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 Winter!

What was the inspiration for your book?

My inspiration for this book was my love of children, nature, art and rhyme! With the publication of Woe is Me…It’s Autumn!, I was overwhelmed with joy seeing children’s smiling faces after reading the book to them, and their surprise at some of the new facts that they learned about the creatures we see every day. I knew right then that I had to keep going! Woe is Me…It’s Winter! is a beautiful continuation of the Woe is Me: The Seasons series, with adorable new woodland creatures to learn about. Kids discover interesting facts as to how each creature prepares for winter, and their life cycle throughout the seasons. I absolutely love being able to teach kids about nature in a fun, colorful, rhyming way.

You wrote and illustrated the book. What was the most difficult part?

With this book the most difficult part was deciding which facts I wanted to include and which ones to leave out. I put a great deal of time into researching each character and in turn I myself learn so many interesting things that I want to share, that this book started out about 100 words longer than the other two. So trimming it down was the difficult part.

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

I hope that children learn fun new facts about the creatures we see every day and what each new season brings. Nature is fascinating, so for children to have fun learning all about it is truly accomplishing my goal.

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

Woe is Me…It’s Winter! will be available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble.com, Walmart.com and everywhere books are sold on December 1st, 2024. These books are sold at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, Michigan, as they are also used in the educational programming at the zoo. Additionally, they are available for purchase on my website along with free downloadable activity pages that coincide with the Woe is Me series. www.aftermanyyearsllc.com.

What's next for you?

This is the third book in the series, so I will be diligently working on Woe is Me…It’s Summer! next to complete the series. I am already looking forward to learning all about the next set of characters in the book.

More about the book . . .

Did you ever wonder what the woodland animals do when the cold winds start to blow and the snow begins to fall? Do they hibernate? Do they frolic in the snow? Find out in this fun and informative book about what animals, insects, and even humans do when the ground begins to freeze, the snow starts to fall, and winter arrives.

Publisher: After Many Years Publishing

More about the author/illustrator . . .

Amy grew up in Buffalo, New York and later moved to East Lansing, Michigan for law school at Michigan State University where she met her husband. The majority of her legal career has been in child advocacy, as she has always had a great love of children. Amy has four children with her husband, and it was with their love and support that she was able to follow her dream, to combine her love of teaching children, the beauty of nature and gift of rhyme and create the Woe is Me: The Seasons series.

Facebook: After Many Years Publishing

Insta: @aftermanyyearspublishing

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