Author Chat with Amy Kim Kibuishi (The Rema Chronicles #1: Realm of the Blue Mist), Plus Giveaway! ~ (US Only)

What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

I had a beautiful dream when I was going through a very difficult time, around 12 years old. The dream was complete with world, characters, and atmosphere. I fell in love with it immediately. I spent the next few decades developing those characters and their world, until it grew into what it is now.

Who is your favorite character in the book?

It’s hard to pick a favorite! I love the main character, Tabby, because she has so much curiosity and kindness for everyone she meets, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that Philip (the blue-haired boy) is my favorite. You can tell by the way I draw him. I love his valor, his calm temperament, and his ability to overcome unspeakable adversity. His story was really what pulled me along all these years.

Do you have a favorite writing snack?

Right now, I’m really into Marcona almonds. They have the perfect crunch!

Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

Probably the most important thing is patience. Not just “wait your turn” patience, but “in twenty years the tree will finally bear fruit” patience. It may take decades to harvest the fruit, but it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the beauty of the sapling as it grows.

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

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke. I read it aloud to my kids, and we had a great time. Beautifully written, great characters, imaginative world building, and a heart-warming story. I highly recommend it!

Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate? 

I struggled with the beginning for the longest time. There is so much to establish – a mysterious death involving a ghost, a science experiment gone wrong, a lonely teenage girl begging to escape her small town life. I must’ve rewritten it a thousand times, I just couldn’t figure it out. Then, once it was time to adapt my writing into comics form, the beginning came to me as if it was there all along. Now I think it’s one of the strongest scenes in the book. I guess I needed all those ideas to be laid out before I knew what to do with them.

Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

Tabby’s character was so difficult to pin down. At first, she just served as an avatar for the reader and was very basic. But I knew if the story was going to work, she had to be more. She had to have a purpose and personality, she had to drive things. It took forever to understand who she was, but I have a much better picture now.

What would you say is your superpower?

Since having children, I’ve gotten really good at turning the creative faucet on and off, regardless of my circumstances. I no longer need routines or rituals to get myself going. I can work anywhere – on my kitchen counter, standing at a bar, or at our home office. Sometimes I only have a half hour to get something down, but sometimes that’s all it takes. I really think it’s partially due to the fact that I’m working on a story that brings me so much joy.

What advice would you give to new writers?

Don’t kill your darlings! I don’t know why writing professors love to give that advice, but I think it’s terrible. Those stories are darling to you for a reason. By all means, work on other things as you go along, but continue to nurture the dreams from your childhood. We need more pure stories from the heart, not less. It might take longer to turn those dreams into a reality, but good things come to those who don’t give up.