What draws you to write and create for young readers?
It was a natural occurrence. I’ve been creating with little kids since I was 11. That’s when I first started babysitting. Then I played school with neighborhood friends (and one of my sisters). I worked at a pre-school and became an elementary teacher right out of college. I just retired after 31 years. When you spend that much time with young people, you can’t help wanting to entertain them. I have always loved reading to kids and hearing them laugh or ask unexpected questions. It’s incredible when they see themselves reflected in a character or situation in a book. Around the same time I became a babysitter, I discovered a passion for writing. In fifth grade, I wrote about my dog dying and it made my teacher tear up. In that moment, I understood the power of words. From there I wrote poetry, diaries, journals, and eventually stories for my students who were learning to read. Picture books are my favorite kind of books to read and write. They are highly entertaining and profound in their simplicity. I love being a part of that magic.
What stories/people have shaped you as the author you are?
As a kid, Beatrix Potter and Richard Scarry books were my obsession. I couldn’t resist Beatrix’s talking animals dressed in fancy clothes, or Richard’s detailed world, where pigs had jobs and a worm drove through town in an apple car. Kids respond to the imaginative freedom they find in books. Even though I’m now published, I feel like I’m still being shaped. When one of my friends gets a new book deal, I’m inspired by their success, and I grow from that. My editors and agent are always kneading my clay-like mind with their honesty and their belief in my abilities. I consider the opinions they share and again, I grow. I’m quite certain I’m still becoming the author I’m going to be.
Any message to share with young authors (particularly, children who have the dream of authoring)?
Write what makes you tick. No idea is dumb and no subject is a waste of time if it’s what thrills you. Write in a way that feels natural. Perhaps it’s poetry. Maybe it’s a graphic novel. Write where you want. You don’t need a special desk or a fancy chair. Crawl under a blanket or sit by a tree. Make the space yours, and then invite your imagination to join you.
Where can we find more information about your work?
Currently, the best place to hear about my books and other work is on Twitter and Instagram @amstephens_. I’m also on Facebook. Teaching has kept me extremely busy but now that I’m retired, my website will be going up soon. Stay tuned.
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