Author Amy’s Twilight-type saga in the limelight

Her story is almost a story in itself, which is apt, for she is an author afterall.

Despite the novels for which she is increasingly known, Harrogate author Amy Keen isn’t quite a teenager, although her beaming smile and youthful good looks may suggest otherwise.

The eptitome of commitment, this mother of two started writing the Foresight series, a Twilight-style trilogy of books for young adults, in her spare-time.

The ex-Rossett School pupil now finds herself writing autographs at book signings and garnering a growing reputation in the USA.

Amy, 30, said: “The strangest and most wonderful thing about having written the books is people messaging me to ask me about them or tell me they enjoyed them. I know there are people in places as far as Jamaica and the Philippines that have read them and that is really wonderful to think of them going that far.”

Aimed at young adults interested in the paranormal fiction genre, Amy’s Foresight series is built on the central character of Scarlett Roth, an 18-year-old girl with divorced parents who moves with her mother to the notorious witchcraft town of Salem in Massachusetts.

But Scarlett is beset by terrifying visions as she struggles to come to terms with her powers.

To further complicate matters, she faces a fearsome adversary with equally strong powers called Venari.

The saga began with the first instalment, Embers, which was published by Fisher King Publishing in 2012, winning strong reviews in the UK before being released in the USA.

Then came Ashes. Now the concluding novel, Phoenix, is about to be published.

“I’m often asked if the first one was the most challenging, but I found Phoenix the hardest to write. I felt some pressure to bring it to a strong conclusion.”

Amy, who works for a Harrogate-based PR firm whose clients include Black Sheep Brewery at Masham, started writing in childhood.

She said: “Even aged four or five I was telling everyone I wanted to write books. ”

No overnight sensation, Amy left Harrogate temporarily to study journalism and international relations at the University of Lincoln.

The idea of becoming a novelist kept nagging away at her until life’s stream dragged her towards PR.

Despite work, marriage and motherhood Amy never gave up on her childhood dreams.

“I think school visits are my favourite thing. I relate to wanting to write as a young person and how exciting it is to be able to ask an author questions in person.”

As to what follows the conclusion of her trilogy, Amy is keeping her cards close.

“I have to say I’m sad to see the end because I have been working on these books for five years now. But I am excited to get it out there and start a new story. Watch this space.”