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 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

TikTok: After Many Years Publishing

 

 

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