On this week’s Corks & Conversation with Mariko Tamaki episode we could have talked for hours about writing novels, comics, and diverse representation in art! Have a listen …
Mariko Tamaki is a best-selling author of graphic novels, comics and prose. We just loved talking with her, she had so much insight into creating art in the current environment. Topics and characters represented in novels are more diverse nowadays. And this happily leads to much broader conversations, especially with kids! As Mariko points out,
“The thing I say to people about young adult books is that they are about young adults… and I think that really just covers such a spectrum of experiences. I think that there are young adult books that feel closer to middle grade, and there are young adult books that feel closer to adult fiction. And I think that spectrum makes sense when you think about there are young adult lives that sort of delve into things that are more or less mature depending on where your at as a person
Her latest book, COLD is a haunting YA novel about a shocking crime in a quiet town and four students who knew too much and said too little. It’s a page-turner that we know will lead to great discussions on topics like bullying/peer pressure, bystander syndrome, and LGBTQ+ issues. Part of her inspiration came from books of her childhood. Piggy in Lord of the Flies stuck with her and influenced her:
“I’ve always wanted to do something with that character, and to do something with just that feeling of peril and what it feels like to feel that you are in a dangerous situation and that you are not safe and how different people adapt to that.”
Mariko also shared with us the process of making graphic novels and comics. So fascinating! Here is what she has to say about this:
“Generally, there’s been a lack of conversation about the collaborative nature of art. I think people like to think of creators, or like to think of the writer, as being who’s the most important or who’s telling the story. But really most stories and most mediums, except for novels, are created by multiple people.”
This episode was jam packed with interesting information! For your next book club, we suggest you read her book and listen to this podcast as prep. You will be talking all night! You can get your copies of COLD here! (indie bookshop.org or Amazon.com)
Here are some highlights from the episode:
3:30 Book Birthday vs. Book Launch
6:30 Defining YA
8:30 Haunted (or inspired) by Lord of the Flies
11:45 How long is “forever” in book writing time?
24:00 My Seltzer Sister!
28:00 Invisibility Cloak Uses
35:00 The Collaborative Nature of Art
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