New Look!
We have a lot to get into, but I have to start off sharing my updated branding!! Late last year, one of my closest friends won a branding package from InstaLove Graphic Design. However, she gifted it to me!! Did I cry? Maybe a little.
We couldn’t make anything happen until this week, but I’m so excited to unveil the new look! I had narrowed a vibe and color choices recently, but the pieces Dana put together have perfectly captured my crossover between my emotional contemporary romances and my new, darker motorcycle romances.
New Places to Find Me
I feel like this has been a topic of conversation a lot lately. With my ongoing battle with meta and the new changes with TikTok, I anticipated some ups and downs.
The good news is, the best place to stay up-to-date on all of my books, events, and overall opportunities is here! So if nothing else, stick around.
Where else can I be found?
New Website: amandamarquardt.beehiiv.com is my updated website! You’ll have easy access to all of my important links, as well as the ability to jump over to my Square site if you want to purchase signed books.
New Substack: Substack is a place that I have found some very inspiring writers and minds. I spend a lot of time reading there. For now, my newsletter will stay here, but I’ll be writing additional pieces there. They will be more thoughtful (hopefully), and provide a different way to connect with a community I love.
New Social Platform: I’m saying goodbye to TikTok. The recent buyout included updated terms that allow anything posted to be used to train AI. I already work very hard to keep my works from being pirated (and it’s a losing battle) and at least one of my books was illegally used to train AI software. This is theft, plain and simple. If you’ve ever signed up for an ARC directly through me, you know that I have a very strict No AI policy. That’s because, not only do I value my own work, but I value all human creatives. I believe in human voices, human artists, and human actors, as well as human writers. There is a level of emotion you can’t get through AI, aside from the fact that creative expression is deeply personal. I will not stay on a platform that allows for open theft of these works without a way to opt out. And don’t even get me started on the location services. I’m checking out a new (to me) space on UpScrolled.
Loving the clean mobile look of the new site.
New Causes
Whenever possible, I try to uplift and shout out ways to give back in various communities. Right now, my amazing editor, who is also a narrator among other stellar talents, has put together a fundraiser: Human Voices 4 Human Rights. This gives bookish people, specifically authors, the ability to give back to communities that have been greatly impacted by ICE via Community Aid of Minneapolis or CANM (also known as Hatch and Flock). They’ve already raised over $1200!
Authors will donate $10 (or more) for a 100-word snippet narrated by a professional audiobook narrator, to use as you desire. Time is running out on this one, but there will be a new opportunity in February as well. To participate, head over here to make your donation and make sure to include your email so that you can be paired with a narrator!
Bookish Spotlight
New second chance romance?
This small town romance has it all: grumpy/sunshine, found family, and a pop start in hiding! All I Want is book one in J.B. LaRee’s Runaway Hearts series.
A kept secret divides. A shared secret destroys.
Tatum Wakefield
Being a pop star is a dream come true...for someone else. Someone who won’t spiral out of control and crash headfirst into rock bottom. Walford, Texas, may be the best place to hide from the paparazzi while I lick my wounds, but there’s no hiding from the man I abandoned ten years ago. I’m ready to confront the painful past, and Jake deserves an explanation. But if he learns my shameful secret, I’ll lose the only man I’ve ever loved...again.
Jake Holloway
Life hasn’t turned out as planned...as promised. I’ve spent years pretending not to care about the woman who left me to rot, but I’m not fooling anyone. My denial is legendary. When Tatum suddenly returns to Walford, my long-buried feelings for her demand resurrection. But I vow to fortify my grudge and stay far away until she leaves again. After all, she ruined me once. Only a fool would risk his heart a second time.
Content Warning: While this is a love story, it depicts real-life situations that may be triggering for some readers. Please be advised the list of sensitive topics located on the author's website and at the back of the book contains major spoilers.
New Giveaway!
Half the time I’m just making up reasons to give things away because it’s kind of a love language for me. So, as we enter the month of love, and with Untamed’s release coming soon, I thought this would be a perfect time to host a TWO winner giveaway!
To enter, simply request one (or more) of my books from your local library. This can be print or ebook, and each TITLE counts as an entry. Screenshot your request and upload here. The giveaway will be open until Valentine’s Day. Then I’ll choose two winners at random.
US winners will receive a signed copy of Untamed, and due to the ridiculous cost of shipping, international winners will receive an unsigned copy with a signed book plate sent separately. I hate limiting giveaways to US only, so this is the best way I can think to make it achievable!
*This is a subscriber-only giveaway!*
ARC Reminders
This is the LAST CALL for ARC readers wanting to grab Untamed. If you haven’t already, sign up here. I’ll be sending final approvals next week, with ARCs later in February.
ARCs are still open for the Garden of Desires collab. These eight books are written by eight different authors and have only one connection: a captivating theme of flowers. They range in spice, darkness, length, and so much more. If you’re interested, check out the master list here. Tropes and content warnings are included. Make sure to review all the details before signing up as each has its own requirements.
XOXO, Amanda