We were lucky to catch up with Amy Nielander recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I’m a designer and traditionally published children’s book Author Illustrator. I credit my mom, my product design background and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for shaping my picture book journey.

My mom taught me storytelling skills. As a child, I listened to her turn everyday experiences into fascinating tales. She loved to write and shared her work with me often. I remember one particular novel she was working on and how she chipped away at each chapter. Being a full-time working parent (with four kids!), sitting down was a luxury. My mom did not have blocks of time to write, so she talked through scenes when we were together (in the kitchen or the car), and “air” revised. I soaked it all up! I loved hearing her map out the big picture then zoom in on character details. My mom’s creativity stretched and curled with every world she imagined. She continued sharing her stories with me even after I graduated from college and moved away. Now, I have a hefty binder labeled “Mom’s Stories” with the manuscripts she mailed to me back then.

My product design background helped me navigate the technical side of illustration. Because the job was high-paced, it was crucial that all drawings be produced digitally. That was my first experience with drawing software. Now, I use Corel Painter to create all of my final picture book artwork.

I became a member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) 15 years ago. I was curious about how books were published and wanted to improve my own writing and illustrating skills. SCBWI is a generous organization that provides members with opportunities to meet editors, art directors or agents at conferences. The first year I joined I applied for a conference scholarship and…won! That little victory gave me a giant boost! I learned as much as I could from attending that conference and future events. Listening to industry professionals talk about the publication process and meeting other creatives helped me grow as a picture book Author Illustrator.

Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?
Honestly, I think I did the very best I could considering everything that was going on in my life.

What skills do you think were most essential?
Dedication, persistence, creativity, courage, focus, efficiency, strong voice and attention to detail.

What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Time constraints and finances.

Amy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a picture book Author Illustrator. My writing and illustrating journey began after my son was born. My mom had written a children’s story years ago for a godchild and we thought it would be fun to submit it for publication. I volunteered to illustrate since I was curious about the picture book making process. We submitted the story to multiple traditional publishers, but unfortunately received only rejections. I fell in love with the art of pairing text and illustrations though and decided to develop my own picture book manuscripts to illustrate. Eight years later, after dozens of rejections, a few conferences/workshops and raising our family, my first picture book was published. Now, I’ve written and illustrated three picture books that have been traditionally published.

I made the decision to write and illustrate picture books because I cherished reading time with my kids when they were growing up. From picking books out at the library to settling down next to a tall pile of picture books, we were completely immersed in the same activity. Stories bring people together. The idea of playing a small role in strengthening a relationship between a parent and their child because they are sitting on a cozy couch, reading a story together, felt immensely rewarding. I try to foster the same together-type-moments with activity sheets too! Before a book releases, I design open-ended activities that extend the themes of my books. Teachers and parents can download them from my website. My hope is families/classrooms can learn about each other and build meaningful conversations around these activities.

I also enjoy designing interactive activities for book events! My new picture book, MY NAME IS NOT ED TUG, is a story about a boy with an incredibly long name. His teacher wants to shorten it, but he refuses to accept the abbreviation. My main character decides to celebrate his name instead by helping classmates understand why it is important to him. For my Book Launch, I created an activity inspired by the story, called the Name Board. It is a giant crossword-style board with easy-to-use Velcro letters (the same font used in the illustrations). We displayed the Name Board in the bookstore and encouraged visitors to “sign-in” throughout the afternoon. After the event, it was filled with colorful names that connected to others. It was heartwarming to see the community engaging with the Name Board and…each other!

What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.
I want my work to do two things: spread joy and inspire others to stretch their creativity. I try to accomplish both by writing/illustrating big-hearted stories and designing thoughtful activities for families and classrooms. I am most proud of my CREATE A CHARACTER blog, where I post CREATE A CHARACTER Activity sheets for families. It has been active in some form, since my website launched. This monthly activity is for parents/caregivers looking for a fun way to bond with their child (I created it when my kids were in elementary school). I post a new activity sheet every month and share updates on Instagram. The goal is to create characters out of random shapes. Families can do this together or on their own. My hope is that parents and children share their creations and have fun conversations! It’s a creative way to connect with your child and encourages imagination: a skill kids excel at!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes. The SCBWI Nevada Mentor Program, the Highlights Foundation and the One-on-One Plus Conference hosted by Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature. These are events I attended that impacted my writing and illustrating career.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an Author Illustrator is reading my picture books to kids! When I meet children at schools or book events, I’m always eager to hear how they connected with the story and characters. Kids always surprise me with new questions and observations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.amynielander.com
• Instagram: @amynielander
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nielanderamy/?ref=pages_you_manage
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-nielander-13040763/
• Twitter: @nielanderamy
• Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user109956380