Q: When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

A: I knew I wanted to be a writer in elementary school after completing a fourth and fifth grade project to write, illustrate, and bind your own book. I would go home and create books in my free time. I thought it was the best thing I’d ever been taught. I continued to write on and off in my teens–poetry, mostly–but became more serious about writing prose when I reached my late 20’s.

Q: How and when did you make this dream a reality?

A: I had been working on a young adult novel for 5 years, and had completed it at whopping 1100 pages. After working with an editor on it, I realized I needed to get some distance from it; and I put it on the shelf, for now. I needed a fresh project. I decided I wanted something that was new, uncomplicated and fun. After visiting with my little cousin, Laura for weeks, I knew I had found the character for the children’s book I wanted to write. It took about 4-5 months to complete Laura and the Leprechauns–the majority of the time being spent on illustrations. So, I’d have to say that the year of 2007 was when everything really came together for me as a writer as far as making my dream a reality.

Q: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far in your writing career?

A: Hire an editor! I can’t stress this enough. An editor will improve what you thought was perfect. They are the extra set of eyes necessary to really make your writing shine and can catch errors you swore didn’t exist.

Q: What are you working on right now?

A: I am currently working on my next book in the Laura series. After this one, I have one more in mind. Right now I am developing and writing the story. Next, I will be traveling to Bavaria to see Laura in the springtime, and I plan to take plenty of pictures of her to use as reference material this time! It is a challenge to draw effectively when your muse lives oversees and isn’t readily available to pose for illustrations.

Q: Name some authors or books that have influenced your writing life in a positive way.

A: I’ve always been a fan of Lewis Carroll; Alice in Wonderland is a favorite childhood story of mine. I also grew up reading the Serendipity books, by Stephen Cosgrove, which I really enjoyed. There was always a moral to his stories and the illustrations kept me captivated. I kept a copy of his, Little Mouse on the Prairie, next to me for inspiration the entire time I worked on Laura and the Leprechauns.

Q: What have you recently read or what are you reading right now that you would consider an outstanding work?

A: To be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve had time to pick up a book for my own enjoyment, simply because I’m in the midst of working on my next project. But the last few books I read that I thought were truly exceptional were Jeffrey Eugenides, Middlesex, and Ian McEwan’s Attonement. Both books remained on my mind for a long time afterward.

Q: What excites or ignites your soul?

A: Seeing a look of wonderment or awe in a child’s face is a source of true inspiration for me. There’s nothing as gratifying as seeing a child’s happiness and excitement over new, simple experiences things we often take for granted.

Amber T. Kingston is the owner of Chrysalis Press, a publishing company dedicated to producing imaginative literature for children, teens, and young adults. Amber is also an author and illustrator, and has combined her talents for Chrysalis Press’s latest release, Laura and the Leprechauns. Creative Writing and the arts have been long-time passions for Amber ever since early childhood. Amber loves spending time with family and friends, and can usually be found writing, drawing, reading, painting, or spending time with children. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, the National Association of Women Writers, the Independent Book Publishers Association, the Small Publishers Association Network, the Small Publishers and Writers Network, and the Screen Actors Guild. She also enjoys volunteering at the Orange County Food Bank, an organization that provides meals for the homeless, the elderly, and those in need. Chrysalis Press is based in Newport Beach, California. You can visit Amber on the web at www.ChrysalisPress.com, or email her directly at amber@ChrysalisPress.com.

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