Authors Supporting Authors: Debbie Roppolo

What is your name? 
Debbie Roppolo

Where are you from?  
Southwestern United States

What genre are you in?
I write in three different genres:

1. Humor: It’s parenting humor, and often my children’s antics are the           subject of my stories.

2. Children: My characters are based on my personality as a child. No wonder my mother has gray hair.

3. Cookbooks: Cooking is my second passion. I love taking simple, low-cost ingredients and seeing what I can create with them.

Please list your books and the year of publication.
Amelia Frump and her Peanut Butter Loving, Overactive Imagination (2011)

Amelia Frump...is Cooking Up a Peanut Butter Storm (2012)

Turkey Trouble and Chasing Aprons (2014) (Kindle)

Do you have any weird/strange habits when you work?
I have a few quirks. The first, is that the house has to be clean. That habit comes from my mother, who was a poet. After the housework was done, then she relaxed with a glass of sweet tea, her pencil and a notepad.

Soft instrumental music is played on a DISH network station, and my Scentsy is always on, with a cube of cinnamon scent melting in its saucer. And, like Mom, I have a cup of tea, except mine is hot, preferably Wild Sweet Orange flavor.

I’m a hyper person, and all these things seem  to calm me, and assist me in focusing on the manuscript.

Do you prefer writing or typing?
Several years ago I was in a near-fatal car accident, and the result was nerve damage in my right hand (I now have 70 percent use). I had to teach myself how to be left-handed. Even though my writing is legible, I prefer to type everything.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about life, writing, or anything?
My father was my biggest supporter. He encouraged me to dream, and dream big. His philosophy was: “You can do anything, just as long as you put your mind to it.” Though he’s gone, his words remain in my heart, and have fueled my determination in my writing and in life.

If you could pick one place to write for the rest of your life, where would it be?  (For example, mine would be on the beaches of Hawaii)
My ancestry is largely Spanish. I have a desire to visit Spain and experience the people and the culture. And, I’d be content to sit and write on a beautiful Spanish beach, and look out onto the Mediterranean.

Does your family/friends read your books?  If so, what do they think?
My family and friends read my books, and seem to enjoy them. The only negative feedback is when my children read the parenting stories. Then it’s eyerolls and mumbles of “Gee, Mom, I know you thought it was funny and cute, but did you hafta share with the whole world?”

Share one thing that would surprise people!
I was a very mischievous child, and not one to be dared, because I’d take it! Once, on a dare, a workman at my mother’s house dared me to lead a weanling filly into the house. There was partical board laid for carpeting, so I knew there was no danger of the horse slipping.

The animal was an orphan I bought at a sale, and I spent much of my time with her. As a result, her trust and love for me was limitless. Without hesitation “Little Girl” trip-trapped across the threshold, and walked behind me into the kitchen where Mama was peeling carrots.

I was disappointed because there was no startled look in my mother’s eyes. She was used to my antics. Instead, she sighed and told me to lead the horse outside. We exited to a chorus of chuckles from the other workmen, and jeers directed at their red-faced co-worker who mumbled, “Holy crap, didn’t think you’d do it!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Blurb from Amelia Frump and the Billion-Cajillion Dollar Adventure

Amelia Frump is best friends with Julie, a classmate she's known since kindergarten, and Amelia believes nothing will end that friendship. Nothing, until a new girl moves into the neighborhood.

Meagan Wells is a sweet, fun-loving girl (Amelia's age) who's moved far away from her old friends and school. Julie and Meagan form an instant friendship, and Amelia begins to feel left out, and as exciting as a brown paper bag.

There's a secret that Amelia's teacher, Mr. Perez, has for the class, and Amelia is dismayed when she's partnered with Meagan.

Amelia turns to her imagination for help, but something goes horribly wrong, and she struggles to correct everything before it's too late.

Megan, thank you so much for having me! I do want your readers to know that Amelia is back for another adventure in Amelia Frump and the Billion-Cajillion Dollar Adventure. I’m also working on another activity/cookbook, and a parenting humor book.

You can connect with me through:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/debbieroppolo
Web site: http://debbieroppolo.weebly.com
Facebook:http://facebook.com/Amelia.Frump.fan.page