November 2021 Notable Author: Mary Amato

"I love the spilling of ink from head to heart to page." – Mary Amato

Mary Amato is an award-winning children’s and YA book author, poet, playwright, and songwriter. Her books have been translated into foreign languages, optioned for television, and produced onstage. She is the recipient of the William G. Wilson Maryland Author Award from the Maryland Library Association. Her work has also won children’s choice awards in Ohio, Minnesota, Utah, and Arizona.

Mary started writing at the age of seven when they took a trip to California and her mother gave her a notebook and encouraged her to keep a journal.  She discovered how enjoyable it was to record something in a journal and then be able to read it later.  Her favorite books as a child were Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh because Harriet was a terrific journal keeper and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.  She still has that journal.

A renaissance woman, Mary studied special education and dance at Indiana University and completed a Masters at Johns Hopkins University with a focus on fiction writing and poetry. This smorgasboard of artistic interests percolates through her work. Mary's children's fiction includes over twenty published works, a new series launched this year, and a new picture book in 2022. She also writes personal essays for newspapers and magazines, composes poetry and songs, and sings. As co-founder of Firefly Shadow Theater, she writes plays, stories, and scripts for shows that range in size and scope and that are sometimes pure entertainment and sometimes educational.

To remain productive and reduce burn out, Mary balances each day with a mix of “seat-in-chair” writing, singing, and teaching.  "I mix up the day so that one creative pursuit feeds the other. I get and give more energy this way." A typical day would start with a four hour writing block, followed by a "plot walk" (walking with a notebook in hand to generate ideas), followed by a brief singing session, and capped off with one of her online writing classes. The highlight of her week is every Friday from 1:00-1:30 PM EST when she offers on online writing session for adults writers of all genres.

"I love sharing my discoveries, trials, and triumphs with other writers." Mary especially loves showing kids they can create stories and explains it using her “WOW” formula.  A character who Wants something, overcomes an Obstacle in the way, in order to Win what they wanted.

Mary, who lives in Hyattsville, MD, is in demand for school presentations and retreats on writing and the creative process as well as teaches popular online workshops. Find out more at www.maryamato.com.

Genre: children's fiction

Literature written for and about children (1-18) that includes, Picture Books, Early Readers, Chapter Books, Middle-Grade Novels, and Young Adult books.

Sample Reading List: Our Teacher is a Vampire and Other (Not) True Stories, Lucy McGee Series (4 titles), The Riot Brothers Series (4 titles), Edgar Allan’s Official Crime Investigation Notebook

Writer's Prompt - Fun With Words

Maryland Writers’ Association (MWA) invites you to have fun writing children’s literature like Mary Amato. With just 100 words, weave twins into a humorous childhood or early teen situation.

Title your Fun With Words response and submit to: https://marylandwriters.org/Notable_Maryland_Authors  by the 22nd of the month and receive an MWA Fun With Words submission certificate.  Selected responses will be published with next month’s article as well as posted on the MWA website.

Submit Your FUN WITH WORDS Prompt

The MWA is a 33-year-old state-wide association (501c3) dedicated to encouraging and mentoring Maryland writers, poets, playwrights, and authors. Go to:  www.MarylandWriters.org for more info.

Reader Responses: Last month readers were asked to write Horror like Thomas F. Monteleone. With just 100 words, they were to write a piece that would shock, frighten, or induce a feeling of repulsion or loathing in readers. Here are their responses: