Amy was born in Seattle, WA in 1972, the youngest of three children. She graduated from Western Washington University in 1994 with a degree in Sociology only to discover most sociologists are unemployed. Soon followed a variety of jobs – some of which she loved, like decorating wedding cakes; others which she merely tolerated, like receptionist. In 1998, Amy finally decided to sell her car, quit her job, and take a chance on writing books.

The literary gods took kindly to her aspirations and THE KIND OF LOVE THAT SAVES YOU was published in 2000 by Bantam Doubleday. THE LANGUAGE OF SISTERS was picked up by NAL in 2002. (Both were published under her previous last name, Yurk.)

Amy spends most of her time today with her second and final husband, Stephan. (Seriously, if this one doesn’t work out, she’s done, kaput, no more husbands.) She stays busy with her two children, Scarlett and Miles, and her “bonus child,” Anna. Their blended family also includes two four-legged hairy children, commonly known as Black Lab mutts, Kenda and Dolcé.

When Amy’s not with friends or family, she is most likely reading, cooking, or zoning out on certain reality television shows. Top Chef is a current favorite. She eagerly awaits auditions for the cast of “Top Author.” (“Quick Edit” instead of “Quick Fire” Challenge? C’mon, producers! That’s gripping television!)



Want the details?

1972 – As a toddler, Amy’s mother characterized her daughter as a chatterbox: “Everything in her mind came spilling out of her mouth.”  (Now it just spills onto the page. Okay, okay, she still talks a lot, too. Especially when she’s had too much caffeine. Or if it’s a day ending in “y.”)

1979 – An avid lover of words, Amy embarked on her first literary creation, “Amy’s Animal Stories.” A collection of short and slightly twisted tales exploring her love of all creatures great and small, she couldn’t find a publisher outside of her second-grade teacher, who kindly bound the stories into a book Amy still has in her bookcase and will readily share with unsuspecting dinner guests.

1990 -1994 – Amy graduated from West Seattle High School and proceeded to WWU in Bellingham, WA. Like many other well-educated restaurant workers in that lovely city, she settled there after getting her degree. She met her first husband during this time, with whom she had her two gorgeous children, Scarlett and Miles.

2000 – THE KIND OF LOVE THAT SAVES YOU is released. Luanne Rice calls it, “A startling and powerful novel filled with wonderful characters.”

2002 – THE LANGUAGE OF SISTERS is published. The Seattle Times says, “The authenticity [of THE LANGUAGE OF SISTERS] is unmistakable; a tender and touching novel.”

2005 – Amy moved back to Seattle, WA about a year before her father passed away. She earned her certification as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) to support her day job. Whether she is writing a book or helping employees sort out conflict, of utmost interest to her is how people tick. Her husband calls her a “People Engineer.”

2007 – In a casual garden wedding at her mother’s house, Amy - wearing racy red - marries her best friend, Stephan. They have wedding brownies instead of wedding cake and rent a bouncy castle to entertain Stephan – oh wait, to entertain the children in attendance. Outside of the birth of her children, it is the best day in her life.

2009 - BEST KEPT SECRET sells to Atria, a division of Simon & Schuster. Amy's third novel was released June 7, 2011. 

2010 - Amy is thrilled when Atria extends her contract from one book to three - a fourth novel, OUTSIDE THE LINES, which tells the story of a woman searching for her homeless and mentally ill father, whom she has been estranged from for twenty years, was released in February 7, 2012, and was selected as a Target Book Club pick.

2011-12 - Amy finished writing HEART LIKE MINE, and her second novel, THE LANGUAGE OF SISTERS, is re-released by Atria Books. 

2013 - HEART LIKE MINE release, March 19th.