Ransomed Dreams by Amy Wallace

I know Amy through American Christian Fiction Writers. We're excited to introduce her first published novel, Ransomed Dreams.

Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

A great deal! Little character tidbits from wedding anniversaries to favorite colors reflect facts about my life and my family. Then there are the deeper things like what the characters struggle with and how they view life. In those I often see myself as in a mirror. I don’t intend to write myself into the story, but when I read over my work for the day I sometimes see me reflected back. That’s both frightening and fun. Scary in the sense that deep parts of me are out there for all the world to see, but fun in that, unless you know me, it’d be hard to guess which character I most resemble.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Become a writer. :-) And in that admit to friends and acquaintances that I really do hear voices in my head and enjoy spending untold hours living in other worlds.

I’ve also danced in a mountain stream and been very glad that it was just God there to experience that sight.

I know what you mean. This morning at breakfast, I said something to my husband, and he said, “Writers are crazy.” However, this man is very supportive of what I do. Amy, when did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I won a writing contest in fifth grade for a book my oldest daughter now thinks is a hoot. Ever since I can remember writing has been a large part of who I am. Writing is how I work out my salvation and keep my sanity. It’s through written words that life makes sense to me and often how I “get it” when God is speaking to my heart.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love reading books that make me laugh and teach me something about God. One of my favorite things about homeschooling my girls is that I get to read all sorts of great classics and amazing Biblical fiction too. But even though I read a lot of different genres, the stories I always come back to and most enjoy are books like the SisterChicks series.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

I’ve written a fairy tale for my girls, two chick lit novellas, and two full-length moms lit novels.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I’m not quite sure that I do. :-) The key for me is to know who I am and accept that. I’m one of those people who like the quite and thrive in an ordered routine. But I’ve learned over the years that God is God and regardless of what I might deem best for my life, He KNOWS what’s best. Sometimes that includes getting out of my comfort zone and finding myself with so many plates spinning that I feel like the Cat in the Hat wondering when they’re going to come tumbling down. That “sometimes” isn’t all the time though. I guard my family time like a mama bear over her cubs. I also guard my time with God in the mornings. And my husband and I work hard to keep our outside commitments to what we know God has put in our lives. Often that means saying no to a lot of “good” things so that we can give our best to what God says is the “best” thing for us.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I choose a good deal of my characters’ names according to their meanings. Name websites are especially helpful if I have a specific trait or something about a character that stands out in my mind. But most of the time the names come as I’m praying about a particular story and they seem to “fit” right from the start.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Being the mommy of three precious girls who remind me every day of what an awesome God I get to call my Daddy.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A wolf. I’ve always loved the mysterious grace and loyalty that defines these animals. Not sure I’d call myself graceful, but I am very loyal and I think often I’m a mysterious mix of so many dichotomies that I baffle my longsuffering husband and kids.

What is your favorite food?

That’s easy… chocolate!

It's interesting to me how many authors love chocolate.

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

That Ransomed Dreams was an amazing journey for me. It started as an action-packed dream and became a novel before I had any idea what I was doing. Good thing God knew exactly what He was doing! This story has challenged me personally and professionally and taught me to cling to the Lord because He is amazing at taking shattered dreams and wounded hearts and making all things new.

Sounds like a book I want to read. Thank you for spending this time with us, Amy.

Readers, be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Ransomed Dream.

And Happy Easter tomorrow.