When and why did you begin writing?

A Dancer’s Diary has been in the making for about 5 years now. The reason I started writing was mostly because I wanted to share my love of health, fitness, and dance with others. I have always been taught to love learning and to share it with others in order to encourage, inspire, and teach.

Throughout the years of being in the dance world, I have discovered that wasn’t one comprehensive source for dancers to consistently go back to. I also found that dancers get sick A LOT and they also get injured A LOT. Because of my passion for working with athletes to strengthen and prepare their bodies for the season, I wanted to provide a source that would give them all the information they would need, not just little tidbits, that they could easily go back to again and again.

Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?

A Dancer’s Diary came together because I saw that there was an incredible need for this type of book in the dance world. I found that my friends from dance were getting sick and injured, leaving them vulnerable and lagging behind. As a dance teacher, I saw that the parents of my students had no idea how to help keep their children healthy and strong amongst dance and other sports.

I didn’t see any dance-related books that taught about prevention of injury and illness. Each dancer deserves a chance to reach their highest goals and potential. Injury and illness can hinder performance, making it difficult to reach these goals.

What is the most important thing that people DON’T know about your subject/genre that they need to know?

Prevention is the most important aspect of maintaining a healthy body and lifestyle. The first step is learning how to avoid injury and illness. Once you have established that, it will be much easier for you to achieve your goals and enjoy dancing. With this book, dancers will miss fewer classes throughout the dance year, leaving more time to excel and grow as a dancer.

What are some day jobs you have held?

I was a dance teacher for the longest time. I started teaching dance to little girls when I was 16 through our homeschool co-op and I fell in love with it. At 18, I rented a building and started my own dance studio (Praise Him with a Dance). It was great! I loved teaching and dance has always been a passion of mine so they fit perfectly.

Right now I am starting my Personal Training business (La Belle Vie Fitness) and I’m loving that as well. I just love teaching and helping people, that’s why I got into this business. My dream is to encourage, inspire, and help people achieve their ultimate dreams and goals.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Never give up. It sounds cliché but I didn’t really understand the full meaning of it until I started writing and marketing. It is so easy to give up and get discouraged, especially on your first book. Staying focused and not letting stress and discouragement get to you is extremely important.

It’s extremely important to stay focused. There were times I got distracted and put my book on hold. If I had just maintained my focus, A Dancer’s Diary could have been published a year or two ago.

Can you share with readers a little bit about your latest book?

A Dancer’s Diary has taken years to research as I wanted it to be very unique from all of the other health-related dance books that are for sale. Instead of focusing on just one topic, I have decided to use my experience as a dancer and dance teacher to write about everything a dancer needs to know. This includes prevention and care of injuries, maintaining a healthy weight without falling into an eating disorder, how to make their own “spa” products at home, fun recipes, stretches, and beautifully illustrated journal pages.

What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

I loved writing the book, but I think that all the research that went into it became daunting at times. Right now, the hardest part is the marketing, getting people interested, and raising awareness. That is the part and has been the most difficult, discouraging, but also extremely satisfying and rewarding. 🙂

What is your next project?

I am working on a book about injury prevention and rehabilitation. I am finding that there is a major need for this type of book geared toward both active and inactive lifestyles. After that, I will start working on a book similar to A Dancer’s Diary but focused more on sports athletes. I’m also working on an Office Worker’s Guide to Fitness. There are a lot of books in the works right now :).

What do you like to read in your free time?

I love the classics! My favorite books include Jane Eyre, Ben Hur, Emma, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, and Anne of Green Gables. Anything that gives me a “crinkly feeling up and down my back” and makes me laugh, cry, and feel a sense of adventure.

Who or what inspires your writing?

All of my inspiration in life comes from my heavenly Father. He has given me a love of learning and teaching. Both of my parents are also huge inspirations and guiding forces in my life. My mom especially has been a huge support with this project and I don’t think A Dancer’s Diary would have been as great without her. I also love having a grandmother who is a Naturopathic doctor because she is teaching me a lot about health.

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How can you discover more about Amanda and her work?

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