Author Spotlight: Ame Dyckman and a Giveaway!
KidLit411 is delighted to present to you the lovely award winning author, AME DYCKMAN! Ame is the author of such picture books as BOY +BOT and TEA PARTY RULES. Enter below to win an autographed copy of her book, TEA PARTY RULES and a special TEA PARTY RULES prize pack! Giveaway ends at noon, Friday, June 13th, so hurry!
Look out for Ame's new releases, WOLFIE THE BUNNY (Spring 2015) and HORRIBLE BEAR (Spring 2016).
Hi Ame, thank you for agreeing to this interview and for being featured in our AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT (and for being and all around awesome, sweet, talented gal!)
What are you working on at the moment?
I'm having SO MUCH FUN promoting my second book, TEA PARTY RULES, illustrated by the amazing K.G. Campbell (Viking; Fall, 2013).
I'm looking ahead to the release of my next book, WOLFIE THE BUNNY (Little, Brown; Spring, 2015), illustrated by the also amazing Zachariah OHora. (Aren't I lucky with all my fabulous illustrators?)
I get to work with Zach and Little, Brown on our 2016 release, HORRIBLE BEAR, too! My Super Agent, Scott Treimel, has one of my manuscripts out on submission right now. And, I'm tinkering with new stories!
I'm looking ahead to the release of my next book, WOLFIE THE BUNNY (Little, Brown; Spring, 2015), illustrated by the also amazing Zachariah OHora. (Aren't I lucky with all my fabulous illustrators?)
I get to work with Zach and Little, Brown on our 2016 release, HORRIBLE BEAR, too! My Super Agent, Scott Treimel, has one of my manuscripts out on submission right now. And, I'm tinkering with new stories!
What advice would you give to other writers?
Don't shut down a story idea. If it sings to you, try it out! Create an opening line or two. Play with a bit of dialogue. Imagine the text for a great page turn. Even if it doesn't become a full finished manuscript, it's terrific writing brain practice. And often a little piece of something--even as small as the rhythm of a phrase--will pop into (and be perfect for!) a new project!
Can you tell KidLit411 something that no one else knows about you? A special pre-writing ritual, or a ritual you have when you're finished writing?
I celebrate good news and writing successes (even just a finished first draft) by going out for Chinese food with my family. "I'm done, guys! Let's get dumplings!"
How do you relax?
I ride roller coasters! I find it's great for alleviating Writer's Block, too. (I think it shakes the ideas loose!)
Do you like anchovies on your pizza?
I don't care for anchovies on my pizza. But I would like to run back and forth in front of a tank of anchovies while holding a pizza just to see what they would do!
I ride roller coasters! I find it's great for alleviating Writer's Block, too. (I think it shakes the ideas loose!)
Do you like anchovies on your pizza?
I don't care for anchovies on my pizza. But I would like to run back and forth in front of a tank of anchovies while holding a pizza just to see what they would do!
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Author Ame Dyckman:
Ame Dyckman writes picture books, loves hula hoops, and puts coins in people's parking meters. She lives in New Jersey with her family and pets: black cats, hermit crabs, fish, and a demanding-but-adorable squirrel named Willie. You can visit Ame
BOY + BOT book trailer
TEA PARTY RULES book trailer
Omigerd!!! I LOVE Ame!!! Well, I still love her even if she doesn't do anchovies on pizza. ;) I need to meet her one day so she can sign my Boy + Bot (which is brilliant), and Tea Party Rules. And, Ame, whatever you do, don't stand in front of a tank of anchovies...it will not end well for you. Hah!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a fun interview and the giveaway, Ame and Kidlit411!
Fun interview! If you ever get to do that Pizza/anchovy tank experiment, please take pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ame!
Life is all about the cookies. Ame is a rockstar!
ReplyDeleteAme IS a rockstar! Thank you so much Ame for being featured on KidLit411!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy following @AmeDyckman on Twitter. Her posts never fail to bring a smile to my face.
ReplyDeleteOooooo! More of Ame's stories are on the way?! Woo-hoo! Can't wait! You've got such a spark, Ame!
ReplyDeleteI love this! And I really want cookies ... and your book!
ReplyDeleteLOVE your pizza answer (I see I am NOT the only one who does!!) - and I am totally amazed that roller coasters relax you. CRAZY!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a TOTALLY delightful book! Thanks for the interview!
I love BOY + BOT and am looking forward to reading TEA PARTY RULES. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a funny person Ame is! I will definitely have to check out her books. Thanks for posting this and for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteLove the interview and the creativity exhibited by Ame.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! Celebrating w/Chinese food sounds fun, Ame! Congrats on all your upcoming books!
ReplyDeleteAme's tweets and interviews never fail to leave me smiling. Looking forward to the upcoming releases!
ReplyDeleteI can see why Ame's books are so lively and so much fun, it has to be that lively and fun personality :-) Boy and Bot is one of my favorites and I am looking forward to Ame's upcoming books!
ReplyDeleteHurrah! My girls and I loved Boy + Bot - but we are real tea party aficionados, too. Can't wait! Way to go, Ame.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I picked this up at the library completely randomly - and now she doesn't want to return it!! Great book - thanks for this, Ame!
ReplyDelete