The Italian Bookshop Among the Vines (previously published as The Tears of Monterini), is Amanda's first novel. She studied Modern Languages at the University of East Anglia, followed by a PGCE at King's College London. She ran a company in International Advertising Sales and now tutors French and works as a copywriter for a care home, enjoying the stories of the older residents. She lives in London with her family and spends a lot of time in Pitigliano, Italy, the setting for the village of Monterini in the novel. The book is inspired by true events in the Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna areas.