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Author Interview,  Giveaway,  Hope-filled Fiction

Interview with Betsy St. Amant & a Giveaway

February 19, 2025 / 38 Comments

It’s a pleasure to welcome Betsy St. Amant back to the Hope-filled Fiction blog this week. She’s talking about her new release, Where I Found You (Magnolia Bay Book 1), and she’s giving away a copy! (Paperback for US Mainland residents OR an ebook for an international winner)

Welcome back to my blog, Betsy! Please tell everyone a little about yourself and your family.

I went through an unwanted divorce in 2013 at 30 years old that really shaped who I am today and brought my faith to the next level. Now, I’m married to a bearded, CrossFitting drummer as of the past 7 years, and we each brought a daughter into our marriage—both of whom are now teenagers! My middle-schooler loves volleyball and is a straight-A student, while my sixteen-year-old is taking dual enrollment courses at the community college and trains in aerial. My husband, my sixteen-year-old, and I all do CrossFit together as well. 

I have nothing but respect for those who do CrossFit! That’s no joke. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I went through a brief stage where I wanted to be a vet, because I loved animals. But also knew I wouldn’t do well with the messy side of that profession, or the emotional! So I changed my mind to author and here we are, thirty books later.

You definitely found your sweet spot. Do you have any hobbies? Have you incorporated any of them into your books? 

YES! So, I got involved with CrossFit 3 months before my 40th birthday and got instantly hooked. One of the characters in my new Magnolia Bay series works out, and in Books 2 and 3, you’ll get to see him in the gym with some of the things I’ve learned (or am trying to learn! Hehe). Also, I pulled from my daughter’s experience and Book 2 of Magnolia Bay features a heroine who is a professional aerialist. 

I love it! Do you have any pets? Do they find their way into any of your stories?

I have a beloved mini Schnauzer named Cooper (i.e. Muffin, i.e. Sir Cooperton, i.e. MuffinMan, i.e. MuffinCup, i.e. MuffMuff, i.e. BabyMuff) and he had a shout-out in my 2022 novel with Love Inspired titled Second Chance Christmas. He’s also regularly featured in my newsletter! Hehe.

Your pup’s nicknames are so cute. They made me laugh. If you wrote in a different genre than your current one, which would you choose and why?

Fantasy! And I really might one day. I think it’d be fun to create epic worlds and magic and my own rules of said world. We’ll see! ::wink::

I could totally see you doing that! How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?

My ideal deadline is 6 months. That’s the perfect amount of time to plot, research, write, brainstorm, write again, etc. until the story is as perfect as I can make it. I’m not a full-time author—I’m an oil & gas landman by day, and the mom of two teenagers which is its own job! But as you know, I have four books coming out in 2025, and I did the math the other day … I wrote 3 full length novels in 2024. (hence why my eyes are spiraling!) It was really tough and often stressful—not going to lie. However, I also saw what I can do with the Holy Spirit when I really go for it, and that was pretty cool. 

That’s incredible. Speaking of writing with the Holy Spirit, how do you incorporate Christ and hope into your writing?

I write my novels from a Christian worldview, so some of the stories are more faith-thread heavy than others. For example, one of my novels had a subtle faith thread of forgiveness, while others dive deeper into identity, how God heals emotional wounds, etc. One book featured a heroine falling in love again after divorce and that faith thread was much stronger. It always depends on what the story needs—I never want to try to force a heavy message if the story can’t support it. But all of my books are clean romances that offer hope, humor, and happy endings, featuring relatable, layered characters who grow throughout the story. 

Sounds like a perfect combo. Let’s chat about your newest book. What is the setting, and is it a real location or fictional?

My upcoming series (Where I Found You being Book 1 and releasing February 2025) is a fictional beach town set off the coast of Louisiana. (think, New Orleans is an hour NORTH) It was really fun creating this charming, southern town that is recovering from a hurricane the year prior.

I just saw an early review on Goodreads that mentioned how they thought the setting was a character in itself, and that made my day! I’ve worked hard to incorporate all the best parts of Louisiana, like beignets and crawfish, and even included a few trips from the characters into New Orleans! 

So fun! Which character in Where I Found You was easiest for you to write and why? Which character presented the biggest challenge?

This is so strange, but I’ve always written the male characters in my stories easier than I have the women. I don’t know if that’s because I’m having to be so careful not to make all the women like myself, so it takes a little more effort, or what. But I love writing heroes, and Noah in Where I Found You was no exception, with his Luke-Danes channeling, flannel-shirt wearing, handyman self. He flowed immediately. Elisa was a little harder to get to know, but once I found her true internal arc, she fell right into place.

It’s a blessing when the characters behave, isn’t it? What is one of your favorite quotes from Where I Found You?

And just like that, he was eighteen again, sitting on the pier out by the bay and memorizing the curve of her sun-kissed shoulder beneath his arm. The smell of sunscreen and vanilla wafting off her hair, lapping over him like the waves beneath their feet. Naively believing that summer would last forever. 

Such evocative description. I can see it, smell it, and feel it! What do you hope your readers take away from Where I Found You?

I hope readers enjoy the treasure hunt alongside Noah and Elisa, laughing and swooning along with them as they navigate age-old family feuds, seek second chances, and journey to discover where they each belong. 

Beautiful. Has a reader ever blessed your socks off?

Oh, all the time. I’ve had readers paint my book covers onto bricks for their garden, send me gift cards for coffee, send me stuffed plushies of tacos to go with a particular release, send me sweet book-birthday packages, give me epic reviews, etc. I’m so blessed with all of them!

Those all sound like amazing blessings. What’s next from you? 

My Magnolia Bay series will stack-release this year via Sunrise Books, in February, May, and August! Then in September, my full length Christmas rom-com titled Holly and Nick Hate Christmas will release from Waterbrook & Multnomah. As for next…I’m brainstorming a few ideas right now, and will keep you posted! To be the first in the know, subscribe to my newsletter at www.betsystamant.com.

Magnolia Bay series graphic

Thanks so much for sharing on the blog this week, Betsy! It was such fun hearing about your writing and new series. May God continue to bless your journey!

Visit the #HopefilledFiction blog and leave a comment on @betsystamant’s interview by 2/25 for a chance to win a copy of #WhereIFoundYou. #giveaway

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Join the conversation. Have you read any of Betsy’s books? Which is your favorite? Are you excited about this new series? What questions or comments do you have for Betsy?

Be sure to comment below by February 25 for a chance to win a copy of Where I Found You, Book One of the Magnolia Bay series! (US Mainland: Print copy. International: ebook only)

Where I Found You by Betsy St. Amant

Click the image for a purchase link

From beloved author Betsy St. Amant comes an enemies to more, Hatfields and McCoys swoon-worthy contemporary romance set in a small beach town that reminds us that true love is worth fighting for.

Noah Hebert recently inherited the Blue Pirogue Inn—along with all its problems. He needs money to keep his beloved childhood home from being shut down by his family’s longtime nemesis, Isaac Bergeron. So when Noah’s lawyer approaches him about an additional segment of his late grandfather’s will, it’s just in the nick of time. But even from beyond the grave, his grandfather is up to his usual games. In order to receive the last portion of inheritance, Noah must follow the clues. But there’s one condition…

Magnolia Blossom Cafe manager Elisa Bergeron is shocked to discover an acquaintance from the local Puzzlers Club left her something in his will—and even more surprised to discover they are clues to a portion of his estate. When she learns she must work with introverted inn-owner Noah Hebert to solve the puzzle, she’s torn. Growing up in the middle of a multi-generational feud between their families, she’s been taught by her father Isaac that Heberts can’t be trusted.

When these two exes must work together to save their future, will love get a second chance or will the longstanding family feud claim another generation?

Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of over twenty romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her hubby, two daughters, an impressive stash of coffee mugs, and one furry Schnauzer-toddler. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored to truth.

When she’s not composing her next book or baby-talking her dog, Betsy can be found somewhere in the vicinity of an iced coffee. She writes frequently for iBelieve, a devotional site for women, and offers author coaching and editing services through Storyside LLC.

Connect with Betsy: Website / Facebook / X / Instagram / BookBub /

Please share Betsy’s interview on social media to help spread the word about her new book and series!

If you missed Carrie Walker’s spotlight on “Right Before Their Eyes” last week, find it HERE!

As a Jesus girl for more than thirty years, Deena Adams understands how important hope is to daily life, which fuels her passion to inspire others through hope-filled fiction based on true to life stories. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and is a multi-award-winning writer, an active ACFW member, and ACFW Virginia president. Connect with Deena through her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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