Book Birthday Blog with Amy Dua

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Amy Dua on the release of Woe is Me...It's Autumn!

 

What was the inspiration for your book?

The inspiration for my book really came from my love of spending time reading with my children.  I had always written rhyming verses for greeting cards and poetry for family, so when I came up with this idea it just sort of came out in a rhyming way. 

You wrote and illustrated the book. Please describe your creative process and what was the most difficult part. 

The creative process is always something so hard to put into words. I had written the manuscript for this book, and envisioned it being a certain way. I took some time to decide if I would illustrate the book myself, and once my son introduced me to a digital program that I could actually use my drawing and shading skills on, I fell in love with it. I was able to bring to life the characters and the scenery that I had in my mind when I wrote the book.

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

What I hope people take away from this book is the beauty of spending time reading to little ones in your life. In my opinion, there is nothing better than seeing the awe and wonder in your child’s eyes when they see the beautiful pictures and hear the words. It was really important to me that this book was factually accurate as well as fun, so that it could be a learning experience, as well as fun bonding time. It’s an amazing thing when you can learn in a fun way.

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

As far as marketing goes, the book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart and can be ordered anywhere books are sold.

What's next for you? 

As for what is next, there is another “Woe is Me” season already in the works! Hopefully it will be ready for release in 2024!

More about the book . . . 

The woodland animals play all summer long in the sunshine, but what do they do when it is time to get ready for the cold? Do they stay out and play? Do they try to find someplace warm to snuggle in for the winter? Do they eat extra food? Find out in this fun and informative book about what animals, insects and even humans do when the leaves fall, the temperature drops and autumn arrives.

Publisher: After Many Years Publishing

More about the author . . .

Amy Dua was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. Amy has always adored children, and in fact Amy's grandfather used to refer to her as the "pied piper of children" because of how she always played and engaged with all of the kids at family gatherings. Amy attended the State University of New York-College at Brockport for her undergraduate degree, graduating with a major in Criminal Justice and a minor in Political Science, and went on to attend law school at Michigan State University where she graduated cum laude. Amy has been practicing law as a child advocate for the past twenty years. Amy had been writing poetry, greeting cards and even speeches for family members, and others upon request since she was a little girl, and one day she sat down to write out her idea for a children's book. Each of her four children helped in different ways in the illustrating and publishing of her first book, Woe is Me...It's Autumn. Amy has an avid love for books and is beyond excited for parents, teachers, and loved ones to be able to sit down and read her books to the little ones in their lives.

Instagram: @aftermanyyearspublishing
Facebook: After Many Years Publishing