Amanda Held Opelt

Amanda Held Opelt is a speaker, songwriter, and author of the books Holy Unhappiness and A Hole in the World, which was selected by Publisher’s Weekly as one of the best books of 2022. She writes about faith, grief, community, and place.

Amanda spent 15 years serving in the non-profit and humanitarian aid sectors, and has written for Christianity Today, Premier Christianity, Plough, and 100 Days in Appalachia.

Amanda serves at her church, The Heart, on the preaching team and as a worship leader. She lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina, with her husband and two young daughters.