hello there!

I’m Amanda

mom, bookworm, mystery writer, editor, photographer . . .

I’ve been reading mysteries for as long as I can remember—my love of the genre probably started with Scooby Doo, and I still love a good ghost story. Growing up, I devoured all the mystery novels our local library could supply: The Bobbsey Twins, Trixie Belden, Agatha Christie . . . I was that kid who always had her nose stuck in a book. In fact, I once got in trouble for reading–at school. True story. I’m definitely not a kid anymore but you can still find me with my nose in a book every chance I get. Here I like to blog about all things mysterious: my favorite reads new and old, the writing life, and my other passion, photography.

A Little More About Me

I’m a Kentuckian born & bred — our family has been in Kentucky since . . . well, since Kentucky was Virginia. Before that, they were rattling around Ireland & England mostly. We aren’t horse farmer Kentuckians, though, more like moonshiner Kentuckians. Okay, exactly like moonshiners. I’ve never lived anywhere but Kentucky, though I did make a pilgrimage to the motherland for my brother’s wedding in County Kerry, and if I ever leave the Bluegrass State, it will be for the Emerald Isle.

I’ve always known I wanted to write my own mystery novel, but life always seemed to get in the way. When I turned 40, I decided that if I was ever going to write that mystery novel I’d better get started. So now, when I’m not homeschooling my kids, the hacker and the ballerina, I spend my downtime plotting murder. The kids swear they’re never again going to drink from a pot of tea I’ve brewed. That’s what happens when you start thinking out loud about how to poison someone and get away with it.

I’m glad you stopped by! Since my kids are as elusive as Bigfoot when a camera is around, I’ll leave you with pictures of our furbabies instead.

What can I help you with today?

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12 Random Facts About Me

  • I collect teas, but I always have Barry’s Gold Blend on hand and drink it almost daily.
  • My favorite weather is rain & thunder.
  • One of my favorite possessions is my great-grandmother’s 1927 Corona typewriter.
  • My favorite season is autumn and I wish it lasted as long as summer does here in the South. I’d trade them in a heartbeat.
  • I have a major sweet tooth, and my favorite candy is my grandmother’s peanut butter fudge.
  • I have a BA in English, and ♥ the Oxford comma.
  • I have twinkle lights up somewhere in my house year round. They aren’t just for Christmas, y’all!
  • I have a small collection of vintage film cameras, including the box camera my grandfather carried through Europe in WW2.
  • I love tea but I can’t pass up a triple grande
    latte at Starbucks when the opportunity arises.
  • I’m terrified of heights, spiders, and outer space.
  • I love Shakespeare and have set myself the
    goal of reading all of his plays this year.
  • I studied French in school and recently picked it up again to work toward fluency.