Tuesday, December 13, 2011

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

13 comments:

  1. Thank you for the interview, Donna!

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  2. Great interview, Debbie and Donna!

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  3. Deb,
    I enjoyed your "weiner dog" story! Amelia Frump sounds like a fun book kids will love.

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  4. Hi Deb:

    It was a delight to interview you and exciting to have you featured today.

    Val and Victoria:

    Thank you for stopping by today and getting to know Deb.

    Best regards,
    Donna

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  5. Great interview, Debbie! When you said you get up at 4 a.m. I almost passed out! lol If for no other reason, I am so glad my children are all grown and I can sleep as late as I want!

    FYI readers - Debbie also has a wonderful story in our just released Christmas anthology called - Klutzin' Around the Christmas Tree, which is also the title of the book! You won't want to miss this great collection of holiday stories!

    http://www.dancingwithbearpublishing.com/

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  6. @ Val--Thanks!

    @Victoria--LOL That's one of the reasons my mother grayed early.

    @Donna--Thanks for having me!

    @DWB--Believe me, I couldn't function with coffee. ;o)

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  7. Great interview. Sounds like a fun book to read.

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  8. What a lovely interview! I learned lots about Debbie's life and book. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  9. Great interview, love reading about how other authors get published and what their writing schedule looks like.

    Warmly,
    Terri
    Author of The Cancer Prayer Book

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  10. Who wouldn't buy a book with the MC named Amelia Frump? Fabulous.

    Great interview. Thanks to both of you.

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  11. Thanks to Donna for interviewing me, and to all of you for all your wonderful comments.

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  12. Donna, I enjoyed the interview.
    As a peanut-butter-loving nut, I'm eager to meet Amelia Frump.

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  13. Debbie-
    I enjoyed hearing how you work and give you lots of credit! You are truly dedicated.

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Thank for you taking the time out to visit with me and to learn about my writing career.

Please be sure to leave your blog address so I can reciprocate.

I look forward to visiting you too.