Book Launch Coming Soon

It's hard to believe, but very soon, I'll be celebrating the release of Rhodelia, my latest book baby. The official release date is October 1st, but there are SO MANY exciting things coming! For one, I'm getting ready to launch a super fun giveaway, so make sure you're subscribed to my blog (amybellamyauthor.com) and following … Continue reading Book Launch Coming Soon

Educator by Day, Novelist by Night

My article, "Educator by Day, Novelist by Night" recently appeared in the summer 2026 edition of The Kentucky Thesis, the official newsletter of KCTE (Kentucky Council for Teachers of English). I was pretty excited to see this article come together. It gave me a chance to reflect on the balancing act of writing and publishing … Continue reading Educator by Day, Novelist by Night

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) Requests for Rhodelia are Open!

Wow, the past few months have been a whirlwind! First, my daughter graduated from high school, which meant all of the end-of-senior-year craziness no one warns you about (senior recognition/honors night, final performances, receptions, graduation parties, etc.). Soon after all of that hoopla, she left for a tour of southeast Asia while my husband and … Continue reading Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) Requests for Rhodelia are Open!

Should You Really “Kill Your Darlings”?

As I'm waiting for edits to come back on my manuscript and preparing for all of the book launch shenanigans that come with releasing a new novel into the wild, I've been catching up on email newsletters and rereading Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (Side note: This book is a must-read … Continue reading Should You Really “Kill Your Darlings”?

Solo Writing Retreat: Making the Most of the Time

Writing can be such a lonely endeavor. I remember feeling isolated when working on my first novel because a.) no one else knows what I’m thinking,b.) no one besides me knows who these characters are, and c.) no one can see how the plot will unfold. I felt like I was annoying my friends who … Continue reading Solo Writing Retreat: Making the Most of the Time

Road Tripping and Novel Researching

In 2019, I began researching for my next book, a historical fiction novel inspired by the fascinating life of Alice Martin.  Alice was born in 1881 in Derby, Indiana, which is about an hour from my house.  She lived on her family’s farm until she left for college, and then she traveled the world (literally) … Continue reading Road Tripping and Novel Researching

Maximize Your Reading: The Art of Book Pairing

I don’t have as much time to read as I would like. Then again, who does? I will never be one of those people who posts a perfectly filtered photo with my smiling face next to the stack of 150+ books I managed to finish in one year, but that’s okay! I’ve come to accept … Continue reading Maximize Your Reading: The Art of Book Pairing

The Trouble with Historical Fiction

I love reading historical fiction.  Getting lost in the world of a great story inspired by true events is the ultimate escape for me.   I’ve always admired authors who are able to describe a world from long ago so clearly that I can put myself right there in the midst of the action. Through the … Continue reading The Trouble with Historical Fiction

The Mystery of The Blue Chair

It all started with a book called The Blue Chair. It was an ordinary looking book, just a simple hardback with a light blue cover and a white diamond pattern in the background.  I didn’t even notice it at first among tables of dishes, dusty floral arrangements, and an old brown recliner leaning haphazardly to … Continue reading The Mystery of The Blue Chair