Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! My name is Amanda Dew, and I write young adult dystopian fiction. For now, anyway -wink wink-! I spent most of my life working in the statistics world, but after a creative reawakening 5 years ago, I’ve changed course to become a storyteller.
I am a stay at home mom to four adorably crazy kids: ages 10, 7, 5, and 1, and a wife to an amazing husband. I love the escape that writing gives me. I call it my therapy! Outside of writing and my family I also enjoy traveling, reading, eating, exercising, eating while traveling, eating while reading, exercising because of the eating, and well… you get the picture.
I have two novels that I self-published in September 2021: The Story Seer, and its sequel, The Truth Seer. These books are 2/3 of a dystopian trilogy set 20 years from now in a world where terrorists rule the weather, and a 21-year-old intuitive genius named Rory is the world’s best chance at stopping them.
Hopefully, if all goes according to plan, the final installment in the series will be released Summer 2022 -fingers crossed-!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I lump The Story Seer and The Truth Seer together since they came out only a week apart. The inspiration for the series came from my own life.
I love to read dystopian stories. In those stories, I feel like although the worlds and the circumstances are crazy, the relationships are real. I had the idea to take snippets from my own life, and my own relationships, and frame them in a dystopian world to see what happens. It’s been really fun to see my own real-life stories take center stage and shine.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I learned early on that with four kids and all the other crazy things life can throw at you, I was going to learn to write on the go. I would write in car pick up line picking up my kids from school. I would write on my phone with one hand while breastfeeding a baby in the middle of the night. I would write in a tiny twin-sized bed while my toddler napped next to me. Soccer practice, the park, dentists appointments–you name it, I’ve probably written part of my book there!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I had a teacher in high school really turn me off from reading and writing for a long time. He made it seem like if you don’t like -these certain books- then you don’t like literature. For over ten years, I believed him.
About five years ago, my oldest child was learning to read. To encourage him, I decided to start reading again. Overwhelmed was an understatement, but I went to the bookstore anyway. I chose The Selection by Keira Cass because it had a sparkly cover featuring a girl in a big poufy dress. I figured, if this book isn’t for me, no book will be.
I devoured that book, and anything else I could get my hands on by Keira Cass! That was the book that unleashed the flood gates on inspiration!
Other books that I read soon after that also inspired me: Under the Never Sky by Vernonia Rossi, Rush by Eve Silver, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman, Inside Out by Maria Snyder, Legend by Marie Lu, Pivot Point by Kasie West, and Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier, among many many others.
And of course, can’t forget my favorite “classics:” Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Divergent by Veronica Roth.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working day and night on book three in The Seer Series. I am hoping it will be ready for the world sometime in the Summer of 2022.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
When I figure it out, I’ll let you know! haha
Right now I’m trying the “throw the pasta at the wall and see what sticks method.” I’ve tried Facebook ads, Instagram ads, and Amazon ads. I also love to promote my work and connect with readers and other authors on Goodreads and Instagram. Oh, I’m going to try Tik Tok soon- fingers crossed!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
The advice I always give is: Don’t be afraid to fail! Often times, the fear of “doing it wrong” or “what if x, y, z happens?” stops people before they even get started! I don’t think I’m the greatest writer in the world (far from it!) but I do believe my super power is that I dive headfirst into things with the attitude of “I’ll figure it out as I go along!” This means I fail A LOT, but I’m not scared of that! I know failure is inevitable, but I don’t let it stop me. Because sometimes I do succeed, and along the way, I’m always learning! Don’t let fear stop you from taking the first step!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My mom used to call me “the creative one.” That’s not necessarily advice, but I like to remember that when things feel hard. Lean into your creative side and it will never steer you in the wrong direction.
What are you reading now?
I just started The Cure by K.A. Riley. I’m really enjoying it so far!
What’s next for you as a writer?
After I finish up the final installment in my debut series, I have another really, really exciting series idea in mind that involves time travel and the early 2000s. I can’t wait to get started on it!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
2. Twilight by Stephenie Myer
3. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
4. The Story Seer and The Truth Seer (is saying my own books cheating? haha)
Author Websites and Profiles
Amanda Dew Website
Amanda Dew Amazon Profile
Amanda Dew’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
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