Hello from Amanda

I was raised in Kirkland, WA where I have lived in the same house for twenty-one years! After I graduated from high school, I went away to college in Salem, Oregon only to realize how much I love the Seattle area and now I am back to finish my senior year at the University of Washington. I have many interests, and when I'm not working on my books or studying, I keep busy. With a passion for art history, I spend many hours strolling art museums and reading about my favorite artists. (Henri Matisse is my all-time most beloved!) I love to travel and have been to more foreign countries than I have states. So, in the near future I hope to take a road trip across the US to experience this country! I also love to bike, roller blade, dance, walk near the lake, and of course, spend time with my family and friends!

Of course, one of my true passions is to make a positive difference through my writing. Hope you enjoy reading about my newest book, Retail Therapy!

Amanda loves to shop, and she exuberantly shares the stories of her most memorable finds -- the perfect pink sweater, a set of precious porcelain dishes, and dusty but valuable antiques. But she also shows how shopping allows us to examine deeper truths about our lives and what is really going on when money is spent. Blending her own life lessons, with quotes, and tips, along with illustrations throughout, the message is ultimately about discovering one's passions, taking care of oneself, and being conscious about decisions.

This is a lovely book with tiny treasures throughout, a great surprise. I thought it would be about shopping, but found out it was more about awareness and mindfulness. The story of her mother's healing (and shopping) following the death of her husband touched me deeply. I laughed at the chapters about shopping with men and I loved the prom dress story. Amanda transformed everyday shopping into a zen walk.
A reader from Sacremento, CA.

"I never had a sister, but always wished for two: one older and one younger. My older sister could enlighten me in the ways of the teen world. She would give me fashion advice, tell me all the 'how-to's' of kissing and comfort me when I got cut from the varsity volleyball team.....With my younger sister I could take over the role of guide. I would teach her how to sneak out of the house without getting caught, let her study for her geometry final using my old tests, and lend her my favorite outfit to wear on a night out with her friends," writes Amanda Ford in her new book Be True to Yourself: A Daily Guide for Teenager Girls.

"Be true to Yourself is full of great advice and wisdom. Each day you can read something that will make that day just a little bit brighter."
--Kimberly Kirberger, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul.

"Hardly a day goes by when I don't wonder how I will help my daughter keep her soul intact as she grows up. Straightforward and truthful, Amanda Ford's book may be one of the answers."
--Jennifer Louden, author of The Woman's Comfort Book and The Comfort Queen's Guide to Life.

"Amanda Ford--homegrown Kirkland girl and UW senior----wanted Be True To Yourself: A Daily Guide for Teenage Girls to read like the nurturing, older sister she never had.

So she hits it all: Pimples, tantrums, depression, parental fights, sex, clothes, popularity anxiety, messing up and peer cruelty. She's the perfect age to dish this advice. At 21, those hard teen years are just behind her, but she's not yet old enough to be uncool.

Her mission? To help girls appreciate their strength, beauty and individuality."
--Paysha Stockton, Seattle Times