Introduction:
Hello Everyone! We’re officially back from our summer hiatus! I am thrilled to announce that we’re back with an all-new book review! It’s a fiction young adult novel by a prolific writer, Amy Beth Outland. The book is called, “Roll With The Punches.” “Roll With The Punches” Is the latest book in Ms. Outland’s series entitled, “ I’m Not Broken Series.” I met Amy online through a mutual friend. Being that we both share a love for writing and poetry. (Amy also writes poetry).
When Amy first began promoting her current book online, I jumped at the chance to get an advanced proof copy of the book to have the opportunity to read her work for the first time. I have to admit right off the bat that I haven’t read any young adult fiction in a very long time. I was nervous to read it for no other reason than that I felt “rusty.” I hadn’t read anything unrelated to my writing endeavors for quite a while. This was one of the first times I looked forward to reading something I felt I could enjoy without having to read it because of a deadline. I told Amy that I would do this review to help her promote her work to further the word on its release simply on a friend basis.
I am so glad I reviewed this book Roll With The Punches is a beautifully written book. I have always had a personal preference for reading fiction-the story and the characters within that story the author has to paint me such a vivid picture of what’s happening to the character that I feel as though I am watching the scenes unfolding in my mind’s eye as I read the lines on the page. As if you’re being transported into the story if you will. I feel as though I am inside the book watching and listening to each scene and each character’s actions, reactions, and emotions. Amy Beth’s talented writing displayed in this novel accomplished this and more.
I was taken on an emotional roller coaster with this story. I loved the connection Samantha had with her husband, Jarrett. The husband and wife bond was there, yes, but the love they had for one another that was beautifully depicted in the book. Their relationship and how they cared for and loved one another reminded me of my parents' relationship and bond.
I also loved the connection that Jarrett and Samantha both shared with their teenage children, daughter, Lily and son Jake. They all had this closeness with one another. Even though their mother was in a wheelchair they always saw Samantha as mom, and respect and communication were always there even during the difficult times. That’s yet another thing I admired about Amy’s writing in this novel was her ability to be emotional. Vulnerable, and raw, without being too much for the reader to digest or not take as realistic by having it come across as not believable or sappy.
To have the ability to deliver that to your audience the right way rarely happens. But Amy’s ability to write about topics like cancer with a very thoughtful and realistic approach was something I greatly admired. I lost my father to cancer, so when I read those scenes, I could relate to those moments.
Some of my favorite moments in the book are the seemingly insignificant ones. For example, when Jarrett brought his guitar to the hospital during one of Samantha's hospital stays and played for her to help keep her relaxed and calm. This also brought back some personal memories, as my father was a music lover and played the guitar. Having the opportunity to be one of the fortunate people to read this book was an absolute pleasure and sometimes an unexpected trip down memory lane for me on a personal level.
Thank You, Amy Beth for writing such a thoughtful, universally emotional, and relatable heartbreaking story for so many to enjoy.
Jessica, Founder of The Abler Blog
Amy Beth would like our readers to know that all 8 of her books are now available in her hometown, Lake County Indiana, She will also be featured in her former college newsletter associated with the English Department. Amy Beth graduated from the university in 2007,
Amy also edited the book.
The cover art was created by James Austin Of Cypherzhouse Software And Graphics. You can find him on X.
You can connect with Amy Beth online
Facebook
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Instagram
Linkedin
Youtube channel
Author Website
I hope you enjoyed this latest book review and interview as much as I enjoyed working with Amy Beth, and reading her latest book.
Additional Notes From The Founder Of The Abler
I would also like to congrulate Amy Beth on the release of her new poetry book The December Bitch now available on Amazon.com.
Interview With Author Amy Beth Outland on her latest release Roll With The Punches
1. When you first got the idea to write The I ‘m Not Broken series, What was your initial writing and character creation process like?
I wrote the "I’m Not Broken series because you rarely see a love story with a disabled female lead in books, TV or film. We have come a long way as far as disability representation goes, but we still have miles to go. My writing process is a mixture of research, personal experience, and talking with friends and/or people I know who have different kinds of disabilities. Samantha is a combination of all of those aspects. I also read Chelsie Hill’s novel "Push Girl and Mark Zupan’s memoir Gimp as inspiration. I write, draft, edit, beta, repeat until the project is done.
2. Can you give our readers some of the details and back story of the series for anyone who just heard about the series through this review?
The series is about a woman in her late-twenties who sustains a spinal cord injury (SCI) in a car accident. During her recovery, she meets Brian Haines, who is a physical therapist. Samantha’s relationship with Brian is not what it seems and the series progresses from there. There are five books in the series. I don’t want to give too much away. In the words of Anthony Michael Hall in Sixteen Candles, “If you want to know what happened, buy the book.”
3. I read that you’re not only a writer, editor, and poet, but I have noticed online that you’re also working on a play. What is your writing process? Or do their styles differ when you’re writing a play, or do they both hold more similarities?
I’m not writing a play, but I have written screenplays for the first four books in the series. I’ve been trying to get Parallel Hearts, the second book in the series adapted for the screen since 2020. So, I figured since I was writing one screenplay, I might as well write screenplays for the rest of them as well. Screenwriting is a completely different animal than fiction writing. I have an English degree but I’m not a screenwriter so that’s an interesting challenge. Fiction writing is about more detail and screenwriting is the polar opposite. I’d love to have Jessy Yates from Speechless play Samantha.
I write whenever I have the time. I’m a night-owl so I usually write at night. I have multiple jobs, so I write in-between all of them. I do all the writing and editing myself so that’s why the writing process takes so long. Writing a book takes a long time. It usually takes me about two years to finish one (longer if I’m working on more than one project at the same time, (which I often do) First I write a draft, then I edit, then I send it to beta-readers for feedback, most often these steps all get repeated multiple times before a project is completed. The process can vary depending on the kind of writing I’m doing (poetry, fiction, non-fiction, etc) but it basically boils down to some variation of that. I also have different beta readers for different genres of writing because I like for the beta-readers to enjoy the process and your beta-readers will give you a more authentic opinion if they enjoy what they’re reading.
4. Samantha’s reason for using a wheelchair was because she suffered a spinal cord injury after getting in a car accident. What made you decide on that rather than another condition like MS or Cerebral Palsy?
I chose to write Samantha with a spinal cord injury because I wanted to explore the transition from being able-bodied to being disabled. I was born with Cerebral Palsy so I didn’t want Samantha’s experience to be the same as mine. The experience of someone born with a disability is not the same as someone who was born able-bodied and became disabled. I wanted to explore the differences.
5. What gave the idea to have Samantha battle with the condition and diagnosis of cancer?
I have two close friends who are battling breast cancer at the moment and one of my professors from Illinois State University, who was a friend and mentor of mine recently passed away from prostate cancer so I wrote the book as a way to honor all of them.
6. Have you considered doing a series on Samantha’s children Lily and Jake? Telling their stories of finding love with people who have different abilities? All while they’re trying to figure out their lives as young adults.
It’s funny that you say that because I have considered the idea. The original draft of Roll with the Punches had Lily as the narrator but it evolved during the beta-reading process.
7. The song, Roll With The Punches (Samantha’s Song.) Have you ever thought about getting someone to professionally record in the charter’s voice if you ever decide to make the series into an audio edition?
That would be great! It would be like what Jodi Picoult did with her novel Sing You Home. I would love to do an audio edition, and I haven’t put any of the books on Audible either, which is also something I’d love to do!
8. Part of The Abler Blog’s Mission is to highlight the various conditions and abilities of people you may not have heard about or have limited knowledge of. Would you mind sharing with us what your disability is? And how does that impact you? Not only as a professional in the writing industry but as a woman/personal as a whole?
I was born with Cerebral Palsy. It affects me every single day, both in my personal and professional life. I use a wheelchair and have a limited ability to walk. I wear braces and I’m also visually impaired. I don’t drive so, those are only of the challenges I face. I write from home and more people do now post COVID-19 so it makes it working a little bit easier for me as a disabled person.
I rely on rides to go to my part-time customer service job and if I go out with friends they have to drive.
People make assumptions about people with disabilities which makes it hard to meet people. I’m outgoing and I don’t mind talking to strangers in public, but not everyone is the same way. I’m fortunate to have a small group of friends who see me for who I am, and don’t care about my disability.
Another reason I wrote this series was because I wanted to show readers that it’s possible for people with disabilities to live full lives with careers, relationships, children etc.)
9. What made you take the independent/freelance writing path rather than using your extensive professional background to break through in the traditional publishing world?
In 2014, when I wrote I’m Not Broken I did so with a traditional publisher, but the publisher went out of business without any notice. At this point I’d spent a few years looking for a traditional publisher, and I decided to self-publish. I’ve been doing it that way ever since. With each book you publish you gain more experience and the process is different each time. It’s never easy and you’re not going to become a millionaire, but it’s fun, challenging and it’s a way to get your books out into the world.
10. It’s mentioned in your bio, that you’re also an independent poet. Can you tell us more about it? And possibly share a favorite poem you have written?
I do love writing poetry. I look for writing competitions online that are either free or have small entry fees. Some of my poems have been published in small journals and on websites. I’ve compiled some of my poems into books and published them. I usually only write poems when I’m sad though so that’s why writing them takes so long. All of my poetry collections: Musings from the Elephant Piano Notebook (2016) and Notes to Self & Others (2022) can be found on my website.
I’m currently working on another poetry project. It’s a collection of poems written in 2024 and I hope to release it in December. Stay tuned!
11. Who are some of your favorite poems that have inspired you to write poetry and why that particular poet (s)?
I love Patti Smith’s work. Her work is about her life experience and I think that’s what makes it so great! Other writers that have inspired me, not only poets but writers as well include, Jodi Picoult, Neil Gaimain, Gayle Forman, Erin Hahn, Taylor Jenkins, Reid (I could spend the whole interview on this question so I’m going to move on) I love reading and writing and everything I love to read shapes my writing.
12. I love listening to music while I write or even when I am working in general. Do you find music inspires your creativity and helps the writing flow easier? Who are some of your favorite artists and genres and why?
I love all kinds of music. I always listen to music when I’m writing. Sometimes I’ll listen to instrumental music when I write because I don’t get distracted and want to sing. I love rock and pop music, mostly but I’ll listen to anything as long as you can sing and move to it. Some of my favorite artists include Thirty Seconds To Mars, Halsey, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, The Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, etc. I’ve been told I have eclectic musical taste. I like old and new music. If it has good lyrics and/or a good beat chances are I love it.
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