Children's book author interview: Amelia Frump and her Peanut Butter Loving Overactive Imagination by Debbie Roppolo

DMc: I absolutely love the title of your book, Amelia Frump and Her Peanut Butter Loving, Overactive Imagination. Do you title your manuscript before, during, or after?

DR: Thank you, I’m glad you like it. I came up with the title while I was writing the manuscript.

DMc: Please share with us a day in your writer’s life.

DR: The alarm clock (it must have nine lives) awakens me every weekday morning at 4 am. I shuffle to the bathroom, cringe at my reflection in the mirror, put in contacts, then trudge to my office to check and respond to emails.

An hour later, I prepare breakfast, get my kids ready for the 6 am arrival of the school bus, and have a cup of coffee. It’s the latter that pleases my family the most. I’m not a morning person, and without caffeine I could intimidate “Cruella De Vil”.

After my husband is hustled off to work (7:30 A.M.), the rest of the morning is spent promoting Amelia Frump and her Peanut Butter Loving, Overactive Imagination. I edit and look for markets for my stories. When my bottom becomes numb and resembles a pancake, I do housecleaning, which I believe should be an Olympic sport.

Lunch is a light, at-home affair. The rest of the day (until 4 P.M.) is spent arranging author visits with schools, promoting, and writing. My work day ends at 4:15 P.M. when the children arrive home and take over the computer.

DMc: How would you describe your creative process while writing this book? Was it stream-of-consciousness writing, or did you first write an outline.

DR: I’ve always been a “fly by the seat of the pants” type of girl. I do use notes I jot down, but I never have been able to use an outline when I write. I admire writers who do.

DMc: From the moment you conceived the idea for the story, to the published book, how long did it take?


DR: Amelia Frump… took about a year. I’ve had other things published for adults, but writing for children is different, and I was never satisfied with how the story was progressing until just before I submitted it for publication.

DMc: What has been your most validating experience as an author at this time in your career?


DR: Having my first book (Amelia Frump…) published. It’s always great to have something published in an anthology or magazine, but a book with my name on the cover is very dear to me.

DMc: A signature request I like to ask every author, illustrator, editor, etc., I interview is for the individual to share with us a tidbit from their lives that the reader will find either humorous or surprising. Debbie, can you please share one with us?

DR: I was a very daring child with a creative imagination. In kindergarten, I tied a string to a hot link and dragged it behind me for a few hours. I thought if it was walked enough, it would turn into a wiener dog, something I always wanted.

Debbie, thank you for visiting with me today. Phew, I thought 5:30 am was early I can’t even imagine 4 am! I enjoyed getting to know you better and wish you all the best.

Learn more about Debbie:

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYXknTUpNyE

Website: http://www.debbieroppolo.weebly.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/debbie.roppolo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm