Amanda Roberts

I feel like I've been reading since the day I was born - but actually it was when my mom, overloaded, sent me to kindergarten a year early at age four. I can't imagine why she wanted to get rid of me (poor Mom) but it opened up a whole world of magic for me. In my second grade year my teacher invited a published author to come to our school to talk about the children's books he'd written. I was fascinated. Something inside me connected to everything he was saying. When all the other kids went outside to play for recess, I stayed inside and wrote my first book about a girl and her puppy. Of, course, the next day I was back to recess again - what kid can resist, after all? Oh, take me back to those wonderfully innocent days before I learned about revisions! Although my first endeavor probably got pitched in my overloaded teacher's wastebasket, from that point on, I always knew when I was 'grown up' I'd be an author. Easier said than done. I've been 'grown up' a lot longer than I care to admit, LOL, and it's common knowledge that I chose one of the toughest careers in the world. Or, did it choose me? Now I can't go anywhere without seeing a potential story in my surroundings, a joy for me, but not always for others (evil grin). My passion for writing could nearly swallow me whole - just ask my family. They often have to drag me away from my computer and reference books! I swear there's claw marks etched into my desk! Eeek! ******

Aside from the times set for my writing, I like to spend time with my husband and daughter outdoors - walking, jogging, and playing in the local park. I also adore antiquing and perusing flea markets. I still love to read, too, and am an advocate for educational groups who stress the importance of literature.