Amanda Smith

I have been making up stories for as long as I can remember and wrote my first story in second grade. After putting writing on the back burner for many years, I slowly started experimenting with words again, first in poetry and then in longer pieces of work. Lately, I am finding my home in writing for children and young adults. I enjoy writing Picture Books because I adore the challenge of writing whole and concise; the balance of creating full characters in complete stories with sparse, poetic, luscious text. And I love the space to settle in and spin a yarn in Middle Grade and Young Adult.
I graduated from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, with a degree in English and Afrikaans, as well as additional certification to teach high school and special ed. I taught fourth grade in South African schools and, after we moved to the States in 2001, I taught middle school English and Science. I am a full-time mom, a substitute teacher and an enthusiastic writer. I am a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and a member of online and real life writers' communities. The support, wisdom, focus and accountability these communities offer, inspire me. May the writings on this site inspire you to become a 24 Carrot Writer.