My chosen genre is memoir/non-fiction story telling. I read almost exclusively non-fiction books as I want to learn about how others deal with life’s challenges. All the fiction books seem “canned” and have the same happy endings. I also realized that real life sometimes is stranger than fiction and provides lessons that others can learn from. In looking at my own life, I came to the conclusion that my story could be an inspiration and a lesson to others. Outside of my books, I have a blog that I write about everyday events that occur in the lives of my husband, daughter, and I - https://farmgirlwriter.wordpress.com/
What do you find most challenging about the writing process, and how do you deal with it?
The most challenging part about the writing process is finding a concentrated time span during which to write interrupted. I deal with it by making myself do nothing else except write in the one day a week that I choose to write.
When and where do you do your writing?
I always wonder, do professional writers have neat and clean professional offices? I did not start out to be a writer so my office is multi-purposeful. It is a 10 X 10 space tucked into the corner of our TV/family room upstairs. The side with the “doorway” is made up by the back side of my daughter’s computer desk and unorganized, unaddressed papers. On the opposing wall, tucked under the window, is the desk for “business purposes.” It is lined with electrical supply books and references. Being the bookkeeper for my husband’s electrical business is the number one priority. To the left on the desk, I have my pile of “personal-want-to-keep” stuff. On the right, is my pile of “book-in-progress” items. The third wall is obliterated by filing cabinets, my computer, and the two very necessary copy, fax, scan, and print machines. Packed around all of this and stuffed into cubicles above it, are the stacks of blank paper, trips-to-go-on, trips-done-gone-on, college information for daughter, and more stacks of book writing and publishing paraphernalia. This is where I write. When? My second job is as a nurse anesthetist which requires 3 days per week. Then there is the bookkeeping job. 1 day a week or 1 day a month may be all that I have to write. If that is it, I make it concentrated writing time.
What have you learned about promoting your books?
I have learned it is a very time consuming and sometimes expensive proposition to promote books. I have had to content myself with specific time concentrated activities that are spread out over many days. This year, I have also limited myself to activities that are cost effective. The internet and my website, www.farmgirlwriter are very useful tools for people to access if looking for more information. Word of mouth has been a much bigger promoter than I ever expected and at work, I always carry cards to hand out that describe each book.
What are you most proud of as a writer?
I am most proud that the people who do read my books seem to like them and many people identify with the struggles that I portray.
If you could have dinner with any writer, living or dead, who would it be and what would you talk about?
I think my choice of writer to have dinner with would be Beverly Lewis who has written many novels with the Amish culture as the primary backdrop. Even though they are fiction stories, I probably have read more of her series than any other probably because I identify with the culture. I would want to talk about her knowledge of the Amish and how she uses it in her stories, what got her started on writing about the Amish, and about her own background that influenced her to write.
Author Bio
Amanda Farmer was born in Pennsylvania and moved with her family to Minnesota at age 16. She lived and worked on the farm until age 29. Amanda earned a master's degree in Nurse Anesthesia in 2007 and currently works in that profession. She enjoys reading, writing, and most any outdoor activity. She and her husband of 24 years live on a hobby farm in southeastern Minnesota. They have one college-age daughter, 2 cats, a dog, a multitude of fish, and once spent all their profit on 2 horses. All the animals were obtained in response to "P-l-e-a-se Mom!"
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