Marian P. Merritt - Lagniappe

Where the Bayous Meet the Mountains

Monday, July 29, 2013

Tiffany Amber Stockton - Antique Dreams


Lagniappe Welcomes...



Author - Tiffany Amber Stockton

Her latest release:  Antique Dreams









My Writing Journey & Faith
By Amber Stockton

Like a lot of other writers and authors, my journey toward publication began many
years ago. I wrote my first short story in 5th grade with several accolades from both my teacher and my fellow students. It was even entered into a ‘Young Writers of America’ contest and placed but didn’t get selected for publication. Ever since I learned to read at age 3-1/2, I’ve been telling stories. My parents often had to correct me from the extra embellishments I’d add from what really happened. I could often easily keep a captive audience, so writing seemed to be a natural progression from the verbal.

I wrote often, but it wasn’t until I was a Senior in high school that I got the ‘bug’ to write. My English teacher saw potential, and as an author herself, she encouraged me to pursue the talent further. However, I became more focused on finishing my education and getting my degree, so my writing took up residence on the back burner.

In 1997, I joined an online community for a television show and wrote my first fan fiction. After receiving a lot of encouragement and feedback, I realized I might be able to make something of this ability. It took me another 5 years and encouragement from Tracie Peterson (one of my favorite authors and a dear friend) before I took the step professionally to begin a career by joining a national organization called ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).

I did everything I could to improve my skills and develop my craft. I bought writing books, studied a wide variety of fiction, conversed with other writers and authors, attended conferences, purchased audio recordings of workshops and presentations, and soaked up as much information as I could handle. Almost 4 years later, I sold my first book and took a rather scary step into the world of authorship.


 When I received the notification that my first book was actually going to be bought, so much elation and excitement filled me. The first thought that went through my mind was, “I have to tell someone!” Since the hour was late, and everyone had gone to bed, I logged online. 
The only one signed on was the man who is now my husband. 

Some people would call that ironic.    
I call it God. 

One of the biggest moments of my life, and the first person I tell is the man I would marry just 8 months later. Amazing!  


A key component in my books is the underlying faith of my characters. I’m not one to write a phenomenal conversion story or horrific and tragic events that bring characters from the brink of despair back to Christ. What I do write, though, is characters living out their faith in real and practical ways. It’s the way I live my life, so it naturally flows into my stories. You might not find a gripping tale that has you on the edge of your seat, heart pounding. But you will find a story that keeps you turning pages as you discover how my characters use their faith to get them out of the many predicaments in which they find themselves.

Today, I have sold 14 novels and am represented by MacGregory Literary. 
Total sales for my books have crested the 300,000 copies mark. God truly has blessed my endeavors, and I look forward to sharing more stories with my readers in the years to come. 
Thank you for supporting me. 
An author is nowhere without readers.

So, please drop me a line any time. I’d love to hear from you. Find me at any of these places:


Blessings!
~Amber




Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood. Today, she is an award-winning best-selling author, speaker, and virtual assistant who lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have a daughter and a son, and an Aussie/retriever mix named Roxie. She has sold 14 books so far and is represented by Sandra Bishop of MacGregor Literary Agency. Three of her novels have won annual reader’s choice awards, and in 2009, she was voted #1 favorite new author for Barbour’s Heartsong Presents book club. Read more about her at her web site: www.amberstockton.com.

Tiff, thanks for sharing!

Readers, thanks for visiting Lagniappe.

What do you think? God or Ironic that the only person online was her future husband the night of Tiff's big news?
Which one of her books is your favorite and why? 

Marian

I pray that you find "a little something extra" in each of your days.

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