Noblesville author Amy Shankland began writing when she was 9 years old.
“I wanted to be an author,” she said. “It’s something I always needed to do and wanted to do. I just love to write.”
As the City of Noblesville’s grant coordinator, Shankland does a lot of writing but expresses her creative side through her blog, columns and stories. She began the writing process last summer for her newest novel, “Hoop Mama.” Shankland wrote the story following her foot surgery in November.
“This idea would not leave me alone. I thought, ‘This is crazy, I am way too busy,’ but it kept nagging at me,” she said. “It flowed right out of me like it was meant to be written.”
Shankland said she has written a few stories in the past, “but not to this extent.”
“I’ve grown and learned more this time,” she said. “I just feel better about this book, like it’s my best effort ever.”
The novel tells the story of talented hoop dancer and introvert Lily Black. When Lily meets hoop instructor James Baker, her first instinct is to retreat. James sees possibilities within Lily that she had never imagined for herself. He encourages her to train for and enter a national hoop dance competition. Lily must fight to discover the confidence buried within herself and open up to the possibility of finding love and her true self – both with and without the hoop.
“I’m excited to share this story with everyone,” Shankland said. “I believe it will inspire people of all ages, and you don’t have to be a hoop dancer to enjoy it.”
Shankland began hoop dancing two years ago while vacationing in Florida with her family.
“It changed my life,” she said. “I was on the beach and people were hoop dancing. I plunked down $20 and my journey began. It’s so wonderful for your body, mind and soul – so meditative.”
Shankland will be signing copies of her new novel from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 10 at The Wild Book Store, 884 Logan St. The Wild will have copies of the book for sale for $19.25. The novel also is available in both paperback and e-book formats online at amazon and www.fastpencil.com/publications/5734-Hoop-Mama.