A “spotlight” is defined as “intense scrutiny or public attention.” “A lamp projecting a narrow, intense beam of light directly onto a place or person.” Or in my case, possibly a great author. Come back regularly to check out my latest Spotlight!
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know that Amy Clipston is one of my favortist authors. (That’s a word, right?) Recently I had the opportunity to interview Amy. Check it out!
- Why do you write Amish fiction?
I write Amish fiction since I was always fascinated with the Amish when I was a child. I remember visiting Lancaster County when I was younger, and my father, who was a German immigrant, told me the Amish speak a dialect that is similar to my German relatives. I was drawn to their simplicity and their strong faith. Due to my German heritage, I feel a loose connection to the culture. I love how their culture is focused on family and God. I’m fascinated by how the Amish continue to keep their traditional ways while the world around them changes with the advances in technology. They are loyal to their culture, and they take care of each other.
- What’s your favorite Amish food?
Oh, that’s easy—whoopie pies!! I could eat them all day, every day and gain 100 pounds!
- What’s your favorite Amish location to visit and why?
I love Bird-in-Hand, PA, which is why I often set my stories there. I enjoy the little downtown area with the shops and restaurants. I haven’t been back since the pandemic hit, and I can’t wait to go again.
- Tell us about your love for cats.
My parents adopted their first cat when my brother was a baby, but the first cat I recall they brought home when I was two. I actually remember the car ride home with her. Since then, we’ve had many, many cats. Our most recent rescue is a little black kitten named Dusty. My husband and older son rescued her from the engine compartment of a Honda Accord at the collision repair shop where my husband works. Dusty brings our herd to a total of six indoor cats, which I realize is ridiculous, but we love each one of them. My brother told me I’m now officially a crazy cat lady with my six cats, and I wear the title as a badge of honor. I just love cats!
- Can you share a bit about your kidney transplant experience?
Ten years ago I donated a kidney through a paired donor exchange program in order for my husband to receive a second kidney transplant. We matched another couple, so I donated to the wife while her husband gave my husband a kidney. My husband had received a kidney from his brother six years earlier, but the kidney had failed after four years. He spent the next three years suffering on dialysis while awaiting a transplant. Since he had rejected a kidney, his body had built up antibodies, making it difficult to find a suitable match. I’m so grateful that my husband and my recipient are doing well and are enjoying life free of dialysis! I share our story in my memoir, A Gift of Love.
Writing The Heart of Splendid Lake was a fun and emotional journey for me. While the story’s setting is fictional, I had a blast writing about North Carolina and incorporating part of my home state. I also poured my heart and soul into the book and included a lot of my own life experiences. I hope readers enjoy spending time at Splendid Lake. I dedicated this book to the memory of my father and my special childhood memories of family vacations at Schroon Lake, located in the Adirondacks in New York State.
Thanks for being with us, Amy! We enjoyed getting to know you better. Reader’s, here’s more about Amy!
Amy Clipston is an award-winning bestselling author and has been writing for as long as she can remember. She’s sold more than one million books, and her fiction writing “career” began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan University and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. Amy works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC, and lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and five spoiled rotten cats. You can find Amy at AmyClipston.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks, and on Twitter at @AmyClipston.
Awards
- Chosen by FamilyFiction readers as one of the Top 40 Essential Authors of 2020
- Chosen by FamilyFiction readers as one of the Top 40 Essential Authors of 2019
- 2014 Holt Medallion Award (novel: A Hopeful Heart)
- 2012 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Finalist in Young Adult Category (novel: Roadside Assistance)
- 2012 Winter Rose Contest for Published Authors 2nd Place (novel: Roadside Assistance)
- 2012 Gold Quill Contest Finalist (novel: Roadside Assistance)
- 2012 Laurel Wreath Contest 3rd Place (novel: Roadside Assistance)
- 2011 National Readers’ Choice Awards Young Adult Category (novel: Roadside Assistance)
- 2011 Selah Award for Fiction (novel: A Promise of Hope)
About the book!
Bestselling author Amy Clipston transports readers to a picturesque lakeside town in this heartwarming contemporary romance.
Brianna is the youngest of the three Porter sisters and the only one who chose to stay in the small town of Splendid Lake, North Carolina. She followed in her father’s footsteps and became an expert boat mechanic, helping him run their small resort with cabin rentals, a convenience store, and a marina.
When Brianna’s father unexpectedly dies, Brianna is steeped in grief and guilt—then left alone to clean up the mess. To make matters worse, a constant stream of real estate brokers begins marching through her property, offering to buy the family land. In particular, she keeps running into handsome real estate mogul Scott Gibson.
As Brianna struggles to keep it all together, Scott finds his way into her heart. And as the two fight against their feelings, they just might find themselves forging a surprising and exciting new love at Splendid Lake.
Check out Amy’s website for more information about The Heart of Splendid Lake, including an inside look at it. https://amyclipston.com/books/the-heart-of-splendid-lake/ You’ll also see some early reviews from people who have read the book. I have a copy and can’t wait to read it!
And through September 6, Amy is running a BOGO offer! Click here for information.
Vicky Sluiter 