What are your sources of inspiration?

My faith in God is the main source of my inspiration, which brings great hope and joy. I am inspired by my own children, and my nieces, nephews, and children’s friends. Many of my childhood memories are a huge source of inspiration as well. The list could go on forever. I enjoy listening to good music of many kinds, and browsing through thrift shops, antique shops, and of course viewing a multitude of picture books.

Would you like to share with our readers a bit about any of your current or future projects?

I am working on a children’s book by Mayra Calvani at the moment. It is a delight to work on. I have been painting it in oils, and am busy finding reference materials for the period, which is the Victorian era.

What is the most fascinating part of being an illustrator? What is the most frustrating?

One of the most fascinating parts of being an illustrator is reading a story, and bringing that sense to others in the art I create. Illustrating opens the door to learning things I’d never have learned otherwise. I also enjoy learning new things when researching history and background for illustrations. I’ve been learning much about the Victorian era while creating the art for The Doll Violinist.

Describe a regular day in Amy Moreno’s life. Do you follow a disciplined schedule?

My schedule varies depending on what is going on in my family’s schedule. I have three active kids. I do most of my work during the mornings when they are in school, or late at night when they are asleep. I sometimes take advantage to sketch ideas in doctor’s and dentist’s offices, or at the pool this past summer, and in any spare moments.

Tell us a bit about the author/illustrator relationship. Is it difficult trying to bring to life the settings and characters created in the author’s mind? How do you achieve this?

The author/illustrator relationship is sometimes virtually non-existent in some publishing situations, but when it does exist, it requires a balance of listening carefully, while trying to maintain a sense of one’s own imagination of the story. I usually read the story various times and let it sit in my mind. Usually without even trying to do research the images fill my mind. If the story is a good one, I usually have no trouble at least getting started with the main setting and characters.