Last weekend the Washington (DC) Romance Writers (WRW) RWA chapter held its annual Reader and Blogger Appreciation luncheon. As a continuation of the party, WRW is hosting a blog hop, highlight some of WRW’s authors.

I’m so happy to have author Amy Schisler guest blogging today!

Amy’s first novel, A Place to Call Home, was released in August of 2014 by Sarah Book Publishing.  In March of 2015, it was released in its second edition.

A former librarian and teacher, Amy now lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with her husband, three daughters, and two dogs. All of her books may be purchased in stores and at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks.

Welcome, Amy!

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Before I was a writer, I was a librarian, and before that, I was a researcher. Every history major is trained to be a researcher, and that was fine with me. Doing research has always been a favorite pastime of mine. My latest book, Whispering Vines compelled me to do a lot of research, and what fun that was! Not only did I read a lot about World War II and visit Italy, but I toured some incredible wineries and tasted many different Italian wines. I learned about the underground Italian resistance, Italian culture, art and sculpture, grape harvesting, wine production, and wine tasting. It was truly a labor of love. I also learned about artist and sculptor, Robbia, and knew instantly that his work would play a key role in my book. Robbia isn’t given the attention he deserves in the world of art, and I’m happy to be introducing him to my readers.

This winter, I plan to release my next book, Island of Miracles. This time, I will be taking my readers to Chincoteague Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. If you found out that your marriage was a lie and realized you hated your dead-end job and the endless party scene in which you found yourself, wouldn’t you love to just leave it all behind and head to a quaint island where even strangers are treated like family? I had heard that many times about the resort island a couple hours from my home, but actually seeing that in person really brought the community to life. After a weekend on the island, visiting the local museum and talking to islanders, I knew that I had found the perfect location for my heroine’s escape. I was thrilled to learn about the Coast Guard’s connection to the island and spent a lot of time learning about the Guard and the men and women who serve in it.

I can’t wait to see where my adventure takes me and you. Wherever in the world I roam, I am sure I will find a story. Or perhaps the next story will be like my first two books and keep me here at home to tell a tale never before told. Whether I’m writing about foreign places or bridging the past with the present, I’m so grateful for the readers who make it all possible. Be sure to follow me on Facebook or subscribe to my newsletter to see where I end up next!

Arrivederci!