Hale, Jeremy Clarkson, Connie Willis, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Melissa Muhlenkamp (our lovely hostess), Richard Osman, Mo Willems, and my family would all be on the tea bus.
Seriously, weren’t those amazing answers?
A tea party bus would indeed be epic. As well as eating cookies after a perfectly executed crow pose.
Alas, I can’t eat gluten without getting a stomachache, and I often can’t hold crow pose longer than thirty seconds without falling flat on my face.
If, like me, you’d like to connect with Amy beyond her Q&A (which I would 100% recommend). You can find her at any of the links below:
- Website: https://amytrent.com/
- Newsletter: https://amytrent.com/newsletter/
- Goodreads: //www.goodreads.com/author/show/22048991.Amy_Trent
- BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/amy-trent?list=about
- Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/amy_trent
- Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09K19Z4QV
Alongside Amy’s spotlight, I also got to ask her two bonus questions for my VIP Circle subscribers: What would your advice be for young writers? and What’s a book that you think everyone should read at least once in their life? To access those, and learn more about my VIP Circle, click here.
Now, onto our superb giveaway! Because bookish swag rocks.
One lucky VIP Circle (newsletter) subscriber will receive the following items:
- A signed copy of her award-winning fairytale, Clever, Cursed, & Storied.
- Three lovely, color-coordinated stickers.
- One ball-point pen with pearl tip.
- Three bookish notebooks.
- A fairytale inspired bookmark.
This giveaway will run until January 31st and a winner will be randomly selected through my VIP Circle by February 2nd. Open to U.S. residents only.
Did you like this post? Then consider joining my VIP Circle and don’t miss out on all my additional content (monthly giveaways, Digital Swag Bag access code, bookish recommendations, short inspirational messages, and more!). Click HERE.
And if you want to collaborate with me don’t be shy. I love to work with fellow writers, spotlight authors, and host writing challenges. I’ve also been known to swap short critiques on occasion. Reach to me here.
Melissa Muhlenkamp 