About Me
Hi, I’m Amanda Paull. That’s my pen name – my real one stays tucked away so I can keep my writing life blissfully separate from the 9-to-5.
I grew up in the North East of England and, like many teenagers itching for something more, I couldn’t wait to escape. I studied, explored new places, even lived abroad for a while. And yet, here I am – back in the North East, completely smitten with it. Funny how life circles back, isn’t it?
Grammar school was an experience. Teachers in black robes, strict discipline, and airborne blackboard rubber – not exactly the backdrop for nurturing shy creative types like me. I kept my head down, did my homework, and mastered invisibility. I loved daydreaming, but writing felt like a chore back then – more about survival than self-expression.
A brief stint in teaching taught me all I needed to know: it wasn’t my calling. I returned to university and eventually landed a job in the public sector, which suits me well.
The writing spark was lit thanks to a colleague named Jim. He insisted my coffee-break stories – equal parts chaotic, tragic, and hilarious – deserved a wider audience. I thought they were just ordinary slices of life, but apparently, they made for great fiction fodder.
A couple of years later, while sunbathing in Mallorca with my now-husband and a glass of Cava in hand, the idea of turning real-life snippets into humorous fiction finally took hold. Writing wasn’t about making things up – it was about reframing everyday madness with a smile.
I enrolled in a creative writing course through the Open University, which fit beautifully around work – and, thankfully, had none of the trauma of school days past.
Since then, I’ve published my debut women’s fiction novel, Pictures in the Sky, followed by Painting Bananas and Colouring Outside the Lines. I’ve also written a five-part series of humorous shorter stories, the Scott Family Stories – think family drama with a side of cheeky charm.
The only snag? My day job keeps elbowing its way into my writing hours.
Feel free to visit my blog when you get the chance – I’d love to hear your thoughts via the contacts page. And if my stories make you smile and you'd like to become an ARC reader, just pop me a message: contact@amandapaull.co.uk
Warmest wishes,
Amanda x