Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!
Where we celebrate new books by Michigan's children's book authors and illustrators
Congratulations to Amy Nielander on the release of her new book, Grama's Hug!
Congratulations on the release of Grama’s Hug! You’ve talked with us in a previous interview about this book, its inspirations, and its earlier stages. Can you tell us about your journey from there to now?
Thank you so much! I’m happy to be on the Book Birthday Blog sharing more insights from my journey. The final artwork phase lasted roughly six months. I upgraded my workstation before I began so I was learning and doing at the same time. When I wrapped artwork up, I spent quite a bit of time researching how to best promote my book. I eventually discovered a budding group of debut 2020 Authors/Illustrators linking arms to promote each other. Perfect 2020 Picture Books officially formed last summer and our social media pages are in full motion via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can learn more about us through our website (created by the lovely Lisa Katzenberger). Working as authors/illustrators can be quite solitary at times. I am grateful to be part of this supportive group of talented women whom are always cheering me on. I absolutely recommend the group promotion strategy!
Previous to this book release was your wordless picture book, The Ladybug Race. You’ve mentioned that Grama’s Hug also started out as a wordless book. What was the moment or thought that lead you to give Grama’s Hug words? How was your experience creating a book with words compared to a wordless one?
Grama's Hug went from a nearly wordless story to a story with full text after the dummy was shared with more readers (and illustrations were settled on). Creating a book with words was definitely more challenging at that point. What helped me overcome the change of direction was spending time paging through the dummy on my couch, where I used to read picture books to my kids. It was in that peaceful place that the narrative and voice for both characters took shape.
In your experience, how does being both a book’s author and illustrator impact the creation and publication process most?
When I go back to the development of Grama's Hug and examine the final artwork/text phase a bit more, I’d say the element of time is impacted most. When I needed to revise text I could no longer work on illustrations. That progress came to a halt when I had to shift creativity gears. It wasn’t until text was finalized when I could flip back to working on illustrations. I imagine it is different for other Author-Illustrators though.
You often feature or talk about your dummy books in interviews and on your Instagram. What significance do dummy books play in your creative process?
I love creating dummies. They are like candy to me. The reward for getting a revision tightened up is, a dummy. I enjoy physically making them, then doting over their cute baby-book size. The purpose of every dummy I create is to help me figure out pacing and page turns. They also make the book feel a step closer to being real, which can be quite motivating. If I want to test out another illustration, new pages can be dropped in quickly. Dummies are critical to the process of picture book making for me.
What’s something you hope your readers, whether grandmas or young astronauts, will take away from Grama’s Hug?
My biggest hopes are readers believe in their dreams a little more, believe in each other
a lot more and make every goodbye memorable.
What’s next for you? Any events coming up, or new books in the works? How can people connect with you?
My official book launch is Saturday, February 22nd at Barnes & Noble in Troy, from 11am-12pm. If there are any SCBWI members in the area, I’d love to meet you! I’m also an artist in the Muskegon Museum of Art Exhibit, 20 for 20: Celebrating Michigan Illustrators. A reception and Book Fair will conclude the exhibition on April 9th. As far as new books go, my agent will be submitting a couple more picture books soon. Readers can visit my website to learn about future book signings/events.
A little bit about the book:
Grama's Hug is about a devoted grama and her space-loving granddaughter, May. The story follows the pair during May’s elementary years as they become an inseparable team. They create art, birdwatch and prepare inventions for the annual space fair. They never, ever say goodbye without a hug until that moment (almost) slips away one day.
A little bit about the author:
Amy Nielander is a children’s picture book author and illustrator. She strives to spread joy and inspire others through her stories and school visits. Her first wordless picture book, The Ladybug Race (PomegranateKids), received international recognition as a finalist entry in the Silent Book Contest and later earned a Bronze Metal Book Award by Independent Publisher. Her second picture book, Grama’s Hug (Page Street Kids) received a starred review from Booklist and released January 28th, 2020. Amy lives in Michigan with her family and works alongside her sweet, chair-sharing havanese (whom she adores), every day.
Website: https://www.amynielander.com/
Twitter: @nielanderamy
Instagram: @amynielander
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nielanderamy/
Thank you so much! I’m happy to be on the Book Birthday Blog sharing more insights from my journey. The final artwork phase lasted roughly six months. I upgraded my workstation before I began so I was learning and doing at the same time. When I wrapped artwork up, I spent quite a bit of time researching how to best promote my book. I eventually discovered a budding group of debut 2020 Authors/Illustrators linking arms to promote each other. Perfect 2020 Picture Books officially formed last summer and our social media pages are in full motion via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can learn more about us through our website (created by the lovely Lisa Katzenberger). Working as authors/illustrators can be quite solitary at times. I am grateful to be part of this supportive group of talented women whom are always cheering me on. I absolutely recommend the group promotion strategy!
Previous to this book release was your wordless picture book, The Ladybug Race. You’ve mentioned that Grama’s Hug also started out as a wordless book. What was the moment or thought that lead you to give Grama’s Hug words? How was your experience creating a book with words compared to a wordless one?
Grama's Hug went from a nearly wordless story to a story with full text after the dummy was shared with more readers (and illustrations were settled on). Creating a book with words was definitely more challenging at that point. What helped me overcome the change of direction was spending time paging through the dummy on my couch, where I used to read picture books to my kids. It was in that peaceful place that the narrative and voice for both characters took shape.
 |
| An example of Amy's illustration process, from sketch to finish |
In your experience, how does being both a book’s author and illustrator impact the creation and publication process most?
When I go back to the development of Grama's Hug and examine the final artwork/text phase a bit more, I’d say the element of time is impacted most. When I needed to revise text I could no longer work on illustrations. That progress came to a halt when I had to shift creativity gears. It wasn’t until text was finalized when I could flip back to working on illustrations. I imagine it is different for other Author-Illustrators though.
You often feature or talk about your dummy books in interviews and on your Instagram. What significance do dummy books play in your creative process?
I love creating dummies. They are like candy to me. The reward for getting a revision tightened up is, a dummy. I enjoy physically making them, then doting over their cute baby-book size. The purpose of every dummy I create is to help me figure out pacing and page turns. They also make the book feel a step closer to being real, which can be quite motivating. If I want to test out another illustration, new pages can be dropped in quickly. Dummies are critical to the process of picture book making for me.
 |
| A few of Amy's dummy books for Grama's Hug |
What’s something you hope your readers, whether grandmas or young astronauts, will take away from Grama’s Hug?
My biggest hopes are readers believe in their dreams a little more, believe in each other
a lot more and make every goodbye memorable.
My official book launch is Saturday, February 22nd at Barnes & Noble in Troy, from 11am-12pm. If there are any SCBWI members in the area, I’d love to meet you! I’m also an artist in the Muskegon Museum of Art Exhibit, 20 for 20: Celebrating Michigan Illustrators. A reception and Book Fair will conclude the exhibition on April 9th. As far as new books go, my agent will be submitting a couple more picture books soon. Readers can visit my website to learn about future book signings/events.
A little bit about the book:
Grama's Hug is about a devoted grama and her space-loving granddaughter, May. The story follows the pair during May’s elementary years as they become an inseparable team. They create art, birdwatch and prepare inventions for the annual space fair. They never, ever say goodbye without a hug until that moment (almost) slips away one day.
A little bit about the author:
Amy Nielander is a children’s picture book author and illustrator. She strives to spread joy and inspire others through her stories and school visits. Her first wordless picture book, The Ladybug Race (PomegranateKids), received international recognition as a finalist entry in the Silent Book Contest and later earned a Bronze Metal Book Award by Independent Publisher. Her second picture book, Grama’s Hug (Page Street Kids) received a starred review from Booklist and released January 28th, 2020. Amy lives in Michigan with her family and works alongside her sweet, chair-sharing havanese (whom she adores), every day.
Website: https://www.amynielander.com/
Twitter: @nielanderamy
Instagram: @amynielander
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nielanderamy/
Congrats, Amy! So excited to finally see this book out in the world. I've enjoyed learning about your process over the years too. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the entire process!
ReplyDelete