How did you get started in writing?

I grew up without a television and that is one of the biggest blessings of my life —  I had so much time to read and develop my interests. 

Not having a television led to my brothers and me “writing collaborative novels” while we played.  I have fond memories of being pioneers on the Oregon Trail in the fields and woods behind our house; of being National Geographic Explorers, detectives, spies, parents with very strange kids….  We would make up scripts and make radio shows on cassette tapes. 

By the time I was in second grade, I was either reading or writing most of the time — I am not exaggerating:  There were many nights I snuck a flashlight and a book or my journal under my blankets because I wouldn’t have been able to fall asleep until I was finished reading or writing. 

Do you have a favorite scene in your newest release?

My favorite scene in my last release, A Cursed Enchantment, is when the enchanted dollhouse family finally catches a break (or so they think).  They and their dollhouse have been delivered to the mansion of their rightful owner, Fascinare.  Livie, the good-hearted but way too impulsive twin, discovers that she has some residual power from her creator and before the family has a chance to discuss what they should do next, she blurts out that she wishes their dollhouse would be real. 

All of a sudden, there are trickles of light underneath the floor of Fascinare’s mansion as miniature pipes connect to the kitchen and lavatory of Mahogany Manor.  There are fires in the tiny fireplaces, real liquids inside the bottles in the icebox instead of just a coating of paint, words instead of blank pages in the books in the library…

And, instead of having to hide from humans, the Mahogany Manor family is able to ask Fascinare’s servants for assistance. 

I think I got so attached to this tiny family that their struggles were my struggles.  I was relieved that their story could have a little change of genre from survival/adventure to the mystery/suspense that we will see in the next novel, A Doomed Victory.

What is the genre you write?

Just like I am an eclectic reader, I am all over the place with my writing.  So far I have published novels in these categories:  Christian historical romance, sweet and contemporary romance, and fantasy.  The novel that I am working on now is a YA with a dual timeline that takes place on the grounds of the West Mountain Sanitorium in the 1930s and in modern times.  And because I am being secretive and sneaky, readers won’t know what genre it was until the last chapter of the novel. (If my writing goes as planned.)

What is one thing you hope readers will take away from your story?

The theme of Elsie Whitmore:  A Star from Oak Hills is one of lifestyle vs. romantic love.  The main conflict is character vs. self as Elsie has to decide what priority her values should have in her life:  How far should she compromise?  What should she be willing to give up to have a relationship with Graham Thurston, this charismatic actor/playwright who is also considerate, generous, and according to women all over the world, quite easy on the eyes? 

I would hope that any single woman reading Elsie Whitmore will be reminded to not rush into serious relationships and to look beyond appearance.  I think the book is a good reminder of how a good man will treat the woman he loves with respect and consideration.  He will have the patience to wait until marriage if those are her values, and he will be willing to make sacrifices for the relationship.  And of course, a woman should do the same. 

I think another subtle message of Elsie Whitmore is the peace and joy that can be found in a simpler lifestyle — that it is okay to slow down and enjoy nature and family. 

If you could vacation anywhere, where would you go?

I love reading about the UK and Ireland and picturing the landscapes and landmarks in my mind.   Some of my favorite authors hail from there. (CS Lewis, George MacDonald, Jane Austin, Charlotte Bronte, Mary Norton….) Additionally, I have always wanted to visit the British Isles because some of my ancestors lived there. 

I am so excited because I am planning to visit Scotland this spring with “The Lasses in Hats Tour.”  The itinerary for this trip was the perfect fit with my wishlist of places to go in Scotland.  Plus, two awesome authors and their novels are the inspiration for the trip:  Pepper Basham and Laura Franz.  I am pinching myself — how could it be true that I am about to go on my dream vacation! 

About the Book

Book: Elsie Whitmore

Author: Amy Lynn Walsh

Genre: Contemporary Sweet and Clean

Release date: March 16, 2021

Elsie Whitmore, a teacher from the small town of Oak Hills, Pennsylvania, is shocked when one of her YouTube videos goes viral, drawing the attention of the famous actor Graham Thurston. When Thurston seeks to cast her in a film that he is directing, Elsie is conflicted: Should she give up teaching, a career she finds deeply fulfilling, for her childhood dream of becoming an actress? Join Elsie Whitmore as she travels down the bumpy road of being cast in a film production and falling in love with a movie star while being homesick for her family, friends, and students back home in Oak Hills. Will Elsie return to teaching and her close-knit community, or will she pursue her love for Graham Thurston and acting for Proscenium Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Amy Walsh is a 5th-grade teacher who loves teaching children about what she loves to do herself: reading and writing. She enjoys outdoor activities, especially hiking and camping with her Scouts BSA Troop. Amy also appreciates opportunities to share her faith through singing, teaching and writing for her church family. Amy and her husband, Patrick, have three children: Bree, Spencer, Liz, and a son-in-law, Kyle. Amy and her family love to spend time together celebrating special occasions, listening to great music, swimming and kayaking, and having occasional ping pong tournaments.

More from Amy

The Creation of Elsie

Elsie Whitmore came into being on Election Day 2020. I needed a little escape from the reality of being an urban public school teacher in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and all the political turmoil in the United States. I decided it was time to take on a big writing project.

Wanting to create a “happy escape” for both myself and readers, I put the best of two worlds that I love into the settings of the novel: farm life in northeastern Pennsylvania and drama in New York City. I created a character who had already overcome childhood anxiety, and in the process of conquering her painful shyness, she had grown strong, wise, and firmly grounded in what she considers important. Elsie had also long ago given up her dream of becoming an actress in order to pursue the more “realistic” career of teaching, which she finds quite fulfilling. But sometimes life has some unexpected twists and turns….

Mrs. Whitmore’s Upsidedown Apple Sticky Toffee Cupcakes Recipe

Graham is so determined that Elsie will give him and his film production a chance that he pulls out all the stops with a lovely dinner after her day of screen tests at Proscenium Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He even goes so far as to google the most delicious dessert in the world so that his housekeeper can create the perfect end to the meal: English Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Eventually Elsie’s mother puts her own Pennsylvanian spin on this delicious dessert in an Oak Hills sequel. She substitutes apples for dates, adds some molasses and ginger, and makes them into smaller portions perfect for a church concession stand at the county fair.

Here is her recipe:

1. Dice apples and place them in the bottom of a greased muffin pan. (You may prefer to slice the apples for a fancier look, but that will increase baking time.)
2. Heat ¼ cup of salted butter, ¾ cup of brown sugar, ½ tsp of ground cinnamon, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. (Mrs. Whitmore just throws everything into a frying pan, quickly stirs once everything has melted, and then turns off the stove as soon as the mixture begins to bubble.)
3. Cover the apples with the hot mixture. (Mrs. Whitmore uses a gravy ladle to scoop the toffee sauce into the muffin pan.)
4. Melt 1 stick of salted butter in a mixing bowl.
5. Add 1 and ½ cup of flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp baking soda, ¾ cup of light brown sugar, 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract, 2 eggs, 3 tbsp of molasses, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp ground ginger.
6. Mix the ingredients with a spoon like you would mix pancake batter — no need to beat. The consistency will be more like biscuit or cookie dough than cake batter.
7. Put a scoop of the dough on top of apples and toffee in the muffin pans.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 – 25 minutes. (The top of the cake should look dry.) If you are using regular cupcake pans, you can make 12 and they should be done in 15. If you are using larger muffin pans, you can make 8 and they need to bake for about 20 minutes. If you are baking multiple items in the oven, it will take closer to 25 minutes.

Sometimes the toffee comes up the sides of the cake, so it is best to put a larger tray on the rack underneath or line the bottom of the oven with foil. (Elsie forgot to do this the first time she followed her mother’s recipe. Graham, being a bit over-protective, made her evacuate due to the smoke coming from the oven.)

1. Immediately after taking out of the oven, turn the muffin pan upside down on a tray, waxed paper, or cookie sheet. Tap the top of the pan and then lift up. Mrs. Whitmore uses a small spatula to collect any apple and toffee still in the pan and puts it on the cakes.
2. Serve while still warm, with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Sometimes, Mrs. Whitmore makes a smaller batch and then puts the rest of the dough in a bread pan to bake. She warms this up the following night and serves with warm lemon pudding and whipped cream — which is very much a northeastern Pennsylvania county fair treat.

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 22

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, January 23

Texas Book-aholic, January 24

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 25

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 26 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, January 26

Inklings and notions, January 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 28

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, January 29

For Him and My Family, January 30

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, January 31 (Spotlight)

Pause for Tales, January 31

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 1

Wishful Endings, February 2 (Author Interview)

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, February 3

Stories By Gina , February 4 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Amy is giving away the grand prize package of $50 Amazon gift card along with the eBooks of three novels, A Cursed Enchantment, A Misplaced Beauty, and Elsie Whitmore: A Star from Oak Hills!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/186bb/elsie-whitmore-celebration-tour-giveaway