Following the Footsteps of Amanda by Darlene Foster

Today, it is my pleasure to welcome author Darlene Foster to my blog. Several years back, Darlene and I were published in the Country Roads anthology together. Ever since that time we’ve been following each other on social media. Darlene is a wonderful supporter to other authors and an all round terrific author and person and I’m thrilled to have her as a guest on my blog.

Brought up on a ranch in southern Alberta, Darlene Foster dreamt of writing, travelling the world and meeting interesting people. It’s no surprise that she’s now an award-winning author of the exciting Amanda Travels series featuring spunky 12 year-old Amanda Ross who loves to travel to unique places. Readers of all ages enjoy travelling with Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another. Darlene divides her time between the west coast of Canada and the Costa Blanca, in Spain with her husband and entertaining dog, Dot. She was encouraged by her parents to follow her dreams, and believes everyone is capable of making their dreams come true.

To learn more about Darlene and her writing check out Darlene Foster’s Blog.

The wonderful thing about being a writer is that you can create any character, place and situation you want. You are totally in control. Well almost, your character takes over from time to time.

As writers, it’s hard to know why or how we create the characters we do. They seem to pop into our heads and won´t go away. The main character of my children’s travel adventure books is Amanda Ross, a young girl whose love for travel takes her around the world to many interesting places where she meets intriguing people, learns about the culture and always has an adventure. I would have loved to be able to travel all over the world when I was a young person. So perhaps Amanda is the girl I would have liked to be.

Even though I didn’t get to travel as a young person, I have since explored much of this amazing planet as an adult. Every time I visit anew place, I feel like a child experiencing something awesome. I like to incorporate those thoughts and feelings into my character. So far my books feature places I have visited and found amazing. Amanda (and I) have been to the United Arab Emirates, Spain, England, Alberta, Germany, Austria and Hungary. In book six, available soon, Amanda visits New Mexico, a fascinating and enchanting state. I am currently working on Amanda in Holland, an amazing place I visited last year.

Amanda comes with me everywhere I go now. I am constantly thinking about what she would like about the place and the adventures she could have. I take lots of pictures and keep a notebook handy to jot down ideas. I have even been heard to say in my out loud voice, “Wouldn´t Amanda just love this place!”

I have so many more ideas of places for Amanda to visit so I can’t see the series ending soon. Amanda will always be the main character. Her British friend Leah will be in most of the books, although she is not in Amanda in New Mexico-Ghosts in the Wind. Other characters have been introduced who may show up in future books. I would like to keep Amanda as a tween, as that is the age I like writing for, although she does mature somewhat as she travels and learns more about the world and herself.
The question is, is Amanda following me in my travels or am I following her?

Thank you so much Laura for having me and Amanda as a guest on your blog. I’m so glad we met all those years ago in the same anthology and have followed each other’s writing career.

Check out these links to order Darlene’s latest book: Amanda in New Mexico.

Amazon.com   Amazon.ca  Kobo  Chapters/Indigo  Also, if you’re like me and don’t order online, you can order through your local independent bookstore. That’s what I do!

If anyone is interested in doing a review on Amanda in New Mexico, e-copies are available on NetGalley –Here

Posted by Laura Best on August 3, 2017

https://lauraabest.wordpress.com/2017/08/03/following-the-footsteps-of-amanda-by-darlene-foster/