Amy Saunders's Blog

I think for most of us who love to read, it’s a dream to have the perfect reading space. At least, if the number of images of reading nooks and spaces on Pinterest is any indication! I’m not an exception, and I’ve saved lots of favorites on Pinterest myself. Like all other aspects of home décor, a reading nook is a personal thing. And every reader has preferences about how, when, and where they like to read. That said, there are patterns to these dream reading spaces. After thinking about it, I’ve broken it down to three essentials that add […]

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Way back in January, I whispered about a new book in the works. Since then, I’ve mentioned it here and there, and most recently, in a blog post that gave a sneak peek of the new series, Royal Ties. So today, I’m excited to finally announce the release of book one, A Royal Affair! Add to Goodreads! As crown princess of Lorencia, Desi can handle other royals, dignitaries, and celebrities without batting an eyelash. But Astin Gold, the suave heir to a hotel empire? No amount of diplomatic training prepared Desi for him. Or the whirlwind media scandal she’s about […]

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Admittedly, book six in The Belinda & Bennett Mysteries, Truth or Die, doesn’t have a lot of secrets. It was a nice, polite book that cooperated with me from the start. But that’s not to say I didn’t make any changes, or that it didn’t have any challenges. Today, I’m sharing five tidbits about Truth or Die. 1. The idea to jump ahead a few months came while writing Misfortune. From Cliffhanger to Misfortune, Belinda and Bennett’s story spans just a few months, basically one summer. By the time I wrapped Misfortune, I knew I wanted to jump ahead with the next […]

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A short story featuring characters from The Belinda & Bennett Mysteries. Belinda bobbed around in the gentle waves rolling toward her favorite beach in Portside. The sun was in full swing, the ocean providing needed relief from the heat. After baking on the beach for a little while, she was more than happy to take the plunge into the chilly water. Other beachgoers followed suit, and Belinda watched some teen boys nearby splashing around, goofing off for the girls who were still on shore. After glancing over at Bennett, who floated near her, she splashed him in the face. He […]

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At the start of the year, I dropped that I had a new project in the works. Well, now it’s almost time to release it! I’m excited to introduce new heroines and hot leading men amidst a royal backdrop. It all starts with A Royal Affair, the first book in the series, Royal Ties. How It Began It all started last winter when I decided to write a book specifically for my sister, who loves fairytale-like stories of all varieties. She’s all about the romance and royalty. I was up for the challenge, and spent some time hashing out ideas. […]

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I’ve always loved watching behind-the-scenes featurettes of movies to see how it all comes together. Everyone’s different when it comes to where ideas start and their process to bring them to fruition. Today, I thought I’d share a little about my process, specifically when things are in conception mode. The Beginning – Characters Usually, I start with characters, not a storyline. The times when I’ve worked in reverse (plot, then characters) have not gone so well for me. Therefore, I now pretty much have a rule that I begin with my main characters. (And I also have a sister who […]

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Book six in The Belinda & Bennett Mysteries, Truth or Die, is available today! While summer fades away here in Massachusetts, Belinda & Bennett are heading into it as a new case arises – and questions about their future. Spring is in the air, and Kyle has come home. With a surprise. Belinda never thought she’d see the day that a murder investigation would be a welcome distraction. But when Kyle’s return from Australia isn’t the reunion she expected, trying to figure out why a young woman wound up dead in her family’s pool turns out to be a way […]

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Music plays a big role in my stories. It can fuel ideas, alter them, and bolster me to get on with things when I’m dragging my heels. But going back and listening to songs associated with different books can also be a bit enlightening. Especially when it comes to the mood of that book. The third book in The Birthright series, Descent, is a good example of that. Reviewing the songs that played a role in developing that book, it’s clear the mood is more hopeful in comparison to Marked (book two), where Rosamund was really struggling. In Descent, she’s […]

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This story features characters from The Belinda & Bennett Mysteries. How much more determination would it take to get that dog to do what Belinda wanted? “Pull the cart, you big oaf,” she said with hands on hips to the sad-eyed beast who panted up at her. The shaggy brown and black dog was hitched up to a lightweight wooden cart filled with cupcakes. Belinda was experimenting with an idea for a party Cake Diva was catering. Her cousin’s friend had even agreed to lend her dog for the job. But it would only work if Rixton cooperated. A breeze […]

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Congrats to Rachael C. for winning The Belinda & Bennett Mysteries Bundle! And thanks to everyone who entered! Rachael C. is also the winner of the Grand Prize this year! In 2nd place is Jeanna S. Congrats!

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