Author Chat with Matthew Forsythe (AGGIE AND THE GHOST), Plus Giveaway~ US ONLY (No P.O. Boxes)!

YABC:  What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

It was partly inspired by my Spanish friend Emmanuel. We backpacked around Greece together a couple summers ago. Every day we were in each other’s space. It was comforting and oppressive. He kept eating all the cheese in the fridge. What rules do we have for our friends? Do rules even work? They didn’t for Emmanuel.

YABC: What research did you do to write this book?

I practiced drawing owls. Owls are so cool. But hard to draw.

YABC:  What came first, the concept, landscape, characters, or something else?

Aggie and the ghost were two characters living in my daily sketchbook. I think the ghost was also inspired by Shigeru Mizuki’s Yokai drawings. But then the whole book came from the feeling of “how do we negotiate space?”

YABC: If you could only write one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Pass. I don’t know if this book fits neatly into a genre?

YABC:   What can readers expect to find in your books?

Conflict. I like when things butt up against each other. And growth, eventually and hopefully.

YABC:   Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

There is a scene where they play tic tac toe. I didn’t want to draw the game; because the game itself was not important; it was them facing off against each other that was the important part. That was tough.

YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?

Coffee.

YABC: If you could time travel what would you want to see?

I would like to time travel back to the beginning of my cup of coffee today.

YABC: What other age group would you consider writing for?

I honestly am not writing to any age group. I hope my books are enjoyed by all ages.

YABC: What daily thing do you see that brings you joy?

My guitar.

YABC:   What do you do when you procrastinate?

Play my guitar.

YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?

Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharpe – it’s like if Rohald Dahl had drawn a comic for kids.

YABC: What is your favorite writing space or routine?

Anywhere with coffee and notebook.

YABC:     Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

The Wild Bird Fund in NYC.

They do amazing work raising awareness about bird friendly architecture and helping birds migrate through NY twice a year

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

I’m working on designing a new season of the animated show Adventure Time at Warner Brothers. It’s called Adventure Time: Side Quests. I used to work on the old Adventure Time so it’s super fun to work with these artists and characters again.

I also have a book of essays I illustrated called The Grammar of Fantasy, which was written by the famous Italian childrens’ author, Gianni Rodari. It’s been re-translated and reprinted  and that’s coming out this month.