Amanda combines her love of writing and her love of deep, soulful conversations in the two writing groups she leads with her writing friends. She credits her successes and growth as a writer to the beautiful people she gathers with regularly to sharpen their figurative pencils. Among the many books on writing, literary fiction, memoirs and Stephen King novels on her bookshelf, is Natalie Goldberg”s Writing Down the Bones (1986), which has informed her writing style and approach to the craft since she first discovered it. Amanda also teaches fitness classes, climbs mountains once in a while, and tries to keep up with her four kids. You can find her published works in the anthologies, Better Together (2023) and Just a Hint of Fantasy (2023). She”s currently working on her first novel and planning a way to meet Natalie Goldberg.