Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Jarod Roselló!
Read on to learn more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Jarod Roselló
Jarod Roselló is a Cuban American writer, cartoonist, and teacher. He is the author of the middle-grade graphic novel Red Panda & Moon Bear, a Chicago Public Library and New York Public Library best book for young readers and a Nerdy Award winner for graphic novels. Jarod holds an MFA in Creative Writing and a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction, both from the Pennsylvania State University. Originally from Miami, he now lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, kids, and dogs, and teaches in the creative writing program at the University of South Florida.
About the Book: SUPER MAGIC BOY: I AM A SPACE TIGER
Zip, zap, and zoom through space with Hugo and his best friend Dino on their adventure to find the best mom present ever! An out-of-this-world graphic novel chapter book series filled to the brim with friendship and zany adventures!
Oh no! Today is Mami’s birthday and Hugo forgot to get her a present! Don’t worry, with Hugo’s imagination, and some help from Dino, they figure out that the best place to find a gift for the best mom in the world: OUTER SPACE!
When they land on the planet of Space Tigers, Hugo is excited to get help from his new alien friends! But it sounds like the Space Tigers have their own problems that need to be solved. Don’t worry! Hugo can turn into a Space Tiger and help his new friends out…and hopefully find the best present ever along the way!
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
I Am a Space Tiger is part space adventure and part mystery! I’ve always wanted to write a mystery story, and because this book takes place on a strange and mysterious planet, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. Going to space is one of my favorite ways to play with my kids, so I’ve always wanted to set a story there. I think this is my first book that has mystery and space in it!
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
I love Hugo. He’s actually a lot like me when I was a kid: adventurous, helpful, drawn to silliness, and always finding himself in trouble. I love getting to show how many different sides Hugo has to his personality.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
YABC: What came first, the concept, landscape, characters, or something else?
Hugo and Dino came first. I have to know my characters really well before I can start imagining what kinds of stories they find themselves in. After all, stories don’t just happen, they happen to people. And they usually happen because of people. I like to set up my characters so they cause the story to happen.
YABC: How do you keep your ‘voice’ true to the age category you are writing within?
I spend a lot of time visiting schools and teaching workshops to kids. I also watch a lot of cartoons and read a lot of children’s books both on my own and with my own kids. I really love kid culture and keeping in touch with it keeps my imagination and creativity full. I think childhood is a really important and magical time in all our lives, not training for adulthood, so I want my stories to reflect the power, magic, and joy of it.
YABC: What can readers expect to find in your books?
Comedy and adventure! And a little bit of magic. I love writing stories that take place in our world, except something is a little bit off: kids with magic powers, space tigers running around, skeletons coming to life.
YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?
Coffee! Sometimes I don’t even drink it, but having a hot cup of coffee next to me helps me get in the writing and drawing mood.
YABC: If you were able to meet them, would you be friends with your main character?
For sure! Hugo was inspired by my real-life son, Oliver, and we’re basically best friends. So, I think Hugo and I would get along really well. I would be thrilled to be friends with a talking dinosaur, so I think Dino and I would be great friends, too.
YABC: What do you do when you procrastinate?
I Iike to read, play video games, or play with my cats. I also like to go for walks or find something to fix. I’m not very handy, so fixing something simple can take me forever, which is really helpful when I’m trying to procrastinate.
YABC: What fandom would you write for if you had time?
I almost exclusively like to work on my own books and with my own characters, but there are a few exceptions I would make: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants, Godzilla, and Adventure Time! I love these characters and worlds and have spent so much time with them that I feel like I know them just as well as my own characters.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
I have one more book in the Super Magic Boy series coming out in 2025. It’s about a slime monster that takes over the public library. It’ll be up to Hugo and Dino to save the library and the books. After that, I’m returning to my middle-grade graphic novel series Red Panda & Moon Bear, for book 3, and I can’t wait!
~ Giveaway Details ~
Three (3) winners will receive a copy of I AM A SPACE TIGER and I AM A DINOSAUR (Jarod Roselló) ~US Only!
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
