Author Amanda Jaeger

Tell us a little about yourself

I have always had an interest in true crime, suspense and mystery. As a long-term copywriter, I have always had a hand in writing creatively for businesses to boost their income. 

I am the wife of my college sweetheart, and the mother of two spit-fire girls, but I’ve also been a sign language interpreter, transcriptionist, and a book slinger. Working with words isn’t my job, it’s my career.

Now, I use my knowledge and experience in engaging an audience and apply it to my author career, crafting suspense and mystery to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Like to soak in all the information about real-life monsters (and the surrounding events) to pull out details and give my characters depth.

Residing in Virginia, you can bet on me listening to true crime podcasts, watching cold case documentaries, and playing with my kids. (Not simultaneously).

“What do you do with an English degree?” 

“You write.” -Amanda Jaeger

Why Do you write?

There is no greater satisfaction than when you can make another person feel the impact of a story that has impacted only you through your imagination. Telling a story is one thing… writing it in a way that hits a reader’s heart is a whole other level of connection. 

What genre do you write and why did you pick this genre?

I feel like I write in a few crossover genres. My debut novel, The Fallen in Soura Heights, is a murdery suspense that skirts around a cozy mystery feeling. My next novel will be similar, but might be a little heavier in the “whodunit” category. 

Tell us about your book

The Fallen in Soura Heights:

Fey Anderson has always dreamt about escaping the crowded streets of Saint Paign. Soura Heights appears to be the picture-perfect place to run to: A place where the sun is always shining, the people are welcoming, and the quirky charm of every locally owned store feels like home.

She never expected her move there to be forced upon her. But when her husband, Bruce, goes missing, her deepest fear becomes reality and determination drives her to drop city living and find the truth behind his death. The small-town sheriff says there was no foul play. He claims there was no struggle, but Fey knows better. Bruce’s death was no accident, and she’s resolved to prove it.

As Fey weaves effortlessly into the small town fabric, she discovers things aren’t always as they seem. Secrets unravel at the seams and Fey wonders if facing the one thing she never dared, the forest will give her clarity or take her life as well. The only way to find out is to put her faith in a friend and find an internal strength she never knew she had.

It’s all about survival in Soura Heights. Will Fey uncover what happened and bring justice for her husband, or will she be the next to fall?

How much time do you dedicate to your author career?

As often as I can! I am a full-time copywriter and write on my novels whenever my work projects slow down. So I’m literally swimming in words every moment of every day. Sometimes, It’s overwhelming and has me forget simple words like “the” but most days it’s exactly what a word nerd like myself needs.

How long on average does it take you to write your books?

A…yearish? It took me about 8 months, a few rewrites, several personal edits, and a couple of professional eyes to get The Fallen in Soura Heights where it is today.

What is the best money you have ever spent on your author career?

Ohhhh, good question! It’s a tie between my designer (who actually redesigned my cover when the first version didn’t sit well with me) and in editing. I don’t care how much of a grammar Nazi you are, there will be mistakes. A professional editor is a MUST.

What is the toughest part of being an author?

Probably the imposter syndrome that likes to pop up every so often. I’ll be on cloud nine with an amazing review, then the next day I pick up my book and question a single word choice. I’m constantly giving myself pep talks with the reminder of all the work I put in and how positive the response has been so far. One negative thought isn’t the end of the world, and chasing perfection is only going to stress me out more. I can always get myself back to a positive mindset, but when imposter syndrome sneaks its ugly head out, it can be a pretty big struggle to work around it.

What is the best piece of advice you have for other authors?

Hmmm….. don’t chase perfectionism. There are an unlimited amount of personal edits you can take to refine your story, and obviously, get some professional eyes on your writing to tweak what isn’t working and amplify what does from a reader’s perspective.

What is your favorite book?

Is it completely cliche to say Stephen King’s Misery? The author/reader relationship in that will always sit deep with me.

Follow Amanda:

www.facebook.com/AmandaJaegerAuthor

www.instagram.com/amanda.b.jaeger

www.amandabjaeger.com