Amity Steffen Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. I live in a small town in northern Minnesota. I love to visit many of the 10,000 lakes my state is known for. I have two sons who I couldn’t be prouder of. We enjoy hiking through state parks, kayaking, and fishing. Well, they fish. I tag along to read on the water. I have three rescued cats that I absolutely adore.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A. I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. I was the kid in elementary school who’d sneak a flashlight and a stack of books under the covers after bedtime. I just couldn’t get enough of my favorite stories. Wanting to be an author was a logical progression. By the time I was thirteen, I was passionate about someday becoming a published author.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?
A. My writing career officially began in 2012. It was at a time when self-publishing was just taking off. I didn’t have high expectations, but my first novel (a young adult romance) did really well. It became an Amazon “Top 100 Kids & Teens Kindle Book of 2012.” From there, I self-published young adult novels for several years, eventually becoming traditionally published in the genre. I enjoyed writing young adult, but early on I knew I wanted to make the leap to adult Christian romance. Eventually, thanks to Harlequin, that happened.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Reunion on the Run?
A: It’s a story about faith, family, redemption and second chances.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Reunion on the Run?
A: Second-chance romance stories have always given me that warm and fuzzy feeling. I knew I wanted to write about a couple who overcome insurmountable odds. My oldest son has an extraordinary antique collection that he started when he was nine. The antique dealer angle wasn’t in my initial outline for the story, but it worked itself in nicely.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?
A: It’s simple, really. With God, all things are possible.

Q: What inspires you to write?
A. Anything. Everything. As any serious writer knows, stories just bubble up inside, begging to be written. Sometimes I can pinpoint my inspiration, other times the ideas come out of nowhere.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. As I mentioned, I’m from northern Minnesota. I’m currently putting together a Christian suspense series revolving around a family of Northwoods heroes.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?
A. I love to spend time with my two sons. We unexpectedly lost their dad several years ago. That makes every day I have with my boys even more precious.