Feb 1, 20242 min readSmithy Returns in 2024!April of 2021 saw the publication of my novel Smithy, the story of a chimpanzee raised in a storied Newport, RI mansion who just might...
Jan 28, 20241 min readAmanda Desiree Returns to "Terror at Collinwood" I recently had another opportunity to appear on Penny Dreadful's Dark Shadows-themed podcast Terror at Collinwood, this time with fellow...
Jan 28, 20241 min readIn the Shadow of the Skull - Now in Paperback!In the Shadow of the Skull is now available to purchase in paperback from your local book retailer or from amazon.com or...
Dec 12, 20234 min readIn the Shadow of the Skull: InfluencesNinety years after the release of the iconic film, King Kong, I am releasing my own adaptation of the source material, filling in the...
Dec 6, 20233 min readIn the Shadow of the Skull: OriginsPeople frequently want to know where an author gets their ideas. My own inspiration tends to come from things I read about or see in...
Dec 1, 20231 min readNaNoWriMo Interview with Amanda DesireeNaNoWriMo 2023 may be over, but you can still prepare for next November, or for a writing project at any time of the year, by reviewing...
Jun 5, 20231 min readGuest Appearance on "Terror at Collinwood" PodcastRecently I was given the opportunity to help spread some terror at Collinwood with horror hostess Penny Dreadful (aka Danielle Gelehrter)...
Apr 7, 20225 min readWhat is an Epistolary Novel, and Why Would Anybody Want to Write One?Have you ever read an epistolary novel? First of all, what is an epistolary novel? The term "epistolary novel" refers to novels that take...
Mar 8, 20221 min read"Becoming Jane" in Los AngelesIf you are in the LA area, you have the opportunity to explore the exhibit "Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall," which...
Feb 11, 20223 min readDo You Let the Facts Get in the Way of a Good Story?Does it bother you when an author writes something in a story that you know to be factually incorrect? Do historical anachronisms or...
Jan 24, 20221 min readAmanda Desiree on "Discovered Wordsmiths" PodcastIn October of 2021, author S.A. Schneider invited me on his "Discovered Wordsmiths" podcast, which is devoted to first-time authors. The...
Dec 22, 20211 min readSmithy Recognized for Strong Female CharactersInkshares's "Break the Bechdel" Syndicate, which recognizes strong female characters in fiction, has chosen Smithy as its December book...
Dec 11, 20211 min readSmithy Supports Chimpanzee SanctuariesSmithy was largely inspired by the stories of research apes. Now proceeds from the sale of the book are going to help support former...
Nov 10, 20211 min readSmithy featured on "Cheers, Dears" - November 10, 2021Recently, I was invited to "Cheers, Dears," a literary podcast hosted by author S. Faxon. We discussed my novel Smithy, "The Twilight...
Oct 31, 20211 min readHappy Halloween!What better place to spend Halloween than in Newport, RI, where I've been able to revisit the Elms and Seaview Terrace (aka TV's...
Oct 20, 20211 min read"Ghosts Are People Too"--A Halloween Haunt by Amanda DesireeAn essay I wrote for the Horror Writers' Association's annual "Halloween Haunts" blog was recently posted: https://horror.org/halloween-h...
Oct 15, 20211 min readAuthor Appearance at North Torrance Library (October 2, 2021)Earlier this month, I participated in my first live author event held at the North Torrance Library in Torrance, CA. This was the first...
Sep 16, 20211 min readAuthor Event in North Torrance (October 2, 2021)Please join me at the North Torrance Library on Saturday, October 2nd at 3:00 for a discussion about Smithy, including a Q&A session. The...
Sep 11, 20211 min readFrom Seaview Terrace to Trevor HallRecently, Seaview Terrace, the Newport mansion that most influenced my vision of Trevor Hall, went up for sale. I've had the privilege of...
Aug 20, 20212 min readMore Smithy Easter Eggs and Fun FactsHere's some more behind the scenes trivia: The scene with the Rolling Stones record was the first one I wrote for the book. The...
