Interview with Author/Illustrator Daniel J. O’Brien
Interviewed by Brooklyn Book Bodega
Daniel J. O'Brien is an author and illustrator. In this interview, you will learn all about his creative process and how he incorporates his Trinidadian, Caribbean-American culture into his writing and drawing. Then, for a special treat, head over to our virtual events page to hear Daniel read aloud I am the Midnight Robber.
Q: How do you come up with the idea for your books?
A: Many of my story ideas come from a combination of me just doodling in my sketchbook and doing deep dives into my Trinidadian, Caribbean-American background. For a while, those ideas remain a jumbled mess up until I take my dog, Obbie, out on a really long walk. It's only then that those mash-up of thoughts and ideas become one coherent story.
Q: How does your identity play into your work as a storyteller?
A: Simple answer, it plays into it A LOT! Born in Trinidad, and being of mixed race, I would be doing myself and my culture a disservice if I did not pull from such a rich tapestry of ideas and perspectives. And thanks for using the term "storyteller" I purposely try not to lock myself into the category of just illustrator or author because I strive to be more like the Caribbean Griots (storytellers) of old.
Q: What is a day in your work life like?
A: Being an independent illustrator/author, my days tend to be split into different categories. For example, my Sundays are spent setting tasks and To-Do lists for the week ahead. One day is spent taking care of strictly business things like bills, paperwork, emails, promotions, etc… (Yuck.) Then I split the rest of the days up, switching between the fun stuff like writing/editing and sketching/illustrating.
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
A: Start with writing what you know or what you connect to. Also, READ and OBSERVE anything and everything that you can get your hands on. Not only things that you find entertaining, either. Nothing is created in a vacuum, and the more information you pull in, the more robust of a story you are capable of telling.
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring illustrators?
A: Learn the rules before you can break them. What I mean by that is...try to expose yourselves to the foundations of art. Draw still lives to learn proper anatomy; paint nature scenes to better understand how light and color work together. Use those moments to build up a vast "mental library". From there, you may realize how easy it could be to find your "style”.
Q: What are you planning on writing about next?
A: I have a few more picture book ideas I have in the works, but my main project for the foreseeable future is building on the world I established in my first book, The Carnival Prince. It will be produced in a middle-grade graphic novel form. Comics books are what got me drawing and reading in the first place, and I'm excited to finally give back to that medium and community.
Q: Have you always been a reader? If yes, what books do you remember loving as a child? If no, what made you become a reader?
A: To be SUPER 100, No, I was not an avid reader. I spent more time drawing and consuming the Muppet Show and cheesy 80's movies. But what finally started me down the road of reading for fun was Chris Claremont's and Jim Lee's X-Men. Yes, it was a comic book series, but it helped me build my library from there. From there, I was able to move onto the wonderful creepiness of the Roald Dahl books and my all-time favorite series, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Q: If you were going to give new parents a book for their child, what book would you give and why?
A: Hahaha, this is a self-serving answer, but, of course, I would give parents a copy of my new book, I Am The Midnight Robber. As a storyteller, I love to give people a better insight into my culture. My book does exactly that while telling a universal story about a child learning to come into themselves with the help and acceptance of her parents. On top of that, I Am The Midnight Robber is meant to be performed, and what better way to bond with your kids than through play, right?