What originally made you want to become an author ?
I’ve liked writing short and fanciful stories (often unfinished) since I was a kid. Growing up, I also read a lot of comics and manga, and in my heart I looked up to manga artists because drawing comics was their job. Since manga isn’t a North American thing, I didn’t realize until college that comic-making was a possible career path for me. Luckily it somehow worked out.
In your opinion, what makes a great story?
I enjoy stories that drag me into their own world and keep me turning the pages. Stories where I can feel what the characters are feeling and experience their world alongside them. It’s a great story if I feel like I’ve grown up a little more after reading it.
Describe a typical work day in your life as an author. Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My workdays are consistent, and therefore rather boring. I find that routine gives me a clearer head to create, so everyday I set a small and manageable writing quota for myself. Once I’m done my quota I can go do other tasks. For longer comics, I also like to make small notes in my sketchbook, along with doodles of my characters. I find that drawing my characters naturally gives me a better sense of who they are, probably because I’m a visual person.
What messages or themes do you hope readers take away from your book?
Hope!
What advice do you have for kids who are interested in writing?
Observe the world around you and take note of things you find interesting! Also, read lots of books, across different genres. If you enjoyed a book, ask yourself why. If you didn’t enjoy a book, also ask yourself why! Slowly this may help you figure out what types of stories you’d like to tell.