The Word is Out

Where reality and fantasy converge: Snowmastodon! Snow Day Adventure

Posted in Blog by People's Press on June 29, 2011

People’s Press: As a writer and a mother, it would seem a natural step for you to want to write a children’s book. What was your experience like as a first-time writer in this genre? What were some of the rewards and challenges?

Amiee White Beazley: I can’t say that I had a long-term plan to write a children’s book. I am the editor of edbileASPEN, a contributor to several other pubs, and have been working on a YA (young adult genre) novel for years. Last fall, I was actively working on completing that project when this story evolved. But as a mother of two boys, I have spent a fair amount of time reading and creating impromptu children’s stories with the kids, so it certainly did cross my mind at times. So when Tanner and I came up with the bare bones of what is now Snowmastodon! Snow Day Adventure, it felt like the right story at the right time—and it is! One of the obvious rewards is that my children have a story that encapsulates a time in their lives that they won’t soon forget. The challenges are making sure that every word does the work it was intended to do, and that children are captured by the story and illustrations.

Illustrations are such a big part of a children’s book writing effort. How did you first team up with Paul Antonson, and what was the process like?
Paul and I knew each other at Syracuse University, where we both graduated in 1995. We hadn’t been in touch in a while, but through mutual friends (and Facebook, of course) we reconnected. After college, Paul lived in Vermont and then New York City where he developed a specialty in drawing mountains and “furry beasts.” He was perfect for the project, and our personalities clicked again after so many years. So I had already come up with the story, and after reading an early draft, he was on board.

The book was inspired by the 2010 Ice Age discoveries in Snowmass. Tell us a little more about that and how it translated so well into a story for children.
My husband Brian and I took our boys Tanner and Brady to see the bones and tusks last fall during a public display in Snowmass. On our way home Tanner and I were playing a game where we created a story about what the animals would have done in Snowmass, what their lives were like, that sort of thing. When I got home, I sat down and wrote it all down. The discovery is one of those things that not only defines a geographic place like Snowmass, but for kids, it will define part of their childhood. I wanted this story to be a part of that—for them to remember the mastodons and sloths with adorable faces and with great character and a fun story. The main part of our book is a fun, fictional, snow day story that is inspired by the [archeological] dig, but the back of the book is a three-page nonfiction story that tells the actual story of the dig and the animals. So it’s really two books in one.

What do your kids think about the book?
They love it! Brady, who will be three this summer, has the cutest pronunciation of “Snowmastodon!” I have ever heard. And Tanner, of course, knowing the hand he had in formulating the story, feels a real ownership and pride in the project. They have been very patient with me during some intense days and weeks on the book, and love to hear me read to other children. They always find a spot right next to me, so that everyone knows we are a team. And indeed we are!

Comments

Be the first to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment

Name

Email

Comment

---

design by Graham Spencer, built by notebleu© People's Press, 2011, Woody Creek, Colorado / info@peoplespress.org / 970.704.5829