Guest Interview With Award-Winning Author Debbie Roppolo

Today’s guest is award-winning author, Debbie Roppolo!​

Roppolo’s stories have been published in newspapers, magazines, several of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books and other anthologies. Her children’s books, Amelia Frump and her Peanut Butter Loving Imagination, and the Purple Dragonfly award-winning activity/cookbook Amelia Frump…is Cooking Up a Peanut Butter Storm, are both published by Dancing With Bear Publishing. 

Inspired by both her grandmothers’ passion for creating culinary masterpieces, Debbie embraced the art of cooking at a very young age. She also discovered that valuable memories were created during family time in the kitchen, and years later, that served as the inspiration for her children’s activity/cookbook.

Debbie and her family received devastating new when, after his second birthday, their younger son was diagnosed with autism. After months of self-healing, gathering information, and advocating for their child, Debbie and her husband John co-founded Central Texas Autism Network, a group dedicated to raising autism awareness, and that provides resources and assistance to other families of special needs children.

Please tell us about your latest book, He’s My Brother.

The diagnosis of autism devastates every member of a family, sometimes impacting siblings the hardest. And the main character, twelve year-old Jonathan Roper, is no exception. Forced to move away from everything that he’s familiar so that his younger brother Cameron can get better services, Jonathan feels alone and forgotten. Can he overcome his feelings of resentment and sadness, or will Cameron’s autism drive a wedge between the brothers that can’t be overcome? This book also contains answers to frequently asked questions, a resource page, and more.

He’s My Brother, and all my Amelia Frump books can be found at: http://www.dwbchildrensline.com/booksforlittlepaws.htm

Why did you become a writer…was it a dream of yours since you were younger or did the desire to write happen later in your life?

Creating stories has always been my passion, though when I was a child I never wanted to sit long enough to put words on paper. The outdoors always called to me, and there were too many adventures to be had. A lot of those childhood antics served as fodder when I began to write shortly after the birth of my second child.

What was the inspiration for your latest work?

The inspiration for He’s My Brother is based on a conversation I had with my older son Jonathan.

After we received the diagnosis of autism for my younger son Joseph, all the attention shifted from being given equally to both children to just Joseph. We were dealing with finding the appropriate therapies, and dealing with our emotions. As a result, Jonathan’s needs were sidelined. When I noticed a change in his behavior, I talked with him, and he admitted he was as devastated as we were, but felt there was no one to voice his fears to. And he was resentful because in a sense, his life was turned upside down, and he felt forgotten.

Jonathan pointed out that there were several siblings of special needs children he knew that felt the same as he did—alone, scared, and forgotten.

What was the most interesting research you had to do for any of your books?

I loved researching peanuts and peanut butter for my activity/cookbook, Amelia Frump…is Cooking Up a Peanut Butter Storm. The delicious nut butter was readily available all throughout my youth, and my grandmother used it in different baked goods, but I had no idea there were so uses for it, nor did I knew it had such a fascinating history.

I know you are an award winning children’s author, Debbie. Tell me about the awards you’ve won, and the books you won.

Cooking is my second passion, and I was excited when one of my recipes from Amelia Frump…is Cooking Up a Peanut Butter Storm won a trophy at a bake-off in 2013. I was further honored later that year when the same activity/cookbook won 2^nd place in the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards.

 How did you decide to write books for kids? Have you always wanted to write children’s books, or did that come about later on? 

I’ve always been a kid at heart, but it wasn’t until my boys were a little older that I decided to write for children. Their antics resurrected memories of my own childhood adventures and I wanted to share joy and magic I’d experienced with younger readers.

Have you written any books for adults (I don’t mean “adult” as in erotic romance, just non-children’s books)?

I love to write humor stories, and have several included in various DWB anthologies. Currently, I’m working on my first parenting book entitled The Toilet’s Overflowing and the Dog’s Wearing My Underwear.

 What’s your writing schedule like?  When do you find time to write?

I wake up at 4 AM every day. But no, I’m not a morning person—I must have coffee to even remember my own name.  After the first cup of java and a brief cardio workout, I’ll work on story/essay ideas. After my family members are off to school or work, the house is cleaned, I’ll begin to write again.

Do you have any writing idiosyncrasies?

The house has to be clean. I can’t concentrate unless everything is put away. I also insist on having the Scentsy on (lavender scent), a cup of chamomile tea within reach, and soft instrumental music playing in the background.

 What’s the most challenging aspect of writing for you?

Having children is indeed a blessing, but on most days life in my house is a page out of an Erma Bombeck book. Finding uninterrupted time to focus and put words on paper is the most challenging aspect of writing for me.

 Do you have a “real” job or is writing your only job?

Currently, I’m an editor for DWB Publishing.

 If money wasn’t an issue, what you being doing right now?

Tough question. There are so many things that I’d love to do, but I’d explore the Mediterranean, the home of some of my ancestors.

 Do you have any pets? What kind and what are their names?

I have a very mischievous 1 year-old Chiweenie, a 4 month-old Yorkiepoo, and a senile calico cat.

 List 10 things no one knows about you, beginning with number 10 leading up to the drum roll at #1!

10.       Snakes give me the creeps.

9.         I love walking on nature trails.

8.         I was once forgotten in the desert by my archeology professor.

7.         Sushi is one of my favorite foods.

6.         I used to train horses.

5.         My childhood dog once knocked me unconscious.

4.         I have all the grace of a giraffe on ice skates.

3.         I had a cat who loved to ride on bicycles and in golf carts.

2.         Beverly Cleary is my favorite author, but I love reading Stephen King books.

1.         I once led a horse into my mother’s house.

Connect with Debbie at:

http://debbieroppolo.weebly.com

Facebook:     http://facebook.com/debbie.roppolo

                      http://facebook.com/Amelia.Frump.fan.page

                   http://facebook.com/hesmybrother

Twitter:        http://twitter.com/debbieroppolo

Thank you for being my guest today, Debbie. I wish you good luck on your writing, and in all your other endeavors.​