596 ratings | 233 reviews | avg rating:4.87

more photos (1)

Amanda Rawson Hill’s Followers (75)

Amanda’s Bookshelves

read (633)
currently-reading (5)
to-read (150)
motherhood-and-homeschool-reads (9)
read-alouds (7)
what-i-m-reading-lately (22)

Amanda’s Friends (133)

Jen Petro-Roy

4,407 books | 209 friends

Ms. B

4,596 books | 564 friends

Melissa Sarno

1,197 books | 144 friends

Bobi Jensen

1,137 books | 431 friends

Daniel

927 books | 205 friends

Elaine

1,671 books | 115 friends

Larysa

612 books | 49 friends

Anne Lipton

1,761 books | 48 friends

More friends…

Amanda Rawson Hill

Goodreads Author

Twitter

amandarhill32

Member Since

May 2008

edit data

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Amanda Rawson Hill questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

I know this will be a dissertation, but my cousin's niece (who you know, Jo) who I reacquainted myself this Christmas was talking about how you balanced life with three kids and that you teach. I understand she helps watch the kids, what an angel, but my question is how do you balance the writing, revising, and editing of your books with so many familial obligations? I have two kids, and am struggling.

Amanda Rawson Hill Hi Maria! I think it's really important for me to acknowledge my privilege in certain things with this. I have a house cleaner come every two weeks, a…moreHi Maria! I think it's really important for me to acknowledge my privilege in certain things with this. I have a house cleaner come every two weeks, and that makes a big difference for me. I also have a good network of friends (like Jo) who help watch the kids when I'm under deadline. But most of the time, the balance is found in only doing a little bit of writing every day.
I think most people imagine authors writing and editing their books for several hours every day, and that's just not possible for me (and for many, many authors I know.) So I have a time set aside each day, when I work. And it's from about 8-9:30 pm Monday-Saturday. That's right after I've sent the kids to bed. I sit and write and then afterward go out and read or watch Netflix with my spouse.
Writing and revising for 60-90 minutes/day (and sometimes it's only 30-45 minutes) might not seem like much. But it's always enough time for me to draft around 1000 words or revise about 10-15 pages. And over time, that adds up. And I have a book. It's slower than some people. I definitely only put out about one novel a year. But that's okay with me. And when I'm under a tight deadline, I don't feel guilty about calling in a babysitter, or taking 3-5 hours a day to work, because most of the time, I feel like I keep it very balanced.
So, I guess the answer in condensed form is to find a time to do a little bit of work. Talk to your spouse and your kids about why it's important to let you have that time. And then keep it! And watch that little bit of daily work add up to a lot in the end! And then when you have to be "out of balance" for a little while, don't feel guilty. It won't last forever.(less)

flag

like
Comment

Hi Amanda! I’m looking forward 2reading this book. If you have interest in a song for this story, or a short piece for a book trailer, I would love to speak to you about helping you do that? I have been doing trailer songs for a graphic novel & a picture book (release June 19th) but thinking maybe MG books have a bit more story to work with, as recomm. by librarians. ✌🏼Annie Lynn

Amanda Rawson Hill Hi Annie! Sorry, I didn't see your question until now. I would be totally interested. Why don't you email me? You can find my contact me page at amand…moreHi Annie! Sorry, I didn't see your question until now. I would be totally interested. Why don't you email me? You can find my contact me page at amandarawsonhill.com !(less)

flag

like
Comment

See 2 answers from Amanda Rawson Hill…

Combine Editions
Amanda Rawson Hill’s books

Average rating: 4.36 · 947 ratings · 356 reviews · 6 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Hope of Elephants 4.51 avg rating — 298 ratings — published 2022 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Three Rules of Everyday Magic 4.32 avg rating — 256 ratings — published 2018 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	You'll Find Me by Amanda Rawson Hill (Goodreads Author), Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Illustrator) 4.32 avg rating — 213 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My Pet Cloud by Amanda Rawson Hill (Goodreads Author), Laia Arriols (Illustrator) 4.16 avg rating — 110 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Once Upon a Family 4.21 avg rating — 48 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	You'll Be There by Amanda Rawson Hill (Goodreads Author), Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (illustrator) 4.41 avg rating — 22 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Amanda Rawson Hill…

18 posts
Amanda Rawson Hill's Blog

Join My Mailing List (For Real!)

I’m starting a mailing list to send out author updates, fun activity ideas, and prizes! Not through your email, through the actual, real snail mail! Postcards!

Want to get a quarterly postcard from me for yourself, your kids, your students, your guinea pig? Sign up using the form below. Also, each postcard is also a subscriber giveaway. I’ll choose one person on my mailing list each quarter to send

Amanda is Currently Reading

Amanda Rawson Hill is currently reading

This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets

by Kwame Alexander

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Feb 29, 2024 11:33PM

Amanda Rawson Hill is currently reading

Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up)

by Alexandra Petri (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Apr 12, 2023 10:17AM

Amanda Rawson Hill is currently reading

Quantum: Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate About the Nature of Reality

by Manjit Kumar

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jan 19, 2023 07:40PM

rss
Amanda’s Recent Updates

Amanda Rawson Hill has read Mari and the Curse of El Cocodrilo by Adrianna Cuevas (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 21, 2024 03:04AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mari and the Curse of El Cocodrilo by Adrianna Cuevas. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mari and the Curse of El Cocodrilo by Adrianna Cuevas <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Amanda Rawson Hill rated a book it was amazing I Want to Dance in Pants by Jess Hernandez (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Super cute!
Sep 12, 2024 08:28PM · 1 like · like · see review
Amanda Rawson Hill liked Audrey Witherington's review of The Hope of Elephants: "I loved this book. I was intimidated by how big the book was but it didn’t take me too long to read it. I loved how the young girl in this story never gave up on what she wanted or what she believed in. "
Sep 12, 2024 08:26PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Hope of Elephants by Amanda Rawson Hill. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Hope of Elephants by Amanda Rawson Hill <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Amanda Rawson Hill entered a giveaway Everything Is Poison by Joy McCullough (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 26, 2024 10:02PM · like · see giveaway
Amanda Rawson Hill and 2 other people liked Maria Luke's review of The Hope of Elephants: "Beautiful. Inspiring. Heartbreaking. Just read this book. "
Aug 14, 2024 05:32PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Hope of Elephants by Amanda Rawson Hill. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Hope of Elephants by Amanda Rawson Hill <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Amanda Rawson Hill liked Jessie Otto's review of The Hope of Elephants: "This was a sad story. I started reading it to my son since it is a state award winner this year and we do a reward at school for reading them. However, his dad (my ex husband) is going through cancer right now at a young age, and it is very aggressiv" Read more of this review »
Jul 30, 2024 10:26PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Hope of Elephants by Amanda Rawson Hill. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Hope of Elephants by Amanda Rawson Hill <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Amanda Rawson Hill is currently reading This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets by Kwame Alexander	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 29, 2024 11:33PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of This Is the Honey by Kwame Alexander. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — This Is the Honey by Kwame Alexander <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Amanda Rawson Hill rated a book it was amazing We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I love the message of this book about three stranded aliens in a small town. The text had me chuckling numerous times and the pictures are simple yet lovely.
Jan 14, 2024 11:48PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Amanda Rawson Hill rated a book it was amazing Pretty Ugly by David Sedaris	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I had already read reviews about what happened in this book and I think that stunted the experience of it for me so at first I felt it was a bit too abrupt. But the more I thought about the more I just knew my kids would adore it! This will definitel ...more
Jan 14, 2024 11:47PM · like · see review
Amanda Rawson Hill rated a book really liked it Hoo's There?: A Silly Book for the Bedtime Scaries by Kristi Valiant (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This sweet story about an owl and a pig who hear monsters and then realize there was never anything to be scared of will be nice for kiddos with their own night time fears. A little on the light side. Would have enjoyed a bigger twist.
Jan 14, 2024 11:45PM · like · see review

More of Amanda's books…

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Green Jell-O ...: Middle Grade	121	75	May 23, 2019 08:09AM
The Green Jell-O ...: General discussion	345	161	Apr 10, 2023 09:12PM
Crazy Challenge C...: 2022-23 New-to-You Author Challenge	315	115	Oct 27, 2023 11:57AM

More…

Amanda’s Quotes

“Were they all just stories whose endings had already been written, the dates of their deaths pinned to the page with periods?”
― Traci Chee, The Reader

18 likes

“...clutching the Book to his chest, under his crossed arms, as if trying to press it into his ribs, until his lungs filled with letters and his heart became a pulsing paragraph.”
― Traci Chee, The Reader

15 likes

“It was the most terrible sound in a world of terrible sounds, the kind of sound that haunts you in the late hours of the night when the darkness shutters you in and the cold creeps into you through the cracks. When you are suddenly gripped by the unwavering certainty that you are already dead--and gone forever.”
― Traci Chee, The Reader

5 likes

“If you're reading this, then maybe you know you ought to read everything. And maybe you know you ought to read deeply. Because there's witchery in these words and spellwork in the spine.”
― Traci Chee, The Reader

69 likes

“and in a moment of heavenly revelation, it occurs to me that detours are not without purpose. They provide safe passage to a destination, avoiding pitfalls in the process.”
― David Arnold, Mosquitoland

4 likes

More of Amanda’s quotes…