Amy Harmon's Blog, page 5
October 7, 2013
This One is Personal
My son, Samuel, was born with a port-wine stain that covered half of his face. It was very dark red and the skin on that side is slightly thicker than the skin on the other side of his face. Luckily for Sam, they can now treat this condition, where even ten-fifteen years ago, that option did not exist. The treatments are very expensive and painful, and so far, Sam has had four laser surgeries, which have improved the overall appearance. He will have to have several more. However, he still gets stares and whispers, and I can't tell you how many times I've overheard someone say, (mostly little kids who don't know better) "What's wrong with his face?"
In my new book, Making Faces, I introduce you to Ambrose Young, a handsome, young, athlete who volunteers to serve his country and is injured in Iraq. This is a special story, and it's an important one. It's funny and romantic and heart-breaking. I hope my romance readers won't be turned off by Ambrose Young or his injuries, both emotional and physical.
Available on October 20! You can pre-order it on Amazon right now! I would really love to see this book do well, because it isn't your typical romance. It will break your heart, but you'll love every second of it.
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Faces-eb...
In my new book, Making Faces, I introduce you to Ambrose Young, a handsome, young, athlete who volunteers to serve his country and is injured in Iraq. This is a special story, and it's an important one. It's funny and romantic and heart-breaking. I hope my romance readers won't be turned off by Ambrose Young or his injuries, both emotional and physical.
Available on October 20! You can pre-order it on Amazon right now! I would really love to see this book do well, because it isn't your typical romance. It will break your heart, but you'll love every second of it.
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Faces-eb...
July 28, 2013
Teaser for MAKING FACES
Hi all,
My new novel, Making Faces is coming to you in October. I shared a teaser on my facebook page and thought I'd share it here as well. Hope you LOVE it...and can't wait to read the rest!
He didn't know how to make her understand that she was so much more than just pretty. So he leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers. Very carefully. Not like the other night when he'd been scared and impulsive, and smacked her head against the wall in his attempt to kiss her. He kissed her now to tell her how he felt. He pulled away almost immediately, not giving himself a chance to linger and lose his head. He wanted to show her he valued her, not that he wanted to rip her clothes off. And he wasn't sure when it came right down to it that she wanted to be kissed by an ugly SOB. She was the kind of girl that would kiss him because she didn't want to hurt his feelings. The thought filled him with despair.
She let out a frustrated sigh and sat up, running her hands through her hair. It flowed through her fingers and down her back, and he wished he could bury his own hands in it, bury his face in the heavy locks and breathe her in. But he'd obviously upset her.
“I'm sorry, Fern. I shouldn't have done that.”
“Why?” she snapped, startling him enough that he winced. “Why are you sorry?”
“Because you're upset.”
“I'm upset because you pulled away! You're so careful. And it's frustrating!”
Ambrose was taken back by her honesty, and he smiled, instantly flattered. But the smile faded as he tried to explain himself.
"You're so small, Fern. Delicate. And all of this is new to you. I'm afraid I'm going to come on too strong. And if I hurt you, I won't survive that, Fern. I won't survive it." That thought was worse than walking away from her and he shuddered inwardly. He wouldn't survive it. He had already hurt too many. Lost too many.
Fern knelt in front of him, and her chin wobbled and her eyes were wide with emotion. Her voice was adamant as she held his face between her hands, and when he tried to pull away so she wouldn't feel his scars, she hung on, forcing his gaze.
"Ambrose Young! I have waited my whole life for you to want me. If you don't hold me tight I won't believe you mean it, and that will be worse than never being held at all. You better make me believe you mean it, Ambrose, or you will most definitely hurt me."
“I don't want to hurt you, Fern,” he whispered hoarsely.
“Then don't.” she whispered back, trusting him. But there were lots of ways to cause pain. And Ambrose knew he was capable of hurting her in a thousand ways.
Ambrose stopped trying to pull his face away, surrendering to the way it felt to be touched. He hadn't allowed anyone to touch him for a long time. Her hands were small, like the rest of her, but the emotions they stirred in him were enormous, gigantic, all-consuming. She made him shake, made him quake inside, vibrate like the tracks under an on-coming train.
Her hands left his face and traveled down the sides of his neck. One side smooth the other, riddled with divots and scars and rippled where he'd been burned. She didn't pull away, but felt each mark, memorized each wound. And then she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his neck, just below his jaw. And then again on the other side, on the side that bore no scars, letting him know that the kiss wasn't about sympathy but desire. It was a caress. And his control broke.
- Making Faces, coming October 2013
My new novel, Making Faces is coming to you in October. I shared a teaser on my facebook page and thought I'd share it here as well. Hope you LOVE it...and can't wait to read the rest!
He didn't know how to make her understand that she was so much more than just pretty. So he leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers. Very carefully. Not like the other night when he'd been scared and impulsive, and smacked her head against the wall in his attempt to kiss her. He kissed her now to tell her how he felt. He pulled away almost immediately, not giving himself a chance to linger and lose his head. He wanted to show her he valued her, not that he wanted to rip her clothes off. And he wasn't sure when it came right down to it that she wanted to be kissed by an ugly SOB. She was the kind of girl that would kiss him because she didn't want to hurt his feelings. The thought filled him with despair.
She let out a frustrated sigh and sat up, running her hands through her hair. It flowed through her fingers and down her back, and he wished he could bury his own hands in it, bury his face in the heavy locks and breathe her in. But he'd obviously upset her.
“I'm sorry, Fern. I shouldn't have done that.”
“Why?” she snapped, startling him enough that he winced. “Why are you sorry?”
“Because you're upset.”
“I'm upset because you pulled away! You're so careful. And it's frustrating!”
Ambrose was taken back by her honesty, and he smiled, instantly flattered. But the smile faded as he tried to explain himself.
"You're so small, Fern. Delicate. And all of this is new to you. I'm afraid I'm going to come on too strong. And if I hurt you, I won't survive that, Fern. I won't survive it." That thought was worse than walking away from her and he shuddered inwardly. He wouldn't survive it. He had already hurt too many. Lost too many.
Fern knelt in front of him, and her chin wobbled and her eyes were wide with emotion. Her voice was adamant as she held his face between her hands, and when he tried to pull away so she wouldn't feel his scars, she hung on, forcing his gaze.
"Ambrose Young! I have waited my whole life for you to want me. If you don't hold me tight I won't believe you mean it, and that will be worse than never being held at all. You better make me believe you mean it, Ambrose, or you will most definitely hurt me."
“I don't want to hurt you, Fern,” he whispered hoarsely.
“Then don't.” she whispered back, trusting him. But there were lots of ways to cause pain. And Ambrose knew he was capable of hurting her in a thousand ways.
Ambrose stopped trying to pull his face away, surrendering to the way it felt to be touched. He hadn't allowed anyone to touch him for a long time. Her hands were small, like the rest of her, but the emotions they stirred in him were enormous, gigantic, all-consuming. She made him shake, made him quake inside, vibrate like the tracks under an on-coming train.
Her hands left his face and traveled down the sides of his neck. One side smooth the other, riddled with divots and scars and rippled where he'd been burned. She didn't pull away, but felt each mark, memorized each wound. And then she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his neck, just below his jaw. And then again on the other side, on the side that bore no scars, letting him know that the kiss wasn't about sympathy but desire. It was a caress. And his control broke.
- Making Faces, coming October 2013
June 5, 2013
New York Times Bestseller
I made the NY Times Bestsellers List. #6. I did it. I don't know how. I don't know why. But I'm absolutely overcome right now, and have just been sitting on the news for the last couple of hours, crying a little, laughing a lot. I called my husband and then my parents and my younger brother Joey because he has been my biggest cheerleader. I told my kids and they proceeded to ask me if we could finally buy a house (ha ha). I told my daughter Claire, who is nine, that I felt like throwing up but was deliriously happy at the same time. She said, "So you feel like puking rainbows, right?" Yep. That pretty much sums it up. Puking rainbows.
Thanks to all who believed in me and believed in A Different Blue. Thank you for reading and encouraging me. I have a list too long to name, and would hate to leave someone out. But mostly right now, I'm just grateful for the readers and the bloggers and the wonderful friends I've made all across the world on this adventure. And I'm grateful to a loving God who has always made his presence known in my life. So overcome right now.
Thanks to all who believed in me and believed in A Different Blue. Thank you for reading and encouraging me. I have a list too long to name, and would hate to leave someone out. But mostly right now, I'm just grateful for the readers and the bloggers and the wonderful friends I've made all across the world on this adventure. And I'm grateful to a loving God who has always made his presence known in my life. So overcome right now.
April 17, 2013
An Interview with Darcy Wilson
If you've read A Different Blue, you have to check out this interview with Wilson, airing this morning on Sub Club Books. It was an absolute blast, and I think you Wilson lovers will get a kick out of it.
http://thesubclubbooks.com/?p=11129&a...
http://thesubclubbooks.com/?p=11129&a...
April 11, 2013
Epic Epilogue
I have made some very lovely Australian friends...and I always read their emails out loud in an Australian accent because it's really fun. These ladies read A Different Blue and contacted me, telling me how much they loved it, believed in it, and wanted to share it with others. They have a blog called TotallyBooked (insert cheers) and I have given them an exclusive to something many people seem to be clamoring for (people are clamoring!! Yahoo!)
This is not something I have plans to add to the actual book. I rather like the ending :-) and don't want to alter the book at this point (it only came out two weeks ago!!) But if you would like another look into Blue and Wilson's life, please join Jenny and Gitte on Totally Booked on FRIDAY to read a scene from Wilson's POV...as well as a love scene/epilogue that I wrote for all you die hard romantics.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Totall...
https://www.totallybookedblog.com
This is not something I have plans to add to the actual book. I rather like the ending :-) and don't want to alter the book at this point (it only came out two weeks ago!!) But if you would like another look into Blue and Wilson's life, please join Jenny and Gitte on Totally Booked on FRIDAY to read a scene from Wilson's POV...as well as a love scene/epilogue that I wrote for all you die hard romantics.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Totall...
https://www.totallybookedblog.com
March 28, 2013
It's Here, It's Live, It's...terrifying.
I'm sitting here in front of my computer and I'm afraid. My stomach feels like a butterfly circus. My heart feels like it shakes as it beats, and my neck and back are tighter than Brad Pitt's abs in "Thelma and Louise." I don't think I'll sleep tonight or tomorrow night, and if I do my sleep will be haunted by disappointed faces and bad reviews.
I've felt like this every time I've released another book. I am always terrified that I've made a huge mistake, that I will fail monumentally, and most of all, that I will disappoint someone who doesn't like the story I chose to tell. And this time, this feeling is magnified because the new book, A Different Blue, is not squeaky clean. It has bad words in it. It talks about a word that rhymes with next...without the T at the end. It is not a teeny-bopper book. Parents: Please read it first before handing it to your teens. My son Paul says the book is sufficiently clean, and I am overreacting. But I'm a dramatic woman. That's what I do.That being said, I still hope you will read it. It's a book about redemption. It's a book about sinners and saints and love and loss and starting over. It's about real life. And unfortunately, to tell some stories, you have to be authentic...and life is not squeaky clean. So this is a warning and a plea, of sorts. If you hate the book....can you please wait a couple weeks to post a review until my absolute terror ebbs a little?
I'm kidding. Sort of.Sincerely,
Me
March 15, 2013
The Songs in my Head
My own playlist for my new book, A Different Blue, coming March 29th. Music makes words come alive. These are the songs I imagine playing in certain scenes...
I hope you love it.
http://open.spotify.com/user/12353777... A Different Blue
I hope you love it.
http://open.spotify.com/user/12353777... A Different Blue
February 28, 2013
A Different Blue
It's coming! My new novel, A Different Blue, will be released on March 29, 2013. It's available to add to your 'to read' shelf, and you can also enter to win a signed copy in the goodreads giveaway. Mom says this book is the best yet, and my mom doesn't lie....much.
SYNOPSIS
Blue Echohawk doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know her real name or when she was born. Abandoned at two and raised by a drifter, she didn't attend school until she was ten years old. At nineteen, when most kids her age are attending college or moving on in life, she is just a senior in high school. With no mother, no father, no faith, and no future, Blue Echohawk is a difficult student, to say the least. Tough, hard and overtly sexy, she is the complete opposite of the young British teacher who decides he is up for the challenge, and takes the troublemaker under his wing.
This is the story of a nobody who becomes somebody. It is the story of an unlikely friendship, where hope fosters healing and redemption becomes love. But falling in love can be hard when you don't know who you are. Falling in love with someone who knows exactly who they are and exactly why they can't love you back might be impossible.
SYNOPSIS
Blue Echohawk doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know her real name or when she was born. Abandoned at two and raised by a drifter, she didn't attend school until she was ten years old. At nineteen, when most kids her age are attending college or moving on in life, she is just a senior in high school. With no mother, no father, no faith, and no future, Blue Echohawk is a difficult student, to say the least. Tough, hard and overtly sexy, she is the complete opposite of the young British teacher who decides he is up for the challenge, and takes the troublemaker under his wing.
This is the story of a nobody who becomes somebody. It is the story of an unlikely friendship, where hope fosters healing and redemption becomes love. But falling in love can be hard when you don't know who you are. Falling in love with someone who knows exactly who they are and exactly why they can't love you back might be impossible.
January 24, 2013
Three Signed Books
Hey friends - I am holding a raffle on my facebook page. Like the page and share it with your friends, and you are entered to win a signed copy of all three of my books. As soon as the likes reach 1,000 the drawing will take place. Happy sharing!
https://www.facebook.com/authoramyharmon
https://www.facebook.com/authoramyharmon
January 15, 2013
A Little Thank You
I am a new author who has published three books, and I have a new one coming in April. I have been so humbled and grateful for the response to my books here on Goodreads, especially Running Barefoot.
For one day, Wednesday, January 16, Running Barefoot will be FREE to download on Amazon. Hundreds of you have added it or marked it 'to read' so this is for you, Goodreads readers. I hope you love it!
This is just for you....and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
http://www.amazon.com/Running-Barefoo...
For one day, Wednesday, January 16, Running Barefoot will be FREE to download on Amazon. Hundreds of you have added it or marked it 'to read' so this is for you, Goodreads readers. I hope you love it!
This is just for you....and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
http://www.amazon.com/Running-Barefoo...
