Why I Wrote Two Very Different Books

And the thread that binds them together

I never expected to write a book, let alone two books at the same time — especially two that seem nothing alike on the surface.

Two books born from one cozy workspace.

One is a nonfiction book called You Don’t Have to Stay — a guide for anyone who feels stuck in a job or a life that slowly wears them down. It was born from a moment that left a lasting impression on me: sitting on a plane, tears running down my face, realizing I didn’t want to go back to work after spending two weeks in Europe truly living. I felt trapped, obligated, and afraid to leave the security of a corporate job. Eight months later, I was let go from my “secure” job due to corporate restructuring. Writing was my way of taking my power back, page by page. But it became more than that — I also wanted help others to find the courage to take the leap of faith I was afraid to make.

And then there’s the other book — the story I didn’t realize was living inside me, waiting to be told. It’s a historical fiction novel inspired by a Titanic survivor, filled with ocean crossings, Paris ateliers, friendship, war, survival, and hope. What began as research notes and scattered thoughts grew into a world I now feel like I’ve lived in — a world where loss becomes legacy, where a young woman must rebuild herself after disaster, and where beauty is forged in the midst of grief. It lives in a completely different universe from my nonfiction — Europe in 1914 instead of corporate America in 2025 — yet the more I write, the more I see how both books are two sides of the same story.

Both are about a woman choosing her life, even when the odds feel impossible.

One is mine.

One belongs to Nora, the heroine of my novel. She is inspired after a Titanic survivor who goes on to shape her life with intention and meaning during an especially turbulent time in history.

Writing these books has been so much more than a professional milestone for me. It is personal in a way I never could have imagined. It has opened my eyes to a new world of storytelling and creativity. It has also given me a way to reclaim a life that seemed to keep shrinking year by year after the close of my travel business. And it has become proof to myself that, like Nora, I didn’t make it through the fire just to stay still.

As I move into the new year, I am preparing to launch my nonfiction book on March 1st and traveling to Paris in early January to research my novel.

A picture perfect Paris view along the Seine

In Paris, I will see firsthand where my characters live — walking the same streets, standing before the same ateliers, and letting the city shape the story in ways I can’t yet imagine. I’ll visit the places where Nora learns who she is, where she discovers what she’s capable of, and where her life begins to expand after loss. This trip feels like a bridge between both of my books — one rooted in my own reinvention, and the other rooted in hers.

If you’re reading this because you’ve ever felt stuck, or you wonder if your story could look different — I hope these books show you that change is possible.

And if you’d like to come with me — through launch day, through Paris, through the messy middle of starting over — I’d love to have you here.

This is just the beginning.

Do you enjoy behind-the-scenes looks at the writing process? Subscribe to the blog for more posts like this, and follow along on Instagram @traveling_author_amy as I share updates from my journey.