BIO

Amanda J. Moore was born Amanda Joy Barlow in December, 1974. She came in to this world a few minutes after her twin sister, Brandy. Amanda is one of five children born to her mother. Late in childhood, she was blessed with two more siblings, a step-brother and step-sister.

Amanda grew up in southwest Missouri. She attended elementary school in the Hollister school system, and junior high and high school in the Branson school system. She graduated from Branson High School in 1993. Ten days later, she married her high school sweetheart. Amanda and Dan have been married, happily most of the time, ever since. Together, they have two daughters, born in 1999 and 2006.

Amanda began her collegiate career at Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri, in 1993. She worked full time when she was a student, attending classes in the evening. The urge to leave Missouri and try on different areas led the couple on an adventure to Fort Myers, Florida. She attended Edison Community College for six months during their stay, after which the couple moved back to Missouri. Amanda finished her undergraduate education at Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University), graduating with honors in 1997.

From there, Amanda’s interests led her to seek a graduate degree in psychology. She earned both Master of Arts and Doctor of Psychology degrees from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, Missouri, graduating summa cum laude in 2002 and 2005, respectively.

While completing coursework and counseling clients, Amanda searched for an outlet to help distract her from the stress of graduate school. Family helped immensely, but she needed something else. It was then that she decided to pursue her passion for writing. Inspired by events in her life, she began Mens Rea while studying for her comprehensive exams and writing her dissertation. Some shook their heads in disbelief, but the imagery and creativity needed to write a good fictional story gave Amanda the outlet she so desired.

Amanda is an avid reader, and the many full bookshelves lining rooms in her home attest to that. She enjoys yoga, swimming, hiking, cooking, and traveling to the coast with her husband and daughter. She is interested in exploring many areas of research for both fictional and non-fictional writing endeavors.

In 2007, Amanda and her family relocated to the beautiful state of Vermont. She is currently practicing psychology with a wonderful group of mental health providers at Cedar Brook Associates. She continues her writing career when she steals time, and hopes you’ll help her pursue this love and desire for a lifetime of creativity by investing yourself in her works.

Thank you.