"Words are a lens to focus one's mind."  Ayn Rand

Despite the library in her linen closet, Amanda never became a librarian. She received a Master's of Education from The Ohio State University and taught pre-K through second grade for three years. She has also worked in science and art museums, as well as a big cultural park. Amanda has lived in four states (OH, TX, NV, CA) and now resides in southern California with her husband and two children. She writes about her dog (who may have been reincarnated as a bird), plants, snakes (though she never wants to encounter one), moose, and other things that inspire and challenge her. When she isn't writing, Amanda and her family enjoy reading picture books, hiking, and visiting museums and zoos. 
Lifelong Learning
  • Attended Andrea Brown Literary Agency's Big Sur Children's Writing Workshop (Dec 2018)
  • SCBWI member since 2013 & attended 2013 Annual Summer Conference in Los Angeles
  • Awarded an inaugural Writing With The Stars mentorship with author Penny Parker Klostermann (Feb - Sept 2017)
  • Participate in Inked Voices webinars, workshops, and critique groups
    1. Picture Book Critique Group with Jennifer March Soloway (Sept 2019)
    2. Know Yourself as a Writer with Joyce Sweeney (Aug 2019)
    3. Tension and Desire: How Your Characters’ Deepest Longings Make for Page-Turning Fiction with Lorin Oberweger (July 2019)
    4. ​Picture Book Critique Group with Christina Pulles (June 2019)
    5. Find Your Voice and Connect with Your Reader with Fiona Kenshole (June 2019)
    6. Unleashing the Writer Within with ​​Eric Maisel (Jan 2019)
    7. Revision: Ways to Renew, Refresh & Rework Your Manuscript with Emma Dryden (Fall 2018)
    8. Make Your Manuscript Stand Out with Fiona Kenshole (May 2018)
    9. Picture Books in Focus: Structuring Your Picture Books and Nonfiction with Emily Feinberg (Sept 2017)
  • Participate in Julie Hedlund's 12X12 Writing Challenge to complete 12 Picture Book manuscripts in 12 months (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 & 2014)
  • Participate in Julie Hedlund's 12X12 monthly webinars: 
    1. ​​Authors & Industry Professionals: ​​Laura Backes, Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Hannah Barnaby, Cate Berry, Betsy Bird, Martha Brockenbrough, Jen Bryant, Arree Chung, Michelle Cusilito, Katie Davis, Julie Hedlund, Bethany Hegedus, Carter Higgins, Penny Parker Klostermann, Tara Lazar, Tara Luebbe, Stacy McAnulty, Tim McCanna, Vanessa Brantley Newton, Baptiste Paul, Miranda Paul, Ann Whitford Paul, Dow Phumiruk, Heather Preusser, Jean Reidy, Peter Reynolds, Casey Robinson, Sergio Ruzzier, Melissa Stewart, Whitney Stewart, Don Tate, Deborah Underwood, Emma Walton-Hamilton, Matthew Winner, Heidi & Jane Yolen
    2. Agents & Editors: Karen Boss, Rob Broder, Erzsi Deak, Jennie Dunham, Sylvie Frank, Stephen Fraser, Sean McCarthy, Alyssa Pusey, Deborah Warren
  • Participate in regional SCBWI chapter events (since 2014)
    1. Picture Book Text Intensive with Melissa Manlove (Oct 2019)
    2. MayFest 2019 In-person editor critique
    3. Inspiration for Authors and Illustrators with Judy Reeves (Feb 2019)
    4. Writing Chapter Books with Marcie Colleen (Jan 2019)
    5. MayFest 2018 In-person agent critique and Nonfiction Picture Book workshop with author Cindy Jenson-Elliott
    6. A New Approach to Writing Stories Picture Book Intensive with Salina Yoon (Feb 2018)
    7. Purpose, Premise, & Promise with Cheryl Klein (Jan 2018)
    8. MayFest 2017 In-person agent critique and Picture Book Process workshop with Viking Children's Books Art Director Jim Hoover
    9. The Dance of Words and Art with author Lee Wardlaw and author/illustrator Eugene Yelchin (April 2017)
    10. One Writer's Confessions with Pam Munoz Ryan (Jan 2017)
    11. Picture Book Intensive with Alexis O'Neill (Nov 2016)
    12. May 2016 Critique-a-thon
    13. Spring Writing Retreat (Feb 2016)
    14. Revision Intensive with Harold Underdown (Nov 2015)
    15. Inside Children's Books Conference and Intensive (March 2014)
  • Attended Picture Book Summit 
    1. 2017 Keynotes: Tomie DePaola, Carole Boston Weatherford, & Adam Rex
    2. 2015 Keynotes; Peter Brown, Andrea Davis Pinkney, & Mac Barnett
  • Participated in Inland Northwest SCBWI webinar series:
    1. 2018 - Tips and Creative Advice from the Snappsy Book Team with Tim Miller, Denise Cronin, Joanna Cardenas, and Julie Falatko
    2. 2017 - From Bright Idea to the Final Page Turn with Tara Lazar, Jessixa Bagley, Josh Funk, and Linda Ashman
  • Participated in Tara Lazar's StoryStorm, previously Picture Book Idea Month PiBoIdMo (2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2013)
  • Attended webinars:
    1. May 2018 - First Pages with Karen Chaplin, Senior Editor, HarperCollins (SCBWI, MD/DE/WV)
    2. January 2018 - Allison Moore, Don't Tweet Your Breakfast (KidLit College)
    3. March 2017 - Emily Feinberg, Editing Your Picture Book from Beginning to End (KidLit College)
    4. February 2017 - Melissa Edwards, Agent Advice on Best Queries (KidLit College)
    5. February 2017 - Eve Adler, Voice (KidLit College)
    6. December 2016 - Eve Adler, Developing Characters (KidLit College)
    7. Fall 2016 - Melissa Manlove, First Pages & Why They Work (KidLit College)
  • Completed Arree Chung's 6-week Storyteller Academy webinar series
  • Completed Susanna Leonard Hill's Making Picture Book Magic course (April 2016)
  • Participated in KidLit Summer School (2016 Theme: Heart and Humor) ​
  • Completed 2016 ReFoReMo Challenge - Reading For Research Month
  • Completed Paula Yoo's 2016 National Picture Book Writing Week (NaPiBoWriWee)
  • Participated in Pam Calvert's Picture Book University (2016)