Friday Feature-Amanda Barratt-Moments Both Holy and Harrowing

Today we welcome author:

Amanda Barratt

One commenter will win a copy of
Amanda's book:

 The Most Eligible Bachelor Series

Scroll down to see how.

Mary here. I'm so happy Amanda, a young author, is visiting with us this weekend. I met her three years ago at one of our local ACFW meetings. She helped the leader present "how to make a one sheet". My product is a result of their presentation. Everyone went home and tweaked, but the session proved very valuable. Amanda went on to...well, I won't spill the beans, she tells you in her post below. I asked Amanda to tell us how God led her on her writing journey. Here is what she said: 

Moments Both Holy and Harrowing

Thank you so much for hosting me today, Mary! It’s been a joy and privilege to get to know you!

My journey as a writer started – like many of our journeys do – in my early teen years. 

I had just watched a film adaptation of Jane Eyre, and wrote a similar story for an assignment in school. An underprivileged servant girl, a madwoman in an attic…you might say I was plagiarizing. But in reality, I was captured by the power of the story and wanted to put words on the page with as much beauty and talent as my favorite classic authors did. 

I continued writing, on and off, for several years, imitating authors like Dickens, Bronte, Austen, and Georgette Heyer, sharing these stories with my captive group of readers – my mom and younger sister.

Though I’d grown up in a strong Christian home, I hadn’t given my heart fully to the Lord. Other things took priority – including writing my historical romances. I honestly can’t remember the exact details of how God tugged my heart towards Him, but I began to add Christian authors to my reading repertoire – Francine Rivers, Julie Klassen, and Julie Lessman – to name a few. 

As I read the stories these authors told, gleaning from the characters’ journeys of faith, my own walk with God took on a whole new dimension and I began to fall in love with Jesus. Slowly, elements of my relationship with Him found their way into my stories, and after I attended an ACFW conference, my first novel gained representation with Books and Such Literary Agency.

Without a doubt, God brought me to the place I am today, and without His beautiful grace and mercy manifesting itself in my life, I would not be an author. He has led me, carried me through moments both holy and harrowing, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. 

I look forward to growing in Him, delighting in Him, and letting Him use me to tell stories to draw others toward a relationship with him – just as Christian fiction did for me.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Glory to God alone

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Amanda Barratt is the ECPA bestselling author of two novellas published by Barbour Publishing. Her third story, The Price of Love, releases August 2016 as part of The California Gold Rush Bride Collection, also by Barbour. Amanda fell in love with writing in grade school when she wrote her first story - a spinoff of Jane Eyre. Since then, she's penned novels set in Regency and Victorian England, and the Gilded Age. 

A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, she lives in the woods of Michigan with her fabulous family, who kindly put up with the invisible people she calls characters.

These days, Amanda can be found reading way too many books, watching an eclectic mix of BBC dramas and romantic chick flicks, and trying to figure out a way to get on the first possible flight to England    

Amanda loves to connect with readers. You can find her at:
   Facebook|Twitter

Website 

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The Most Eligible Bachelor Romance Collection

Meet nine men from bygone days who have all the qualities of a true hero and who all the single ladies wish to court—though some are unassuming and overlooked until their worth is revealed. The socialite, the architect, the doctor, the masked vigilante, the missionary, the postmaster, archaeologist, the wealthy widower, and the heir can have their pick of brides, but which one will they choose?

The Convenient Bride Collection

Join nine brides of convenience on their adventures in a variety of times and settings gone by—from a ranch in California…to the rugged mountains of Colorado…to a steamship on the Mississippi…to the dangerous excitement of the Oregon Trail…into high society of New York City. No matter the time or place, the convenient brides proceed with what must be done, taking nuptials out of necessity. . .and never dreaming that God might take their feeble attempts to secure their futures and turn them into true love stories for His glory.

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Enter the contest to win a copy of Amanda's book:

The Most Eligible Bachelor Series
SIGNED by all eight authors!

here is how:

leave a comment (and email address)

AND sign up to receive my newsletter -in the right column
(subscribers to my newsletter will receive a special Christmas gift)

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Thank you, Amanda, for joining us this weekend!

We enjoy chatting with you and are looking forward to reading your comments and questions. Or at least your hi, hello, or hey.

Thanks for stopping by!

Don't forget to comment!