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Former Compass writer pens books that align with her faith and values

Neenah is rechristened ‘Chapel Falls’ in Amanda Lauer’s 10th book 

By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission

APPLETON — Amanda Lauer never expected that meeting a friend at a cemetery would lead to her writing a contemporary romantic comedy.

Lauer, who was a longtime freelance writer for The Compass, the former newspaper for the Diocese of Green Bay, was invited to Oak Hill Cemetery in Neenah by her friend of 10 years, Jane Lang. Since April 2022, Lang has been the city’s mayor.

“At the time we met, she was with the Neenah Historical Society,” said Lauer, a member of Sacred Heart Parish, Appleton. “We connected because I write books about the Civil War. They had some Civil War exhibits through their group.”

In early November 2023, Lauer and Lang met at the cemetery to look at the refurbished chapel at Oak Hill Cemetery.

“She thought this would be a beautiful backdrop for a cover of one of my books,” said Lauer. “I took a bunch of pictures, and we were going to get coffee afterwards. … Walking back to our cars, we kind of looked at each other and said, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to have a Hallmark-style Christmas story set in Neenah?’”

Lauer was not familiar with the many Christmas events in Neenah, including the “Cookie Crawl,” “Ugly Sweater Shuffle” and window displays, to name a few.

“It was the working outline of a cute Christmas-style Hallmark book,” said Lauer, who wrote her first book, “A World Such as Heaven Intended,” in 2014.

Amanda Lauer

“A Very Chapel Falls Christmas,” released on Dec. 1, 2024, is Lauer’s 10th book. She wrote the story months earlier during a three-week visit with her daughter’s family in Columbus, Ohio.

“I was there to help with the grandchildren,” she said. “If the baby was sleeping, I would write for an hour. Mostly between 9 p.m. and midnight when the house was absolutely silent, I would just write.”

All the Chapel Falls’ businesses in the book are actual businesses in Neenah, with Lauer using their actual names in A Very Chapel Falls Christmas.

“It has that hometown feel. It’s rated G so anybody of any age can read it,” said Lauer. “There are mishaps, some danger involved at one point. All things get resolved in a positive way. If you want a book that will make you smile, make you laugh, really warms your heart during the cold weather months, I think this one will do it.” 

Lauer and her husband, John, planned on self-publishing the book, but a writer’s group meeting in Niagara Falls, N.Y., in June of 2024 changed Lauer’s publishing path. A group member recommended that she reach out to his agent, so Lauer contacted Joseph Durepos of Chicago, who is “the biggest Hallmark movie fan you’re ever going to find,” Lauer said.

“He asked me to send him the first six pages and then to send him the rest of the book. He offered to be my agent,” she said.

Durepos was the agent for the first two books published by Matthew Kelly,  an internationally acclaimed speaker, author and business consultant. Kelly is the founder of The Dynamic Catholic Institute, a nonprofit organization.

“(Durepos) and Matthew have been friends for a long time,” said Lauer. “Matthew asked to see the manuscript. He read a portion of the book and said, ‘If the rest of the book is this funny, this sweet, we want to publish it.”

Kelly’s Dynamic Catholic/Vident Publishing published “A Very Chapel Falls Christmas” as the first book for Feminine Genius, a publishing house devoted to women’s fiction.

This past November, Lauer and her husband, John, traveled to Columbus for Thanksgiving. They took a day trip to see Kelly’s Dynamic Catholic Institute in Erlanger, Ky.

“It was so nice to see the whole thing — Dynamic Catholic — to see the publishing side of things,” she said. “Matthew was so kind. He gave me a case of books.”

Kelly also gave a case of 40 books to each of the 20 Neenah area businesses mentioned in the book, she said.

“There were no strings attached,” said Lauer. “Do what you want. Give them to your employees. Give them to your clients. A percentage of those business owners said, ‘We will take 100% of the proceeds, $19.95 per book, and will donate to a local charity.’ Two chose the Neenah Animal Shelter. One chose the Fox Valley Humane Society, the Neenah Library, Toys for Tots, the Boys & Girls Club.”

“I told the owner of Cannova’s Pizzeria that Vida (an Appleton nonprofit serving women and families facing unexpected pregnancy) is one of my favorite charities,” she said, “so they chose Vida. The Revival (boutique) is donating to Harbor House. Over the course of 10 days, 1,000 books were sold. Eight hundred of those books were sold by these businesses.”

The nonprofit civic development group “Future Neenah” set up book signing events for Lauer.

“It’s been so fun to meet people,” she said. “The reception has been amazing. It’s been so beautiful. Ultimately, the goal with the book is to have it made into a movie.”

“I know that God has a plan for this,” she said about being an author. “Even if this book isn’t made into a movie, I will keep doing my thing,” she said. 

Lauer has two more books completed and ready for publication.

“My purpose is to write wholesome, unforgettable stories that align with my faith and values, that touch the hearts of countless people worldwide,” said Lauer. “It’s been a beautiful, gratifying career. We will see where God wants me to go from here. I’m open to whatever the calling is for me.”

For more information about “A Very Chapel Falls Christmas” and Lauer’s other titles, visit HOME – AMANDA LAUER.

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