Amy has published her first children's book! “Courage Takes Practice” is a retelling of her own childhood, refocused through the lens of her daughter, Olivia, who was born in Ecuador. Amy moved from the DC area to a rural town in North Carolina when she was 6, and experienced stark “otherness” in her school because of her usual last name. In the south they use the phrase “you ain’t from round here, are ya?” Once the town got used the name and found out Amy was a budding artist, Amy experienced an exploitative kind bullying that she did not categorize as bullying until she was older - being seen and popular when something artistic was needed, and then becoming completely invisible afterwards.