“I write about forgiveness, redemption, and second chances. Life is littered with mistakes; thank God for grace.”
Amy Willoughby-Burle grew up in the small coastal town of Kure Beach, North Carolina. She studied writing at East Carolina University and is now a writer and teacher living in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband and four children. She writes about the mystery and wonder of everyday life. Her contemporary fiction focuses on the themes of second chances, redemption, and finding the beauty in the world around us. Sara Gruen says of The Lemonade Year, “When life gives you lemons, read this book. It’s a delicious glass of humor, heart, and hope.” Amy is also the author of a collection of short stories entitled Out Across the Nowhere and a contributor to a number of anthologies.
“I write about the mystery and wonder of everyday life. My inspirational, contemporary fiction aims to illuminate the universal and the unique qualities that make us a mystery to each other as well as a comfort. I like to explore what lies beneath the surface of our actions and what rests deep within out hearts. My fiction centers around human relationships–for the better and the worse and every adventure in between. You don’t have to have an explosive past or be from some exotic land to be interesting. Everyone’s life is full of fireworks and magic moments, trials and triumphs, hopes and heartaches. Your life is amazing. I write about us–you and me–and the everyday extraordinary lives we all live.”
“I was raised in the small coastal town of Kure Beach, North Carolina where I was never without the sound of the ocean in my ear at night and the wonder of what’s out there to lead me through my day. I graduated from East Carolina University where I was fortunate to study under some of the best and most generous writing teachers and authors around. Life lead me on some wild adventures and I’m grateful for the lessons I learned along the way. I spent several years in my husband’s home state of Missouri before getting homesick for North Carolina. I now live in the mountains near Asheville with my very gracious husband and four children. I am blessed to teach writing classes to students grades K-12 at Elevate Life and Art in downtown Asheville. I love my day job!”
“I aim to bring glory to God through my writing, creating mainstream style fiction that recognizes Christ in our world and in our lives. I don’t write “religious fiction,” you won’t get a sermon or a lesson on scripture and my characters don’t always do the right thing (who does?) but my faith seeps into my character’s lives and I hope they will notice. I hope you will notice Him too.”
***
“God didn’t give me the desire to understand algebra or the knowledge of exactly when and where to use a semi-colon, and I’m not that great of a speller, but He did give me a wild imagination, the ability to string words together and the desire to tell stories. I hope I can do Him proud.
Eventually, you ask yourself, ‘Why am I doing any of this?’ Once you figure out the answer, the rest of it falls into place.”
email me at amywilloughbyburle@gmail.com
amywilloughbyburle.wordpress.com 
That question, “Why am I doing any of this,” is such an important one to ask–and often. I find I do things that give me no pleasure and don’t further my goals far too long sometimes. I jokingly say I operate under a state of “continuous quality improvement.” Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts…
Thank you! I like your quote and yes, you are totally correct that it’s a question we need to ask ourselves often!