Ask the Author: Amy M. Reade
Answered Questions (5)
Amy M. Reade
How much time do you have?
One of the first books I plan to read is What's In a Name by Sally Cronin. It's a collection of short stories based on people's names.
Here's a sampling of some of the other books I plan to read:
The Silent Children by Amna Boheim
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
The Used Virgin by Zara Altair
Shrimpin' Gold by Bob Spearman
On the Chopping Block by Jenny Kales
Having a Great Crime- Wish You Were Here by Marja McGraw
Avalanche by Kristina Stanley
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
One of the first books I plan to read is What's In a Name by Sally Cronin. It's a collection of short stories based on people's names.
Here's a sampling of some of the other books I plan to read:
The Silent Children by Amna Boheim
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
The Used Virgin by Zara Altair
Shrimpin' Gold by Bob Spearman
On the Chopping Block by Jenny Kales
Having a Great Crime- Wish You Were Here by Marja McGraw
Avalanche by Kristina Stanley
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Amy M. Reade
Hi there! Thanks for the question. I don't know how I missed seeing this last week.
I've given this question a bit of thought and I think my legal skills have been both helpful and a bit of a hindrance in my fiction writing.
My training in legal research and writing has helped me write mysteries that are logical and deliberate, just like legal writing.
On the other hand, what I write tends to start out boring, and I think that stems from legal writing, too. Legal writing tends to be dry and dusty, and my first drafts often read the same way. I spend much of my editing time spicing up the plot and the dialogue to make things more interesting.
In fact, my WIP was suffering from a serious case of boring when I went back to the beginning last week and killed someone on page one. That took the book from boring to intriguing in just a few paragraphs.
Thanks again for your question!
I've given this question a bit of thought and I think my legal skills have been both helpful and a bit of a hindrance in my fiction writing.
My training in legal research and writing has helped me write mysteries that are logical and deliberate, just like legal writing.
On the other hand, what I write tends to start out boring, and I think that stems from legal writing, too. Legal writing tends to be dry and dusty, and my first drafts often read the same way. I spend much of my editing time spicing up the plot and the dialogue to make things more interesting.
In fact, my WIP was suffering from a serious case of boring when I went back to the beginning last week and killed someone on page one. That took the book from boring to intriguing in just a few paragraphs.
Thanks again for your question!
Amy M. Reade
The biggest mystery in my life is probably why my husband puts up with me, but here's one that might make a spookier story:
Several years ago I visited my sister's house with my son and my two daughters. My husband couldn't make the trip due to a business engagement. My daughters sleep upstairs in my sister's house, but my son slept on the floor of my room (in the basement) on an air mattress.
In the middle of the night I woke up--I don't know why--and there was someone in the bed with me. I can clearly remember thinking it was my son (he was little and it sometimes scared him to sleep in the basement, though the basement is fully furnished). I lay still for several minutes so I wouldn't wake him up, then I eased myself out of bed, figuring I might as well use the bathroom as long as I was awake.
Walking around the foot of the bed, I almost tripped over my son on his air mattress on the floor.
I whipped around and there was no one in the bed. When I mentioned this to my sister the next morning, she wasn't surprised. She said that kind of thing always happens in her house--music playing when no one turned it on, lights on when no one turned them on, a terrible--yet inexplicable--smell that comes and goes at random times, and loud noises coming from somewhere in the house when all the people are in the same room together.
I never believed in ghosts, but this has me rethinking my position. Figuring out what's going on in my sister's house would make a great mystery.
Several years ago I visited my sister's house with my son and my two daughters. My husband couldn't make the trip due to a business engagement. My daughters sleep upstairs in my sister's house, but my son slept on the floor of my room (in the basement) on an air mattress.
In the middle of the night I woke up--I don't know why--and there was someone in the bed with me. I can clearly remember thinking it was my son (he was little and it sometimes scared him to sleep in the basement, though the basement is fully furnished). I lay still for several minutes so I wouldn't wake him up, then I eased myself out of bed, figuring I might as well use the bathroom as long as I was awake.
Walking around the foot of the bed, I almost tripped over my son on his air mattress on the floor.
I whipped around and there was no one in the bed. When I mentioned this to my sister the next morning, she wasn't surprised. She said that kind of thing always happens in her house--music playing when no one turned it on, lights on when no one turned them on, a terrible--yet inexplicable--smell that comes and goes at random times, and loud noises coming from somewhere in the house when all the people are in the same room together.
I never believed in ghosts, but this has me rethinking my position. Figuring out what's going on in my sister's house would make a great mystery.
Amy M. Reade
I think my favorite fictional couple would have to be Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books and the tension between the two of them makes me laugh out loud at times. It's also sweet, stormy, and perfectly relatable.
Amy M. Reade
Hi Phyllis,
Thank you for reaching out! I would love it if you took the time to review any of my books on your blog. I'm wondering when your novel will be out. The title is great. I actually love the marketing aspect of being an author because it gets me out of my own head for part of each day and makes me think more about the business side of things. Once I post this response to your question, I'll look around for you on social media sites. Keep in touch!
Thank you for reaching out! I would love it if you took the time to review any of my books on your blog. I'm wondering when your novel will be out. The title is great. I actually love the marketing aspect of being an author because it gets me out of my own head for part of each day and makes me think more about the business side of things. Once I post this response to your question, I'll look around for you on social media sites. Keep in touch!
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