Ask the Author: Amanda Yoshida
Answered Questions (6)
Amanda Yoshida
I just finished reading "The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman. This incredibly well-written Sci-Fi novel is, at it's core, a true love story. The deep connection between fictional characters William Mandella and Marygay Potter transcends time, space, and a millennia long intergalactic war. The author does a wonderful job of capturing the peace they find together, despite being surrounded by absolute chaos and madness.
Amanda Yoshida
The first thing I do when I sit down to create An Everchanging Story book is to decide the message that I want to convey in the end. Essentially, I commit to a moral lesson that I feel strongly about, and I work backward. For The Greatest Wish, I wanted to encourage the young reader to believe that he or she is amazing just as they are.
Amanda Yoshida
For me, the best thing about writing and illustrating children's books is that it allows me to stay home with my son, Morgan. I'm also incredibly grateful to have a daily outlet for my creativity. Writing and illustrating children's books allows me to explore my imagination in a way that few adults get the opportunity to do. Because of this, keeping my inner child alive is more than just enjoyable; it's essential.
Amanda Yoshida
When I'm stuck in my writing, I brainstorm with my husband, Dan. He's terrific to bounce ideas off of, and I'm incredibly grateful to have him as a resource. He also enjoys exploring silly hypotheticals, and he's happy to offer up answers to questions like, "Why might a dinosaurs' life be particularly tough?" or "What would be the downside to owning a merry-go-round time machine?"
Amanda Yoshida
I am currently working on the second book of the Everchanging Story book series, entitled The Perfect Gift. In this book, the main character from The Greatest Wish is grappling with a new dilemma. With a new sibling due to arrive any day, he is determined to give his baby brother or sister the greatest gift imaginable. However, this decision proves to be more challenging than one might expect. In the end, the little boy learns an important lesson about the value of unconditional love shared between siblings.
Amanda Yoshida
My debut book, The Greatest Wish, was created while I was pregnant with my first child, Morgan. He is the source of my inspiration and is also the main character of the book. From the very beginning, I knew I wanted to create something really unique and interactive. As a teen, I really enjoyed reading the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books. Ultimately, my goal was to create something as engaging as that series, but totally reimagined for a much younger audience. I also wanted to capture the playful humor of the books I loved as a child by authors like Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more