An Interview with A.M. Berkowitz

A.M. Berkowitz, a screenwriter and children’s book author, has rapidly emerged as a cherished voice in children’s literature, known for her ability to weave tales that capture the hearts of young readers. Born in Kansas and having lived across the United States, Berkowitz’s diverse experiences enrich her storytelling, bringing a unique blend of creativity and relatability to her work. Since beginning her writing journey in 2018, she has dedicated herself to fostering a love for reading and imagination in children.

Residing in Las Vegas, Berkowitz’s writing is not just a career but a passion project aimed at keeping the wonderment of childhood alive. Her first children’s book, Ladybug Kisses – Besos De Mariquita, laid the foundation for her enchanting style, which continues to shine in her acclaimed Gigglet the Happy Little Piglet series. Berkowitz’s commitment to crafting engaging, heartwarming stories that spark joy and curiosity in young minds has made her a beloved author among children and parents alike.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I have held a handful of professions, but I am most proud of my time spent in corporate America. I have been with the same company for almost 25 years. This company helped raise me, helped me find my footing, and helped me uncover just how strong, resilient, and talented I truly am. I am still currently with the company that raised me and I can tell you that I absolutely, 100%, had ZERO plans to be a children’s book author. That is until I discovered my passion for writing children’s books was undeniable and would happen whether or not it was in “my plan”. After feeling burnt out and uninspired with my day-to-day, I could feel myself falling into a ‘lack of creativity’ depression unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Growing up and constantly on the move, I always had something to focus on, strengthen, and build upon. I grew up singing and was a trained operatic mezzo-soprano able to sing in 10 different languages. I was a long-time flutist and piccolo player, I was a drum major in a marching band. I played piano. I even performed as a Mariachi singer and flutist (I love Spanish, and singing in Spanish is the best!). I was always performing in something, whether it was for fun or competition. I was always available to sing for family weddings at their request, with “Ava Maria” being the piece of choice, and I never thought that the musical side of my life would fade away and slowly disappear. Maintaining steady, reliable work that you enjoy or are passionate about can be quite challenging. I found it not only necessary but absolutely critical to my livelihood that I continue to find ways to grow and strengthen my skillset in corporate America. Being able to provide for myself and my family became my true focus.

As time went on, I found myself asking, “What’s wrong with me? Why am I so sad? I have no reason to be sad, so why do I feel how I feel? What’s next for me? Is this really me now and do I need to find a way to be okay with feeling this way?” Then it all dawned on me, I was sinking into a depression from a lack of creativity. It’s not that I missed the music per se, it’s that I missed thinking creatively and dreaming up fun things to be, do, and have. I was dreading facing another day of no creativity and no inspiration. I felt lost, as if I was on autopilot going through the motions to make it through the day. I went to bed one night with the heaviest heart I had ever felt. With tears streaming down my face I asked the heavens above for a change. After sheer exhaustion, I finally passed out and released all the resistance. The next morning I woke up feeling like a different person. My heart wasn’t heavy at all, I felt “lighter” with a sense of relief coming over me. There was a voice inside of me that said, “Amber, you’re okay, everything is going to be okay, you’ve got this, there’s nothing serious going on here, you do you.” So I got up and went about my day not knowing that on this day, my life was about to take on a new direction.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

What a fun question! This question picks up where I left off with the first question…

My book’s title, Gigglet the Happy Little Piglet Goes to School, was unexpected and, surprisingly, came to me easily. One morning when I was going about my business as usual day, I received a spam email that said “Lit Gadget” in the subject line, but my brain read the email as “Gigglet.” I blinked once, blinked twice, laughed out loud at myself, and thought “Silly Amber, that doesn’t say Gigglet, it says Lit Gadget.” I then wrote the word “Gigglet” at the top of my notepad in front of me and began to ask and answer a bunch of questions…

– What’s a Gigglet?

But of course, she’s the happiest little piglet in all the land!

– What is she doing?

Well, since she is young and just a wee little piglet, she is living on the farm and is about to start her first day of school.

– What does a day at school look like for the happiest little piglet in all the land?

Well, she is happy and enjoying every moment. She is eager to start her adventure-filled day at school! She enjoys reading, writing, painting, performing, eating, napping, playing, etc.

My pen then frantically took on a life of its own, it was writing so fast I couldn’t control it, but I felt completely calm. I didn’t even know what I was writing. Approximately 7 minutes in of non-stop writing, I stopped. “What just happened? What is this?” I put my pen down and read through everything I had written. It’s a children’s book, I THINK? It’s the story of Gigglet the Happy Little Piglet Goes to School! “Oh, my word, I just wrote a children’s book!” My mind was flooded with thoughts…”I’m not a writer. I know nothing about writing children’s books. I am totally out of my element. I know music, I don’t know children’s books. How am I going to explain this to my husband or anyone else for that matter, they are all going to think I’m crazy!”

But it’s not crazy!

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

This was seriously the best day ever (aside from my wedding day). THE BEST DAY EVER! The day my book was due to arrive at the house, I tracked/stalked the entire FedEx route every few minutes until my doorbell rang! I was texting my husband with the countdown of the number of blocks away until the moment I would finally get to hold my baby! When the doorbell rang, I ran down the stairs with my phone and my husband on speaker as I screamed in the face of the FedEx guy “SHE’S HERE SHE’S HERE!”. The FedEx guy laughed and looked totally shocked as he realized this was not the typical delivery to our house. I ripped open the package, tore through the layers of wrapping like my first Barbie at Christmas, clasped the book to my chest with all my might, and cried the happiest ugliest cry I had ever cried. I squeezed Gigglet as if she were a real baby while my husband remained on the phone and cried with me. I get that Gigglet‘s not a real baby, but if you ask my husband…

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

Whether you are a child reading this book or an adult reading this book to a child, I want readers to have feelings of happiness, joy, and love. The “PIGGY PERFECT” reader will have fun going along with Gigglet throughout her day at school. Adults would encourage children to share their stories, make up silly words, and even pretend to be the characters. The most important thing to remember when reading the Gigglet books is to be in the moment, have fun, follow your bliss, and “GET YOUR GIGGLE ON.”

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

I recently published Gigglet the Happy Little Piglet Goes to the Beach and Gigglet the Happy Little Piglet Goes to Summer Camp, along with their companion activity/coloring books. These two books introduce new characters to the series with many more on the way in Gigglet’s new and upcoming adventures.

***SPOILER ALERT*** Our giggly little Gigglet is getting ready to become a big sister!

I am excited to share my new website, www.ambkidsbooks.com. It highlights Gigglet’s adventures and introduces new characters in a fun and interactive way.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.