Bestselling novelist Amanda Dykes, known for her heartwarming tales and exploration of nature, shares her inspiring journey from English teacher to acclaimed author. She discusses the profound impact of grief on creativity and the making of her enchanting children's book, A Pocketful of Wonder. Amanda highlights the power of imagination, the importance of beauty in our lives, and how nurturing wonder in children is essential. From concrete poems to the magic of nature, this conversation encourages embracing the breathtaking beauty that surrounds us.
58:09
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
From Teaching to Writing Journey
Amanda Dykes shifted from being an English teacher to an award-winning author after deep grief and delays in adopting again.
Writing her first book in six months was fast, yet it took years to get published, showing a journey of growth and perseverance.
insights INSIGHT
Writing as Tool Use
Writing a book is like using literary devices as tools rather than just recognizing them.
Authors use imagination to turn abstract ideas into stories, making the blank page exciting yet daunting.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Publishing Road to Breakthrough
Amanda faced multiple publishing rejections but viewed the process as growth rather than failure.
A sudden opportunity allowed her to pitch a new novel, leading to two publishing offers and her breakthrough.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Bestselling novelist Amanda Dykes joins The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast for a conversation that will stir your heart, lift your eyes, and invite you to marvel again at the wonder that surrounds us. In this episode, Amanda shares the tender backstory behind her career shift from English teacher to award-winning author, and how deep grief gave way to deep creativity. We explore the making of her stunning new book A Pocketful of Wonder, a field guide for children to experience God’s creation through poem, prayer, play, and music. Along the way, Amanda and Ginny talk about the courage to pursue creativity, the mysterious work of God in delays and detours, and why beauty is not frivolous—it’s essential.
Amanda’s words are a balm, reminding us that wonder is a battle cry in a heavy world, and that attention is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. You’ll hear about concrete poems, whimsical squirrel illustrations, nature’s instruments, and how a single drop of rain in the desert can unleash the aroma of hope. This conversation will inspire you to step into the preposterous beauty all around—and bring your kids with you.
A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them ALL out below:
NIV Application Bible - visit www.NIVapplicationbible.com if you’re looking to grow in your understanding of Scripture and make it real in your daily life.
Cozy Earth - Upgrade your summer sleep at www.cozyearth.com and use code OUTSIDE for 40% off their best-selling sheets, loungewear, and more.
Lagoon - Go to LagoonSleep.com/OUTSIDE and take their awesome 2 minute sleep quiz to find your match.Use the code OUTSIDE for 15% off your first purchase
Brave Books - Right now, you can get 20% off your first purchase at www.BRAVEBooks.com/1000hours with the code 1000HOURS.
COSMO - Right now, COSMO is running an amazing back-to-school deal, plus free shipping and a risk-free 30-day guarantee. Head to www.cosmotogether.com/1KHO to grab one today.
NurtureLife - Head to NurtureLife.com/1000HOURS55 and use code 1000HOURS55 for 55% off your first order PLUS free shipping.
The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast 
