Whether you are an aspiring author looking for answers, educator planning the next author visit or a parent looking for the perfect book to read with your little ones, you will love this month's feature intreview with author and incredible artist
Amalia Hoffman!
We will talk about the road to becoming an award-winning author-illustrator, school visits, sources of inspiration, art and the love of writing and creating for children.
Welcome!
For as long as she could remember art has been a part of her life. She doesn't just write, she creates and brings to life stories that spark joy in everyone who reads them. Filled with lovable, fun characters and engaging art Amalia's imaginative books are simply heartwarming and will undoubtedly delight children, edicators and parents alike.
So, without further ado, it is my absolute pleasure and privilege to present to you multi-published, award-winning author-illustrator,
Amalia Hoffman!
About Amalia and the Road to Publishing Children's Books
Amalia, I am so thrilled to have you as a featured guest for one of my Author Spotlight featured posts. I am a huge fan of your work and can’t wait to chat with you. Could you please tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
I was born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel. My mom was very creative and people used to say that she had “Hands of Gold” because she could sculpt, sew and draw. She used to mash bits of newspapers, water and flour that we used to make puppets. My dad built a theater from cartons he collected from the supermarket
So we were in business and got invited to perform at kids’ birthday parties. We even got paid!
I always knew that I wanted to pursue an art career. I won awards at school competitions and later designed and sold hand-made greeting cards.
After attending art school in Israel and also the Hebrew University, I continued my education in America.
"I always knew I wanted to pursue an art career."
Amalia Hoffman
Let’s talk about your journey to publication. When did you know you wanted to write for children and what did it take to become a multi-published, award-winning author?
I actually had many careers in my life.
For a long time I exhibited in galleries and museums. I taught art to children and adults, I sold hand made cards and jewelry and worked as a visual merchandiser. Creating window displays for major stores in NYC, I used hand made props and created a them or a “story” with the store’s merchandise. Kids used to stand on the sidewalk and stare at the display through the window. I used to go out and tell them stories and that kind of popped the idea of creating picture books.
Someone suggested that I join SCBWI and that was one of the best things I did on my road to publication. I joined many conferences that offered courses on everything from the craft of writing to the business side of it and met a lot of like-minded folks and started making connections.
I also joined critique groups and worked on my craft.
"Someone suggested that I join SCBWI and that was one of the best things I did on my road to publication."
Amalia Hoffman
You have won many awards for your work both in fiction and nonfiction for children. I would love to hear what those recognitions mean to you and which one surprised you the most. What was your reaction when you found out you have won?
Winning is always fun. It encouraged me to continue and make it easier to endure rejections. I can’t really say that one award had more impact on me or surprised me most. Whenever I won, I celebrated with dinner at a restaurant and a glass of wine.
Looking back, what if anything, would you do differently? As someone, who has already earned a name for herself in the writing community, what would you say is one thing you have learned over the years, you wish you knew starting out?
I wish that I was less in a rush in submitting my stories. Some were not ready for submissionm and I was kind of hasty.
About the Writing Process
What is your writing process, and does it vary depending on the project?
My writing process varies from project to project. Sometimes it starts when an idea for a new project pops in my head. I always have a notebook with me. When I get an idea in my head, I immediately write or sketch something in it.
Then I “sit” on it for a while. I usually start by writing a very rough text. Then, I usually sketch very rough drawings to see how the story will work when I paginate it. Later, I make a simple booklet where I concentrate more on character studies: what would the players in the story look like? What would they wear etc.
"I always have a notebook with me. When I get an idea in my head, I immediately write or sketch something in it."
Amalia Hoffman
Sometimes, the process is just the opposite: I have a visual idea in my mind and I start sketching. Then, the story around that sketch evolves and I start writing little tidbits about it. In each project, I keep going back & forth. Other times the idea is ripe and I feel that I can already create a dummy. Sometimes the original idea keeps changing and could turn to something completely different at the end.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I draw inspiration mostly from memories of my own childhood and that of my children. I remember incidents that happened long time ago. Some are funny, others are sad.
In my book, Masha Munching I drew from memories of the summers my family used to spend in a tiny village in Israel. The farmers had goats and ducks (no pigs!!!) I particularly loved visiting the goats. Once I wore a straw hat. When it blew in the wind, a goat grabbed it and chewed it up. Years later, I wrote Masha Munching where a goat searches for fancy restaurant and ends up in a French bistro.
In my book, My Monsterpiece, I remembered a children’s magazine contest I entered. The challenge was to paint the scariest witch. I worked hard on it but didn’t win. That gave me the idea for a story about a child who wants to draw the scariest monster but doesn’t succeed to scare anyone.
In my book, My Hands Make the World, I drew from the times when my boys asked very challenging questions about “God” creating the world in 6 days. I turned the tale of the creation in Genesis into a book where the child is the creator who creates the world with paint and fingerprints.
I also draw inspiration from working with kids. In My Monsterpiece and My Hands Make the World, I worked in techniques often used by kids such as, finger-painting, doodling, using crayons and much more.
What are some of your favorite authors that have influenced your writing? Please share a few of your favorite Picture Books you have used as mentor texts.
I love Maurice Sendak, Eric Carle, Dr. Seuss, Chris Van Allsburg, and Peter Sis. I also love foreign authors such as Sholom Aliechem, H.N Bialik and Lea Goldberg. These are books I read growing up in Israel. My book, Purim Goodies is a retell of Sholom Aliechem’s story, Shalach Manoth
Eric Carle’s collages influenced my paper collage work.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to other writers?
Join authors and/or illustrators organizations such as SCBWI so you can meet like-minded individuals. Join critique groups. Stay true to yourself and don’t try to mimic someone else. Develop a tough elephant’s skin- you’ll need it. Don’t fall apart with every rejection.
About the Art of Illustrating
Children's Books
You not only write, but also illustrate children’s books. Beyond being an illustrator, you are an incredible artist, whose work is featured in galleries and museums. Tell us about your love for the arts and your background as an artist. How did it all start and who are your favorite artists?
I’ve been drawing, doodling, cutting & pasting paper for as long as I can remember. My first creation was a piece of paper all smeared in black crayon. My parents almost schlepped me to a psychiatrist. But then I proudly exclaimed that this was a painting of a chicken coop. When my mom asked, “Where are the chickens?” I answered, “It’s dark out and you can’t see them.”.
As a child, I visited many museums. When the Vincent van Gough exhibit traveled to Jerusalem, I was mesmerized by it and couldn’t leave the museum. I started painting “A La Van Gough. ”When Marc Chagall created the stained glass windows in the synagogue in Jerusalem, I was in love! I started painting, “A la Chagall.”
"I’ve been drawing, doodling, cutting & pasting paper for as long as I can remember."
Amalia Hoffman
My parents recognized my passion and sent me to art classes. I attended the Bezalel Academy of Art in Jerusalem where I got very academic, traditional art education. Later I attended Pratt Institute art school in Brooklyn, NY, gaining degree in Fine Art with honor and received my MFA in art and art education from NYU.
I started exhibiting in galleries and museums among them, the Hudson River Museum, the Bronx Museum, the Staten Island Museum, The Society of Illustrators, NYC, the Center of Book Arts, NYC. I also created art for exclusive NYC stores such as Tiffany & Company, Fortunoff, Bloomingdales.
Of course, I love Chagall. In illustrating my book, Purim Goodies I was very influenced by him.
I love the work of the Israeli naive artist, Sholom of Sefad.
It's amazing that you work with different mediums and excel in all of them. I am absolutely in awe looking at your paper sculptures for example. What kind of paper and tools do you use for those?
For my paper sculptures I use heavy weight 300-pound paper such as Archers or Fabriano.
I use exacto knife for cutting and change the blade often. I often use other papers or colors on top of the basic armature.Could you please share with us the different types of art you create? Do you have a favorite?
I don’t have a favorite. Right now I’m experimenting with tissue paper collage. I often paint on 3-D objects and also love decoupage. I even decoupage shoes and hats.
What techniques do you use for illustrating Picture Books? How does an idea come to life and in print?
I like to use different technique according to what I feel is right for each project. I love paper cutting, painting with my fingers, using crayons, chalk and pencils,
When the artwork is ready, I send the art director a file in very high resolution, From there on, I pray that the printer will do a great job. So far I haven’t been disappointed.
For my books, All Colors, Astro Pea and Hanukkah Nights, I used pastels over black fine sandpaper.
In Masha Munching, I wanted to convey the feeling that things are in motion so I used paper cut technique. I cut and color the elements by hand. I covered the board surface with Liquitex modeling paste and added textures by scraping the surface while it was wet.
When dry, I painted the background on the board. Then I glued all the cut-up elements on the board. When satisfied, I photographed the image. Sometimes, I added more textures, details and color in Photoshop.
What do you love most about being an author/illustrator and what are some of the challenges you face as such? How do you deal with rejections?
The best thing about this profession is the satisfaction I get when I see kids reading my books or when I see my books in bookstores and libraries and I know that they’ll fall in the hands of little people. By now I literally have scrolls of rejections. When i get one, I eat lots of chocolate and walk to the park by the sound where i chili out.
About Masha Munching
So, let’s talk now about your latest picture book Masha Munching, both written and illustrated by you. What a fun, sweet and heartwarming story you have created! I love Masha and how genuine she is. Tell us about the journey of this beautiful book. What was your inspiration for it?
One of the most vivid memories that I have from raising two boys is when we were asked to leave a restaurant after my son threw the food on the floor while sitting in the high chair. I thought that many parents would relate to that.
I have another book, The Klezmer Bunch, with a goat character, also named Masha so that means that I have a soft spot for goats. One day, I just came up with this alliteration; Masha Munching and that kind of sat in my brain for a while till I came up with the idea of a goat that longs for great food.
Once Yeehoo Press acquired the book, I worked with one of their editors. Brian Saliba and we brain stormed about different ideas. I wrote a couple of versions until we felt that it was ready to start creating the illustrations.
One of the things I love most about it, is how relatable the character of Masha is. We can all find ourselves in situations that are new, challenging and let’s be honest, often embarrassing, but Masha turns an experience that could have been very disappointing into something positive. The reader is left with the feeling that every experience in our lives is there to propel us forward and teach us something.
How did you come up with this beautiful conclusion of the story? Did you have an alternate ending?
You explore a lot of different themes in the book like friendship, community, trying new things, and being true to yourself, to name a few. As the author of this incredible work, if there is one thing you would love for your readers to take away, what would that be? What is the message you would like to leave behind through the story of Masha Munching?
One thing I would love for the readers to take away would be that curiosity is a wonderful trait. It opens doors to new knowledge and opportunities. And if we take this knowledge and put it to good use to help our community, that’s even better!
Talking about Masha Munching leaves us thinking about food. What was your favorite dish growing up? Something traditional maybe, that always brings sweet memories for you. Would you share the recipe with us?
During the holiday of Purim we eat a cookie called, hamantaschen. It’s kind of plain but delicious, especially when you eat it and sip tea. I have a very kid-friendly recipe on my website www.amaliahoffman.com Click on the Books page, then on Purim Goodies Activities.
About School Visits
Through your words and illustrations, you work with a growing generation of readers and writers. Your school visits and library story times are quite interactive, to say the least and an experience, leaving children uplifted and excited for weeks. Tell us about them. What can teachers, parents and librarians expect?
I believe that when presenting to young audience, it’s not enough to just read the book. You have to engage the kids with interactive program and get them involved.
My programs already have a reputation of turning into events for the entire family. We dance, sing along and I always have something for older siblings, parents and grandparents.
I am sure kids have a lot of interesting questions about your relatable characters. Tell us about a question or a comment one of your readers said you will never forget? Maybe something that happened during a book reading or a note a reader sent?
Oh, I get lots of funny notes and thank you cards.
When I presented Masha Munching at a library, one kid suggested that I’d write a sequel where Masha will marry the penguin waiter and bake a wedding cake from straw.
You use a lot of props like puppets, music, and art in your story times, even cooking on occasion, inspiring and empowering children along the way. How rewarding are those visits for you and what would you like for children to remember most about them?
I have a sister who’s a professional actress so we often discuss her plays and my presentations. When I act the stories with my puppets that look like characters in my books, kids go crazy! They want to come over and kiss or pet the puppet. In Masha Munching, I bring a basket of goodies for Masha to “eat” and the kids “feed” her socks, toilet paper, flowers and more. The kids love it! I’d like them to be inspired and remember the main character.
Being an artist, you know that the road to success is often filled with obstacles and is rarely smooth sailing. What message do you have for children, who LOVE art and would like to pursue it as a career, but feel it may not be as popular of a choice as Science or Technology might be? What makes this road worth taking?
When I talk to young readers, I tell them to follow their heart, not their pockets. We artists are rich because we do what we love and have a huge amount in our bank of imagination. We can also have other profession to make more money but when we come home, we have our art to entertain us, not the TV screen.
Final Thoughts
Amalia, I am so grateful for you taking the time to chat with me. I am such a huge fan and absolutely love your stories and art. I am sure my readers will appreciate your insight into the creative genius behind creating books for children. What are some of your upcoming projects and what’s next for Amalia Hoffman? Is there anything else you would like to add in closing?
Thank you for interviewing me.
Right now I’m super busy working on the illustration for another book that will launch in 2024.
I’m also working on a nonfiction picture book and graphic novel.
This is something I like to ask everyone. Do you remember the first story you ever wrote? How old were you?
I always wrote and illustrated stories.
I wrote my first story at about age 7. It was about how my mom and dad met and got married and I wrote it as a graphic novel in rhymes.
Last, but not least, would you please share with us your favorite inspirational quote?
"If you want to create books for kids, join them on the swing and seesaw in the park."
Amalia Hoffman
Amalia's Picture Books
Amalia Hoffman Author Bio
Amalia Hoffman is an author, illustrator and storyteller. Both her books My Hands Make the World (PJ Library Publishing, 2022) and Hanukkah Nights (Kar Ben Publishing, 2022) are PJ Library board book and received the PJ Library Author Incentive Award.
Masha Munching (Yeehoo Press, 2022) was chosen as Children Book Council book for books about animals and earth. My Monsterpiece (Yeehoo Press, 2021) is the winner in the 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Award Picture book (Ages 0-5)
The Brave Cyclist (Capstone Publishing, 2019,) illustrated by Chiara Fedele) is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection and also a Bank Street College Selection Book. All Colors (Schiffer Publishing, 2019) is one of School Library Journal best board books, 2019.
Dreidel Day (Kar-Ben Publishing Group, 2018) is a PJ Library book and received the PJ Library Author Incentive Award. Amalia is also author/illustrator of Astro Pea (Schiffer Publishing, 2019.) and other books. She created an oversized pop-up book for the production of Rose Bud at the Children’s Train Theater in Jerusalem, Israel.
Connect with Amalia Hoffman:
Website:www.amaliahoffman.com
Twitter: @amaliahoffman13
IG: @hoffman.amalia
FB: facebook.com/amalia.hoffman.5
This post is all about:
the road to publishing children's books shared in an interview with author-illustrator
Amalia Hoffman!
Writing and illustrating both fiction and non-fiction picture and boarcd books for young readers, Amalia Hoffman's work sparks immagination and creativity. Kids, parents, teachers and librarians will love her stories and will want to read them again and again.
To read more about the business and pleasure of writing for children check out our Top Resources for Children's Book Authors post.
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