Special Guest Speaker: Brianna C. Walsh, talked about her Glory articulated puppet and how she made it, talked about her art and some of her background, announced an activity book with crosswords and etc. coming soon along with a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle drawn by her
Other guest that interviewed Tui: Joanna Ho (Author of We who Produce Pearls, Silence that Binds Us)
Will Sky and Peril meet?: Yes, will have to meet eventually, it will change their lives to find each other, doesnβt know when she will write it and says it most likely will be further down the road
Why did you choose dragons? Always loved dragons and thought they were cool, read a book called Dragonsong as a kid and likes taking character perspectives and seeing all sorts of different POVs, showing all the different mindsets and personalities. Loves the theme of empathy and seeing different sides of a story. Loves seeing everyoneβs creativity, calls WoF as like a playground for the fans, a welcoming space where everyone can put their own spin on the world or imagine their own stories/characters in the world. Wants everyone to feel like they can save the world no matter who they are, everyone can make their own impact no matter how small.
What dragon do you most enjoy writing? Peril, Kinkajou, says Kinkajou is really fun to write.
Who was the most difficult to write? Turtle, says she wanted to give him a hug. Threw Kinkajou at him to help move the story and his character along. Connects to his love of stories.
Is there elements or characters inspired by current events or own experiences? All writing is like therapy; a way of dealing with problems in the world, book 16 especially was the feeling of βso many bad things happening and what do I do if Iβm just one little dragonβ especially with the people in charge not being great, working through βwhat can we do?β Book 16 has a lot of different answers to that question, how different people respond to the situation, how can anybody save the world or make a difference? Characters realize they each have their own skills that when they come together and trust each other, can save the world
Which dragon are you the most like? Sunny, though says a piece of her is in every dragon (Tsunami is the bossy big sister side of her, Starflight with his love of libraries/books, Glory is who she would love to be because she is cool) Peril is least like her, but she loves her a lot as a character because she says whatβs on her mind
If you could have any power what would it be? Not want mind-reading, wishes she could sometimes see the future but would go insane, would like leafspeak to grow a garden
What feels inspiring as a creator? Writing relationships between characters, especially in book 16, was inspired by Australia, Mulberry popped into her head as a character and she was so excited to have Umber meet him. She wanted Umber to find someone good and both go well together
So far no relationship focus in book 17 (as of now), but she says there is a funny relationship (vague on romantic or platonic) she doesnβt wanna mention yet that will be in it
What terrifies you as a creator and how do you overcome it? She says she is not an outliner, more or a βletβs write and see what happensβ person, describes herself as a βgardenerβ, she plants the seeds of ideas and sees what happens. Says she likes to bring pieces together but can sometimes forget a small detail and worries if she forgets a small detail. Wrote a whole scene for book 4 of the NightWings escaping the volcano, realizes she forgot about Ochre and panicked about it as she was about to turn in book 4, jokes that he wandered off as she originally didnβt mention him, so she had to go back and mention him/throw him in to show he is okay and not obliterated by lava.
