Recently, I met a very cool new person and I want to tell you about her. Her name is Realm Lovejoy, a talented 24-year-old author/illustrator who grew up in Japan before moving to the United States. Does her name sound familiar to you? It should! I’ve talked about her before and oh, she did this AMAZING portrait of Regina Afton, the protagonist of Some Girls Are, which totally freaked me out when I saw it because it is EXACTLY how Regina looks:

So the nice thing about meeting cool new people is they are so cool you want to tell the world about them and they are so cool that when you say something like, “CAN I INTERVIEW YOU FOR MY BLOG PLEAAASSEEE,” really begging-like they don’t back away from you slowly! They agree!

So with that said, I am so, so excited to present to you…

AN INTERVIEW WITH REALM LOVEJOY

As a kid, I was always writing and drawing the stories that’d pop into my head. I was fascinated with all different mediums of storytelling. Sometimes I would write a book, other times design a video game on paper, storyboard a movie, or draw comics. I knew I could always write a book–I just needed a pen or a computer, but the CG industry would require the use of more complicated tools. I chose to hone in on that to expand my storytelling tool-sets and grow as an artist. I went to school at DigiPen Institute of Technology, and then got a job at Valve–an amazing video game company I am working at full-time. I finally felt that I had a firm footing in what I wanted to do. During my spare time, I began working on a novel, taking all the pearls I’ve gained and applying it to CLAN–my first illustrated novel.

I queried agents, got rejections, and after a while, I decided to put my strength to use. I made a self-addressed, stamped postcard with my painting of my characters at the back and sent it with the queries. Soon, I caught Joanna Stampfel-Volpe’s interest. She requested a full and offered me representation after she read CLAN.

The journey sounds simple when I summarize it like that, but there were many hurdles along the way. Number one rule: Never give up.


That is definitely the first rule, I totally agree. And congrats on representation! What are you working on right now?

Loads of stuff! I’m on the second submission for CLAN and gearing up to do the second draft of my second book. (Which is unrelated to the CLAN-iverse and also illustrated.) Blog-wise, I am still working on author interviews.


What inspired Clan?

It was one of those random thoughts you have while staring at the ceiling. I was thinking about CG films and how low budget it would be to duplicate one character for the whole movie cast. The idea seemed crazy, but it interested me when I began brainstorming about how the society would work, how characters would develop, and the conflicts that could happen. Pretty soon, I was writing about it…and became completely obsessed.

Courtney’s note: are these not amazing? W-O-W.

Japan and America has most of my favorite comics, movies, art, and games. I grew up with the best stuff! Both countries are good at different aspects of stories and HUGE in the industries I’m interested in. I merge both the Japanese and American style into my art and storytelling. I love them both and wouldn’t choose one or the other. Being from both worlds also helped me understand my characters who are often from two worlds as well.

What are your writing and illustrating processes like?

For writing, my first goal is to entertain myself–which is no easy task. I am the pickiest reader and movie-watcher there is! I try to think about what’s challenging, crazy, frightening, and wonderful to me. I want to be a little scared when I write and be unsure of the outcome, challenged by my characters, and in love with the world. It’s not simple, but that’s how I start writing. I get the theme down first, and then pick out my characters and setting to best suit the core story. The characters usually come to life pretty fast once they’re placed. They interact and the book unfolds–as long as I let go and let ‘em do their thing.

For illustrations, first I get a picture in my mind…and then I try to capture it. I pick a theme to make the style, symbol, mood, and palette go together–very similar to my writing. I research as necessary, pick a composition, sketch it out, do line-work, add colors, and then do the finishing effects. The feeling of discovering my vision is important for every piece.

Whether it’s writing or drawing, emotion is the most important response to seek from the audience and what makes an impression.

Very well said. I was especially nodding my head to this part, “I want to be a little scared when I write and be unsure of the outcome, challenged by my characters, and in love with the world.” Yes! In six words or less, how would you describe your style?

Down to Earth < UP THE SKY

Win. In the last month you have opened your blog to authors and agents, doing awesome interviews with them and providing accompanying illustrations. The results have been absolutely fantastic (when I saw your interpretation of Regina, I swear my heart stopped, it was so her)! How has the experience been for you? Has it been challenging or surprising?

I started the interview series because I really wanted to reach out, get to know other authors, and to help them. I thought drawing for them would be fun too and I’d gain practice as an illustrator for other books. I didn’t expect it to be so well received! The art takes an hour of my time – sometimes two – so it’s not difficult. Although I ponder about author expectations, for the most part, I haven’t had any trouble connecting with the authors and his/her vision. It’s been so great drawing in different styles and reading author responses. I met a ton of fabulous authors…like Courtney! (She rocks like woah!) Courtney: aw! ~*~

The illustrations and interviews are fantastic. What could you draw over and over and over again and never get tired of?

Faces! The eyes alone can tell so much story–even if it’s the most neutral expression. Sometimes, that can be the most fascinating of all expressions. I love playing with the shadows and lights, trying to capture a subtle mood. One spot of light in the eyes can change everything.

What’s a favorite recent read of yours?

This isn’t a surprising answer since it’s practically everyone’s favorite but…Hunger Games! It contain a lot of things I believe in about storytelling: revolving around a single theme, having narration that’s to the point, and doing something different.

Great pick! And where can we find you on the internets?

www.realmlovejoy.com! I also have a blog called The Blog Realm. I’m on Twitter as realmlovejoy. Basically, if you Google Realm Lovejoy, you’ll get me since there aren’t too many people named that. ;)




Thank you, Realm, for an awesome interview! And for all you guys reading this, bookmark her sites and remember that name: Realm Lovejoy. A talent like that is ONE TO WATCH and one I’m already watching!

Realm RULES!

(Can I just say I feel kind of funny telling people to check out The Swivet, though, because I’m pretty sure the entire internet already has that covered because it is so awesome.)

Also head’s up, peoples: the fab Little Willow wrote the most wonderful entry about Banned Books. I love it when a blog entry makes you nod your head from the first word to the last and then the last word actually makes you do that whole fist-pumping thing where you are like YES THAT’S HOW IT IS and then everyone looks at you funny and then you show them your computer and they read the blog entry and then they do the EXACT SAME THING. Because also it is like, “I told you so,” and I love telling people so.

In other news, I spent all weekend watching J-Horror. And uhm, writing. Do you know you miss A LOT of movie when you cover your eyes?! One Missed Call keeps scaring me in new and different ways each time I watch it. And then I also watched One Missed Call: Final, which… actually–the concept was REALLY COOL, but the execution was only sort of okay (it had it’s moments).

In One Missed Call: Final, these awful teenagers bully this girl to the point she hangs herself (but survives) and then the girl starts sending the death call to her classmates as revenge, BUT–unlike the other movies–if you forward the call, you’re exempt from being killed by the scary ghost-girl responsible for them, Mimiko (who really likes killing people in the most horrific ways possible, just fyi). And the person the call is forwarded to does not get the opportunity to forward it themselves. So basically you have all your teenage friends who want you to die–and would help make that happen–rather than have you forward the call to them and this really scary ghost girl that is going to kill you if you don’t.

How mind-blowing is that concept?! It’s like phone Survivor WITH PHONE DEATH.

OK ARE YOU STILL WITH ME OR HAVE I BORED YOU YET.

Because my question to you, my bbs, is:

EVERYONE WINS!

Except maybe Edward. That Mimiko is terrifyingly fierce. But then Edward does sparkle.

idk. Too close to call, probably.

If you feel uncomfortable answering a question about possibly sentencing someone to death, then answer this one (I am so ~*curious*~ tonight!):

This book is super cute, people. I was lucky enough to win it when Thomas (the author!) held a haiku contest in his blog, and by lucky, I do mean lucky, because the competition was FIERCE. I threw ‘yo’ into my entry just to meet the syllable count (and I was totally caught!), so I thought that would push me out of the running for sure.

Patrick’s Super Socks is about about a dude named Patrick, who has to wear his Super Socks to bed or else these evil creepies will EAT HIS TOES. When I was little, I used to be afraid creepies would eat my toes and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one so already this book has a universal appeal. This is a really fun story for everyone and the drawings and text are a total delight. It would not be out of place on your bookshelf, even if you know no young readers. Older readers can totally use this book to nostalgia about that TOE EATING FEAR we all had when we were young. Since I’m turning another year older in ten days, I do welcome the opportunity to be reminded that I wasn’t always this decrepit.

Patrick’s Super Socks = rock.

Buy the book
Thomas’s blog

Heckler in crowd: Why do you not go to Hollywood?
Pierre Trudeau: Well, I will go to Hollywood, and I will bring you along. And you will enjoy yourself.

I laughed for like, ten minutes straight. The only way his response could’ve been more perfect if it had ended with, “SO THERE.”

Best Prime Minister EVER.

And that’s cool too.

PS: Watch The Hour people, for it is awesome.

Even still, I’d like to drive a couple points home:

It’s illegal to hunt the whitecoat harp seal pups (as well as hooded seal pups). Manipulative, extremist organisations like PETA–they kill animals, by the way–who use the whitecoat as their mascot in their fight against the hunt don’t want you to know this since their platform relies heavily on what we call, in technical terms, The Cuteness Factor. The Cuteness Factor is essential in getting people in a wedgieful uproar. You will note that trees and the ozone layer are not nearly as cute as the whitecoat harp seal pup and that is why we keep destroying both.

The maritimes are what we in Canada classically refer to as ‘Have Not’ provinces, and anyone who doesn’t know the economic realities in Eastern Canada before they decry the seal hunt should really check them out. The Myths and Realities page says it better than I can: “Seals are a significant source of income for individual sealers and thousands of families.”

And how annoying was it when Paul McCartney and Heather Mills stopped by for that photo-op with the protected whitecoat seal pup? Here we have two people who could easily supplement the source of income they’re so eager to take away from Canadians who genuinely need it without suggesting alternative sources while at the same time spreading misinformation and propaganda to boot.

Not cool.

So before you let your underwear wedgify itself over this, thereby pissing you off, please work hard to inform yourself of the facts about the Seal Hunt from an unbiased source. Every time an uninformed mouth spouts off about the travesties of the hunt while holding up a picture of a whitecoat harp seal pup, an informed person gets their knickers in a twist, so what we have here are two groups of people rendered horribly uncomfortable by their wedgies and that is how wars get started.

So do your part for a Wedgie Free World today.

That is all.

Further reading: CBC’s Seal Hunt In Depth.

Ha ha ha!

Belinda Stronach is leaving politics. I’m pretty bummed out about this because I really enjoyed telling people she was Stronach enough to be my Prime Minister and now she is denying herself the chance to run the country and, more importantly, me the chance to make a small fortune off that slogan. Even though I’m pretty sure I picked it up from someone cleverer than me. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is who makes and profits off the t-shirts first.

Anyway, thanks a lot, Belinda.

In all seriousness, I don’t blame her for stepping down. She had to suffer through Peter MacKay’s moping after their break-up because oh my God, she had policital convictions–ps: tackiest photo-op EVER, Peter–never mind the truly heinous name calling she endured later on. Not cool, Tories. Not cool at all. See, this is why I never vote for you.

Well, that and your con$ervative value$.

RIP.