Today, I’m welcoming my guest Amy R. Anguish. I recently had the pleasure of editing Amy’s book, Saving Grace. I love this story, love the characters, plus there’s humor and plenty of swoon worthy moments. And I’m not just saying that because I’m biased. I’ve been a friends to romance fan for years. Here’s Amy:
Life in Fiction by Amy R. Anguish
Have you ever gone through a traumatic experience in your life and then, even after it’s over, have it hover on the edge of your subconscious? My husband and I had to wait for six and a half years to get pregnant. Not by choice, either. We found out we’d need to take extra measures the same week my husband lost his job, after more than a year of trying the “natural” way.
Of course, when a husband loses a job, you don’t keep trying. So, several years were lost to lack of funds. Then, once we’d settled in a new place and paid down our debt, we started over. We were living in Tyler, Texas at the time, and there are no fertility specialists there. Which meant we had to drive to the north side of Dallas several times a month for half of 2013. And then, all those treatments didn’t work.
Needless to say, when I participated in Nanowrimo that fall, infertility was in the back of my mind. But I didn’t want to write about it. I’d dealt with that in the book I wrote the year before, Faith and Hope.
Instead, I wanted to write a story about two friends who fell in love. It started with me wondering what would happen if a guy, Greg, had been in love with his best friend Michelle his whole life, but when she moves back home, she brings a baby she’s wanting to adopt. I had no idea Greg’s sister was having infertility problems. Not until they were all at lunch together in one scene and the sister announced it.
What?
That wasn’t the story I meant to write.
And yet, as I continued, I knew it was the direction the narrative should follow. Because it was still a huge part of me. And how would I feel as the sister, having to watch my friend attempting to adopt this baby when she’s not even married yet and I can’t even get pregnant after so many years of marriage?
It was conflict the story needed. And it gave more depth, too. One more angle.
That story, Saving Grace, is releasing next week, and I’m so glad to finally be able to share it with you.
I’m also happy to say that I was able to get pregnant early that next year and have two beautiful children now, who keep me hopping and busy. But looking back, I’m glad I can use that angst and frustration and stress and depression and hopelessness of the time we were struggling. I can give my stories and characters more depth and reality, because I already lived it.
And if I can bring someone hope through retelling my story a piece here and a part there, then I’m very blessed indeed. And I love seeing how God has used some of the bad times in my life to bring about new good.
About Amy:
Author of An Unexpected Legacy, Faith and Hope, and Saving Grace
Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good. Learn more and connect:
Amy’s Website Amy’s Facebook Amy’s Twitter Amy’s Pinterest
And check out the YouTube channel she does with two other authors: Once Upon a Page
About the book – Saving Grace:
What if saving Grace doesn’t mean what she thinks it does?
Michelle Wilson’s one goal in life was to become a top journalist at the local paper back in her hometown of Cedar Springs, AR. But on the way to bringing that dream to reality, a life-changing wreck interrupts Michelle’s plans and adds an orphaned baby into the mix. Now, she has tough decisions ahead—did God put her in that accident to save baby Grace? And if so, why is it so hard to convince everyone else she should be the baby’s new mommy?
Greg Marshall has been Michelle’s best friend his whole life. He’s thrilled she’s moving back home, but not so sure about her sudden desire to be a single mom. His feelings for her have grown through the years, but she’s never seemed to notice. Can he help Michelle with the adoption and grow their relationship at the same time?
Preorder now: Saving Grace – Amazon (Releases Oct 6th)
Answer one or all of these questions to enter the drawing for a copy of Saving Grace (Winner’s choice print or digital). Have you ever seen God use something bad and turn it good? As a writer, do you have things pop up out of nowhere in your writing because it’s in the back of your mind due to real life? As a reader, can you tell when an author is including real life experience? Deadline: Oct 8th.
kim hansen says
Sometimes yes and sometimes no.
Valerie Comer says
Hi Amy! Welcome to Inspy Romance. God has frequently turned bad into good in my life and into the lives of those around me. He is so faithful!!!
Kelley Blair says
I’m going through refining as we speak.
Trudy says
I have seen God take something bad and make it into something good. He does it all the time, if we just take the time to open our eyes! Also, we can use our times to reach someone else, just like Amy is doing. Sometimes I can tell an author is writing about something they’ve dealt with and sometimes I can’t.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Hey Amy, thanks for being my guest. I’ve had God turn bad into good lots of times in my life. My editor recently commented in her revisions that part of my book sounded like real life experience. She was right. I often wonder if I’m reading if the plot has anything to do with the author’s life. Most of the time, I guess we never know unless the author blogs about it or shares on social media.
Paula Marie says
Yes, I believe God has a plan always… I just need to keep reminding myself in those difficult times🤣.
I am blessed to have an arc of Saving Grace and am in the middle of reading it right now!
Amy Anguish says
I hear ya! Thanks for stopping by.
Amy Anguish says
Thanks, Valerie! Yes. God is beyond faithful and good!
Amy Anguish says
It is hard, but worth it every time. Hang in there.
Amy Anguish says
Thanks for stopping by.
Isn’t it amazing how much good we can see when we take the time to look for it?
Amy Anguish says
It is so true, Shannon. Thanks so much for having me.
Amy Anguish says
I hope you love it, Paula Marie. Thanks for commenting.
Nancy says
Seeing God turn bad to good – We struggled with infertility for several years, too. The good that came is our oldest son, whom we adopted. He’s a joy and a gift from God. A week before his 1st birthday I found out I was pregnant and was put on bed rest for 1st trimester and most of 3rd trimester. Another gift of God in son #2. Three years later, son #3 -(after difficult pregnancy) also a huge blessing and gift! God IS So Good!
Amy Anguish says
Oh Nancy! Yes! God is so good. Hooray for sons. Mine is a handful but I wouldn’t trade him for the world. Thanks for sharing your story.
Alicia Haney says
Hi , Yes, in my life God has turned bad into good, and he is Always doing that and all because we are His children and all He wants for us is the Best, we just have to listen to Him when He speaks to us. I can’t tell if an author has been through some things as in the book they write, but I always wonder. Your book sounds like such a Blessing Amy. I love the sound of it, it sounds very inspirational. Thank you so much for sharing about Saving Grace, I will be adding it to my TBR list. Have a Great day and stay safe. God Bless you and your family.
Amy Anguish says
Awe, thanks, Alicia. I am so glad you stopped by today.
Lincoln says
Hopes and dreams. Cuts right to the bone, doesn’t it? A graduate degree given in exchange for the life of a small-town church, infertility treatments to no avail followed by a natural pregnancy ending in miscarriage. The loss of a job which had become toxic only to be still jobless after eight years. There is no lack of hardship to be experienced. Some have it far worse. Some would seem to have it easier. Some have the struggles resolved. Some look like they’re going to get to keep them until their dying day.
Seems like that is the very essence of faith. Do we accept that God is still perfectly wise and perfectly good when he touches those things in our lives that we want to have left alone (like Job)? Of course He is, regardless of our perceptions, but what we learn, if we are willing to persevere, is the lesson of choosing to accept God’s revelation above our own pain-filled interpretation.
There is no lack of broken humanity in us which needs to be dealt with by God’s love. That love is deeper than our deepest hurts. It is also more dangerous to our sense of security than anything I have ever experienced. So far, I can testify that, in my life, God’s faithfulness has gone deeper than all the troubles. The visit to God’s hospital of the heart, though, will challenge us to understand life from a more solidly heavenly perspective. Has anyone had God perform an involuntary sin amputation? Yeah, I can hear the amens all the way over here in *my* hospital bed. :)
Megan says
I enjoy reading books where the author has included situations into their stories that they themselves have experienced. Sometimes its hard to tell when that happens, but I think as far as the depth of emotion showing through can sometimes hint that they must have personal experience with it.
SARAH TAYLOR says
Hello Amy yes I have seen this many of times God is so Good Blessings to you and yours!
Amy Anguish says
Beautifully put. Thank you so much for sharing!
Amy Anguish says
I agree, Megan. Thanks for stopping by!
Amy Anguish says
Blessings to you, too, Sarah! :-)
Sandra says
Saving Grace sounds like a story I really want to read. I can’t find Amy It also sounds like something our family has lived through in 2020. It’s been a tough year with us losing three little ‘grandbabies’ while still in the womb. Traumatic times and heart-breaking losses. Note: For those looking for this book, Amazon has it under ‘Amy Anguish’, not ‘Amy R. Anguish’ and the author name is really needed as there are tons of books with the name ‘Saving Grace’.
Amy Anguish says
Sandra, I am so sorry you lost those grandbabies. Even though it makes Heaven sweeter, I know it hurts right now.
And thanks so much for giving that hint to help find my book!
Arletta says
Sounds like a powerful, moving story. I can sometimes tell when authors write from their personal experiences because I can FEEL it – I can sense the emotion behind the writing.
Lelia (Lucy) Reynolds says
I love when real life experience is included but I cannot always tell.
Amy R Anguish says
Arletta, I know what you mean. That’s powerful writing, indeed! Thanks for stopping by!
Amy R Anguish says
Maybe that means the author is really good at what she does? After all, it’s our job to tell a story so well you don’t know if it’s true or not. ;-)
Thanks for commenting, Lucy!
denise says
I try not to assume someone is writing from life experience.
Things pop in my head and add to my writing.
God has a hand in the timing of things.
Amy Anguish says
True! Thanks for your perspective.
Amy Perrault says
Life is not always happy but love stories about both no matter if real or not. I’ve been through it all.
Sylvain Perrault says
I hope life gets well for you. I just go out when needed with my family due to everything going on. Love reading stories about real life
Amy Anguish says
I agree. Love stories happen even during bad situations.
Amy Anguish says
Life is going well for me. Thanks. I love stories that include some real life, too.
Melynda says
God has constantly used things in my life that are hard or bad to bring about something good.
Amy Anguish says
That’s wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Thanks for making Amy feel welcome everybody.
Natalya Lakhno says
What a beautiful story Amy <3 Thank you for sharing. God is in control and He love his people. I'm sure your stories wouldn't be so good without your life experiences. I love these stories – they are part of who you are!!!
God used my journey through cancer to help others in the same situations and to "really" understand what the family is going through when there is a cancer diagnosis.
Blessings!
Amy Anguish says
I am completely in awe of everyone who has faced cancer. I have lost so many dear ones to it.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Dianne says
Yes Amy many times. So glad your challenge turned into two wonderful children for you and your husband. :)
Trixi says
There have been many instances in my life where God turned something bad into something good. It’s a promise of His in scripture! :-) I may not see it at the time because of the pain or disappointment I’m feeling, but I trust that He will bring about good somewhere down the road……sooner than later sometimes and sometimes it’s much later. I KNOW He always has my best interest in mind no matter what. Then I always look back to see how I’ve stretched & grown from the experience and all the things He brought me through. It’s amazing to me to see what the Lord has done!
Marilene says
Have you ever seen God use something bad and turn it good? I have seen that God has used something bad and turned it into good. Then I’ve really felt that the Lord was leading me. In every story I write there’s something from me in it that happened to me in real life. I find Elizabeth Musser a good example when an author is including real life experience. That makes a book more real, I think.
Amy R Anguish says
Dianne, we’re pretty glad, too. :-)
Thanks for stopping by!
Amy R Anguish says
I totally know what you mean. Looking back, it’s always easier to see how much good came from something than it was when we were in the middle of it.
Amy R Anguish says
Great comments, Marilene. I find something about myself in each of my books as well.
Regina Merrick says
It’s hard to tell if a writer is writing from their own experience. As a writer myself, I have something true to me in every story – but you’ll have to guess which ones! Lol!! Great post, Amy! ❤️
Amy Anguish says
Thanks, Regina. That’s the sign of a good storyteller, right? You can’t tell where truth ends and fiction begins.