Interview with Author/Illustrator Olivia Stephens

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I love exploring different types of stories and mediums and graphic novels are rising in popularity in publishing right now. And it only makes sense. They're accessible and easier to read and exploring stories we don't see enough on in print. Today's interview is with author and illustrator Olivia Stephens whose debut Artie and the Wolf Moon is a future spooky season staple that's filling that gap for 12-15 readers. You can check out my review of Artie and the Wolf Moon here.

Has art always been a big part of your life? 

I’ve always liked telling stories. I’ve written in some form since I was a kid in elementary school, and I really enjoyed adding pictures alongside the words. But I really became hooked on comics in particular when I was in middle school.

And were there any artists who inspired you?

In middle school I fell in love with manga, particularly shonen manga. My biggest influences at the start were Bleach by Tite Kubo and Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa, alongside a bunch of others. As I got older I began venturing into the land of webcomics, where people can really cut loose and draw things unlike anything being published in more traditional channels.

How did you decide you wanted to pursue a career as a graphic novelist?

In my freshman year of art school, I took a comics class that taught me one important thing I had not yet accomplished: I learned how to finish a comic. Finishing stories is a skill you have to acquire. And if you never learn to finish a story (no matter how short), then you’ll never gain that confidence in yourself to see something through to completion. Once I finished my first short comic in that class, I not only learned that I could finish a comic, but I also realized that I loved it and I wanted to keep making them for as long as possible.

What types of stories do you gravitate to?

Supernatural or not, I gravitate towards any and all stories about family and the different ways we create it with others. Stories that meditate on tenderness and the inner workings of interpersonal relationships. I’ve also noticed that a lot of my favorite stories delve into themes of balance, exchange, and how we are all closely connected to each other.

What inspired Artie and the Wolf Moon?

Artie and the Wolf Moon was inspired by my love for all things supernatural, but also by my interest in family history, inheriting the legacy of our elders, and how we gain a certain power from that knowledge. I’ve been blessed with incredibly supportive families, both biological and chosen. I wanted the book to function as a love letter to finding community, because it’s the only reason I’ve gotten to where I am now.

Artie deals with some white bullies early in the story but it’s not the main plot. Have you felt pressure to write stories that focus heavily on racism?

I’ve definitely felt pressure. The majority of inquiries that I receive from editors and publishers are asking me to illustrate a graphic novel about racism or police brutality. That’s just a fact. And there’s certainly added insult to injury when you consider that my portfolio is based around fantasy and romance stories. So a lot of folks don’t see my work for what it actually is, they just see my race. That’s what makes me sad the most: how people in this industry possess such a small and limited imagination for Black narratives. They aren’t able to envision stories about us that aren’t focused on our suffering. To an extent, I pity them.

Do you have any plans for expanding the story you started in your comic Darlin?

Yes! I’ve been doing a lot of reading and researching in my free time for an expansion of Darlin’, and I plan to dedicate some time next year to releasing more chapters from that world.

What’s your favorite thing about fall?

The weather. I love to get cozy and watch the rain and storms outside. And there’s something inspiring about watching the leaves change and fall. It reminds me to make room in my life for growth and new beginnings that are on their way.

Have you picked up any new hobbies or interests in the past year?

I’ve actually started running this year, which is something that would have been unthinkable to me two years ago. It’s very meditative, and it’s helped me achieve a lot of clarity during tumultuous times. 

Is there an upcoming project you’re able to talk about here?

This was just announced, but I’m illustrating the graphic novel adaptation of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole In The Sky by Kwame Mbalia. Robert Venditti adapted the script, the interior colors are by Laura Langston, and the lettering is by Ariana Maher. That will be out in September 2022. 

I’ve also written a limited fantasy comic series called The Tiger’s Tongue, which will start coming out from Mad Cave Studios in August 2022. Diansakhu Banton-Perry is the series’ artist, with Bex Glendining on inks and colors, Joamette Gil as letterer, and Odera Igbokwe creating the beautiful issue covers. I couldn’t be more excited by having such an incredible team. 

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