I had the pleasure of meeting this month's guest, Amber Schamel, about 3 years ago. An historical and Biblical fiction writer, she's smart and dedicated, and committed to telling a good story.
Her latest book, Dawn of Liberty, joins several others to her credit and promises to be a winner. If you have a minute, stop by Amber's website. It's a fun place to find excerpts of her books, giveaways, quizzes, and games.
Welcome, Amber! Can you share a little about why you started blogging? How long have you had your current blog?
I was first introduced to the blogging community around 2009. My first blog was a family blog where we shared some insights and stories about life in a large family. (I’m the 2nd born of 12.) I really enjoy getting to know folks through blogging. I moved on from the family blog to history and fiction blogging. I’ve been doing that since 2013.
Blogging is a great way to meet people from all over the world, that's for sure. What else do you discuss on your blog? Are you part of any other blogging communities?
I have my own blog, but I’m also a part of
two group blogs. My personal blog is more random and can contain anything from
history tidbits to family stories, author updates and musings about life and
faith. I'm a part of Stitches Thru Time, a group blog that brings together people who love
history, books, and crafts. It’s a super fun group of people, and I enjoy
hanging out there. I’m also a part of the Heroes, Heroines and History blog which features history tidbits every day. Since I’m a history nerd, I LOVE this. Not to mention many of the blog writers are also writers of Christian fiction, which I also love. ;)
It seems history is in your DNA! :) I've visited the Stitches Thru Time blog. It's a great source of interesting and informative historical stories and tidbits. What benefits have you gained through blogging?
Blogging has helped mold my writing skills, as well as taught me to keep deadlines. My blog posts usually require a lot of research, so I learn all kinds of things that way as well. I find blogs to be a lot like virtual coffee shops. You can hang out there and talk to people, get to know them, and discuss interesting subjects. I love it.
"Virtual coffee shops" - I like that term. It's true, isn't it? What are you working on right now?
I recently released a collection of short stories on Samuel Adams and the signing of the Declaration of Independence called DAWN OF LIBERTY. I’m so excited to see the reviews coming in with comments like “I now feel like I know Sam Adams.” and “It brought history to life.” As an author, that is my continual project, to bring HIStory to life for readers. Now that Dawn of Liberty is out for purchase, I’m working on a story about a would-be attorney who flees his failure by joining the Union army during the Civil War. His best friend gets in a bind, and Caleb has to decide to face his fear, or let his friend hang.
Dawn of Liberty sounds like a good read, as does your WIP. Will look forward to learning more about that too. What might people be surprised to learn about
you? Well, when people first meet me in person they are surprised at how old I am. I’m twenty-five, but I manage to still look 16. That’s because I found Eternal Life at 16 and haven’t aged since. ;)
Maintaining age 16 sounds like a good idea. :) What advice would you share with a newbie blogger?
Be specific, and be consistent. What I mean by that is find a topic or two that you want to blog on, and stick to those. Don’t be sporadic. The bottom-line is readers want to know what to expect, what type of post they will receive from you, and how often.
Great advice, Amber. So glad you stopped by to see us!
Thank you, Karen!
More About Amber
Multi-published author Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest". A homeschool graduate from a family of 12 children, Amber found her calling early in life. First published at age 21, she has continued to hone her craft and is now the author of over half a dozen books. Between ministry, family and working in their family-owned businesses, Amber loves to connect with readers. Find her on her website, at the Stitches Thru Time or Heroes, Heroines and History blogs, or on any of the major social media sites. Amber is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Historical Novel Society.
Website
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Do you enjoy history? Have any questions for Amber? What are you reading this week?
Happy reading and writing,
Karen
