Amy Sue Nathan makes things happen. Looking for a blog for writers of “Women’s Fiction” and finding none, she created her own. Within a few years it was winning “Best of the Web” awards. Who are “women’s fiction” writers anyway?
We might love chick lit, but we don’t write it. We might love romance, but we don’t write that either. Same goes for zombies and vampires. We write extraordinary yet realistic characters in realistic and extraordinary situations. If our main characters have love interests, it’s a bonus. In our books, as in all books, the main character’s journey leads to an ultimate goal. But in our books — the main character saves herself.
Amy’s blog introduces readers to other writers through guest posts, including mine almost one year ago, and in so doing she sets a beautiful example of how to celebrate others and create community. I’m so happy to introduce you to Amy Sue Nathan:
What have you learned from parenting, or from your own parents, that you bring to your work as a writer?
I know that the patience I needed to write my first novel, and then find an agent and a publisher, go through the editing and publication process—and then do it all again with book two (and I just handed in book three) comes from my experiences as a mom. I learned, and try to remember, that you can’t get any time back, so you might as well take it slow.
Where do you write? What do you love about it?
I write while sitting on the sofa or on a “fainting couch” in my family room. What I love about it is that I have my favorite things around me, and that on sunny days (few and far between here in Chicago) the room is filled with light. I also have a fireplace in that room which is much more likely to be needed than shade!
If you had a motto, what would it be?
Bloom where you’re planted. I moved five times in nine years before I settled where I live now, in suburban Chicago, in 1999. I was a mom with kids and a dog and was determined to create a home everywhere we went. Now that my kids are grown and gone, I’m getting ready for another move, where I’ll be packing up that motto and taking it with me again.
Who inspires you?
My kids inspire me. They’ve grown into fine adults who I not only love, but like very much. When they were very young, their dad and I divorced, and that’s always devastating to children. Then, their father passed away. So as kids they dealt with the two things named as the most stressful things that could ever happen—to an adult. Their determination to thrive, not only survive a lot of hardship, reminds me that anything is possible.
What charity or community service are you passionate about? Why?
I’m dedicated to causes relating to teenage mental health, suicide prevention, and LGBTQ causes in general, because I’ve watched a lot of teenagers suffer, and because my own kids have been touched by these issues, as have their friends.
What are you reading now, and/or what book do you recommend?
Right now I’m busy reading books for blurbs and those books won’t be out for at least a year, but you’ll be in for some real treats! I’m also reading books for research, since for the first time I’ll be adding a small historical element to story. I’m not sure yet though whether that reading is considered work, or reading, which I don’t usually consider work!
Amy Sue Nathan is the author of the novels, The Good Neighbor and The Glass Wives, all published by St. Martin’s Griffin. She is the founder of The Women’s Fiction Writer’s Blog, named one of Writer’s Digest’s Best Websites for Writers. Amy is also a freelance fiction editor, mom to a grown son and daughter, and a proud member of Tall Poppy Writers.
Laura Nicole Diamond 