And Winner Is…. Mary James!

  I have the coolest job. For the last 15+ years I’ve been working at home (long before it was a thing) writing books with and for the noteworthy and notorious… from former terrorists, to music stars, to CIA operatives, to convicted felons. Through my writing career, I have had the privilege of sharing the stories of some amazing people who offer encouragement and inspiration as we navigate the roads of this crazy world. I’m thrilled to announce my latest collaboration. Together, recording artist Mary James and I will write her prescriptive memoir and accompanying Bible study. Mary is a 6-time Inspirational Country Music Female Vocalist of the Year, speaker, […]

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Amy’s July Reads

We’re practically in the middle of August and I am just now posting by book reviews for July. Yikes! I spent a lot of time hanging with my grandies, and that is far more important than writing a blog, right? I know some of you wonder why I post reviews of books I didn’t care for instead of just those I loved. It’s simple. Who wants to invest precious time in books that aren’t awesome? Of course, you might totally disagree with my ratings, but hey, that’s what makes this fun! Please let me know on social media what you’ve been reading! Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell You enjoy historical fiction. You’re […]

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TODAY’S QUOTE: Trust, Live, Enjoy

Every time I think it’s time to put away my keyboard and switch out my writer’s hat for my old corporate one, an amazing new project comes along that reminds me of my purpose. I know I am on this earth to share people’s inspiring stories through the written word. What is God’s plan for you? Are you living it? Are you enjoying it? Please use the talents you’ve been given to make the world a better place.

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FREE Kindle Copy of “Facing the Dragon!”

Nope, I’m not kidding. the Kindle version of Facing the Dragon: How a Desperate Act Pulled One Addict out of Methamphetamine Hell is FREE from May 28 – June 3. (If you don’t have a Kindle, you can still take advantage of this offer. There is a free Kindle app available for smartphones, tablets, and PCs.)   In Facing the Dragon, you will witness the slow, agonizing metamorphosis of a good-looking high-school athlete into a violent, drug-dealing, psychotic wife-beater whose children were terrified of him. After more than twenty-three years addicted to methamphetamine and other drugs, David Parnell put an SKS assault rifle under his chin and pulled the trigger. The […]

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Spring Has Sprung… Hopefully!

Every spring I innocently recite a little ditty upon the first sign of winter’s departure: Spring is sprung, the grass is ris. I wonders where the birdies is. They say the birds is on the wing. Ain’t that absurd? I always thought the wing was on the bird.* I say innocently, because it is always wishful thinking. I live in Minnesota, after all, and the third week in March is still winter in the frozen tundra. Author Henry Van Dyke clearly knew what I was talking about when he said, “The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another.  The difference between them is […]

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Ch-ch-changes…

  After looking at my freshly minted, totally redesigned website you might be thinking: What’s up with this new look? Why did you change everything?  Well, I’m going to tell you. A website is a little like a hairstyle; it must evolve over time or risk being out of it, uncool, passe, even dweebish (good luck with that one, spell check). My old site was absolutely gorgeous, thanks to webmaster extraordinaire, Sandy Juettner, but it was a little too…yesterday. It was like having a bi-level haircut when the other girls sported an inverted bob. The biggest reason for the re-do, however, is that I longed to rebrand myself. I wanted my visitors, friends, potential […]

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The Origins of Catch-22

On Tuesday I posted a rather difficult trivia question on my Facebook author page and other social media. The category was literature: QUESTION: Why did Joseph Heller change the title of his famous novel from Catch-18 to Catch-22? ANSWER: Because Leon Uris had recently released a book called Mila 18. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller has become such a foundational book in contemporary American literature that the title is actually in the dictionary! The term refers to an absurd no-win situation. For example, you can’t get a job without experience, but you can’t get experience without a job. That, my friends, is a Catch-22… a kind of a damned if you […]

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God Bless Us Every One

Here’s today’s Trivia Question of the Day: QUESTION: Literature: What is the name of the sickly character in Charles Dickens’ book, “A Christmas Carol?” ANSWER: Tiny Tim Evidently, this question was far too easy for my social media followers. I expect, however, that you will find some of the details I uncovered while researching this blog to be fascinating. First a little background. A Christmas Carol is a novella by prolific English author Charles Dickens (Great Expectations Pickwick Papers, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist). The little book was first published on December 19, 1943 and has become one of the best-loved books of all time. Charles John Huffman Dickens was born on February […]

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Grammar Gem of the Day: Which vs. That

Most of my editing clients get this one wrong, so don’t feel too bad if this is news to you, too. How do you know when to use the pronoun “which” and when to use “that?” Its fairly simple. If you can drop the dependent clause in a sentence without losing the point, you should choose “which” and enclose it in commas. Amy’s dog, which is thirteen years old, is having trouble catching squirrels. (If you take out “which is thirteen years old,” the sentence still works.) However, if the clause is a critical piece of the sentence, use “that.” The dog that is having trouble catching squirrels is Amy’s […]

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MAN DOES THE UNTHINKABLE TO STOP HIS DRUG ADDICTION

After more than twenty-three years addicted to methamphetamine and other drugs, David Parnell put an SKS assault rifle under his chin and pulled the trigger. The blast took off half his face, yet somehow he survived. Following an afterlife experience where he briefly experienced both hell and heaven, David woke up in the hospital. He was changed forever, both physically and emotionally. In 2010, David Parnell and I wrote his memoir, FACING THE DRAGON: How a Desperate Act Pulled One Addict Out of Methamphetamine Hell, about his horrific drug addiction and dual suicide attempts. In Facing the Dragon, you will witness the slow, agonizing metamorphosis of a good-looking high-school athlete into […]

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