Amy Wung Tsao
Writer
Engineer
STEM Education Advocate
Winter 2023/2024 Updates
Me and my family are deep in the February doldrums, when it feels like the dark rainy days of winter will never end. And yet, time is still passes, summer plans insist on being made, and my word count counter slowly ticks up.
My telescope picture book manuscript is looking in better shape than it was 3 months ago, but I'm still not sure it's ready. And I'm celebrating passing the 10,000 word mark on my novel first draft.
What me and my family are reading these days:
My 9yr old finished Brandon Sanderson's Skyward series before I did, and loved it! She went on to finish the Reckoners series too, and is now a couple books into Narnia. Meanwhile my writing group and I are reading something a bit more silly and lighthearted: "A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking." (The angry gingerbread man on the cover makes me laugh every time!)
Fall 2023 Updates
We had our first overnight frost last night! Sweater weather has definitely arrived.
I'm continuing the first draft of my novel. I'm also revisiting my picture book manuscripts, and coming up with a million revision ideas. I can already tell that I'm a better writer than I was just 6 months ago! So many ideas, so little time...
What me and my family are reading these days:
My 9yr old tore her way through the latest Percy Jackson book. She also got me to read Donna Barba Higuera's The Last Cuentista, which completely broke my heart and then stitched it back together again.
Summer 2023 Updates
Summer brings fun and interrupted routines, but somehow the writing finds a way to still happen! I continue to work on my middle grade novel, and have joined a lovely writing group of other novel writers for feedback and support. Meanwhile I continue to send my picture book manuscripts out to literary agents, and may look into submitting to children's magazines soon as well.
What me and my family are reading these days:
"This is How You Lose the Time War" by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone made for an odd but delightful beach read. "An Echo in the City" by K.X. Song's depiction of the Hong Kong gripped me. And I was enjoying the beginning of "Charlotte Illes is not a Detective" by Katie Siegel, but I misplaced the book last weekend and have yet to find it again. (I know.)
My 8yr old is tearing her way through several of Rick Riordan's series. And my 4yr old can't get enough of "Who Made This Cake?" by Chihiro Nakagawaby and illustrated by Junji Koyose.
Spring 2023 Updates
Spring brings growth and change! While I am sending my strongest picture book manuscripts to literary agents, I've shifted focus to writing a middle grade novel. This novel started out as the seed of an idea two years ago that I haven't been able to get out of my brain. While I'm just getting started, I've really enjoyed stretching my writing skills in this new long form medium!
What me and my family are reading these days:
Lately I've read quite a few haunting novels, notably "Natural Beauty" by Ling Ling Huang, "Transcendent Kingdom" by Yaa Gyasi, and "Leave the World Behind" by Rumaan Alam.
My new favorite picture book is Woo Hoo You're Doing Great! by Sandra Boynton. Here's how the back cover summarizes it: "Surely what you need in your life is an overenthusiastic random chicken cheering you on." I've already gifted it to three other families, I love it so much! My big kids' favorite new book is "I'm Just No Good at Rhyming: And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups" by Chris Harris. It definitely feels like a modern Shel Silverstein, worthy of many repeat readings!
Winter 2022/2023 Updates
The days are finally getting longer! (Although they're still pretty short here in the Pacific Northwest of the US.) I'm finishing up my 7th picture book manuscript! While I'm excited to move on to something new, the tricky thing will be picking one project from my ever-growing list of picture book ideas.
What me and my family are reading these days:
I've been reading pretty widely lately! I finished Brandon Sanderson's adorable Tress of the Emerald Sea, Mary Robinette Kowal's delightful sci-fi murder mystery The Spare Man, Grace Lin's beautiful When the Sea Turned to Silver, Hua Hsu's thought-provoking memoir Stay True, and Malaka Gharib's beautifully complicated graphic novel memoir It Won't Always Be Like This. My new favorite picture book is Why? by Adam Rex - I'm smiling just thinking about it now! And my 4yr old won't stop asking me to read the food-themed picture books from Bent Object's creator Terry Brooks.
Fall 2022 Updates
I’m constantly bouncing back and forth between feeling nervous and excited about people actually visiting my website. Hello! Thanks for visiting my little corner of the internet. Here’s what I’ve been working on lately:
I debuted my short story, Waiting on Magic, illustrated by the amazing Shannon Horrocks, as a free download here. It’s been such fun to see pictures of kids coloring and enjoying the activities!
I also kicked off my STEM Through Story and Play free newsletter. Finally, all the knowledge that I've accumulated through homeschooling and writing research will make it out of my brain to help others.
And I am sending picture book manuscripts to potential literary agents! The search for an agent (often called the query trenches) can often take years. So while this is an important first step, I am stocking up on tea and chocolates to last me in these trenches for a while.
What me and my family are reading these days:
I recently finished the memoir "This Story Will Change" by Elizabeth Crane, and I’m in awe of the nonlinear storyline. I loved reading this powerful YA novel, “The Silence that Binds Us” by Joanna Ho. My 5yr old and 8yr old are laughing their way through Mac Barnett & Adam Rex’s “Guess Again!” every night at bedtime. And my 8yr old and I are marveling over the artistry of Laurel Snyder & Dan Santat’s “Endlessly Ever After”, which combines a choose your own adventure style narrative with fairy tales.
Summer 2022 Updates
I am currently writing and revising a 6-book picture book series inspired by the Magic School Bus series, but with funny robots on the moon. I'm also outlining a contemporary fantasy YA novel that is a love letter to my awkward teenage self.
I recently finished reading "Troublemaker" by John Cho and Sarah Suk. The books on my nightstand are "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin, "Daemon Voices" by Philip Pullman, and "Writing Picture Books" by Ann Whitford Paul.
Kid dance parties at my house right now feature music from Disney's Zombies movies. My 5yr old and 8yr old are loving the latest book in Aaron Blabey's Bad Guys series, and my 8yr old is getting into Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.