What inspires Hazel and Bell to write? 

Bell has wanted to be a writer since they were really young, maybe nine or ten. They love the feeling of not being able to put a book down because you want to find out what happens next. That's their driving force when they’re writing! 

Hazel has been drawing since they first picked up a crayon! They remember making a presentation in fifth grade where they had to pick a dream career and do research on it, and they picked artist. However, all the research pointed to that dream being somewhat unrealistic and impractical, especially financially. It took a bit, but Hazel was eventually able to make art their career after university, despite the odds.

Both Hazel and Bell are also very inspired by Japanese BL Manga when creating their comics. 

What challenges do Hazel and Bell face while writing?  

For Bell, the most challenging thing about writing is the idea that other people are reading it! Sometimes it's scary being perceived, but if you want to make something resonate with an audience, it has to be personal.  

For Hazel, the most challenging part about making comics is keeping on schedule! Things often take three times longer than you think it will, and it’s important to accommodate for that when planning art for a comic. Art is hard, and when you’re drawing for comics, you’re often drawing new and unfamiliar things that could take a while to get right for the final art. 

What is one thing Hazel and Bell want readers to know about their book? 

Bell wants readers to know that they don't use generative AI at any point in their comic creation process. The duo draws and writes everything themselves.  

Hazel wants readers to know that their book was a labour of love! This book was completely made by the two of them, from the story, art, and dialogue, to the graphic design and printing decisions. 

What inspires Lauren's writing? 

Much of Lauren’s writing is inspired by her own experiences growing up, when she felt the greatest sense of freedom, curiosity, and belonging outdoors. She wants every child to have opportunities to experience that same joy and connection with the natural world. Lauren’s students and her own two young children continue to inspire her every day. Their questions, discoveries, and sense of wonder remind her that some of the most meaningful learning happens when we slow down, notice what's around us, and spend time outside together.

What have Lauren’s biggest challenges been while writing?

As someone with ADHD, Lauren’s biggest challenge isn't coming up with ideas—it's narrowing them down! She usually has dozens of book ideas swirling around at once, and deciding which ones belong together in a single story (and which ones should wait for another project) can be difficult. One of the best parts of the writing process has been working with an editor. Having someone help organize, refine, and strengthen her ideas has made Lauren a much better writer and storyteller.

What is one thing Lauren wants readers to know about her books?

Every one of Lauren's books is rooted in real life. They are inspired by experiences from her own childhood, her years as a classroom teacher, and adventures with her own children. While each story celebrates nature and outdoor learning, they also weave in social-emotional learning, helping children build empathy, confidence, curiosity, and a sense of belonging. The stories are deeply connected to the local lands of British Columbia, encouraging readers to notice, appreciate, and care for the places where they live and learn.
 

What inspires Key's writing?

As a botanist, Key always thought she should write a book about some obscure species of Magnolia or Camellia (she still might). However, as she enjoyed books from very early childhood, she was keen for her children and grandchildren to share a love of reading and storytelling with her. Key tells goodnight stories and lets children create them with her - adventures, mysteries, South Seas travels. The story in her book is somehow based on the true event of the trip to the trampoline place in New Westminster. In there, indeed Key jumped into the foam pit. She thinks grandparents are an important part of the family; at the same time, she feels they are a bit underrepresented in children’s books. 

What have Key’s biggest challenges been while writing? 

The characters in Key’s book and future books live in her imagination and evolve in time – it is challenging to reveal them to readers. Tapcha is very much real to Key - a blend between her, her mum, and her grandmother. It was a challenge for Kay to figure out how to describe her to a child in words only. 

What is one thing Key wants readers to know about her books?

This is Key’s first ever book - she had so much fun creating it. It was and still is a real adventure and learning process. She hopes the story is as enjoyable to a child as it is to an adult. In the book, Tapcha follows her curiosity and sense of adventure. She is missing her family, too.  In the complex and hurried times we live, it is easy to assume that old aunts, cousins, and grandparents belong to last century. In reality they are full of memories, stories and at times could be unpredictably adventurous. 

What inspired Ace to become a writer?

When Ace was in grade ten, he told his English teacher, in front of a class full of students, “Mr. Barton, you’re a good teacher, but you SUCK at teaching poetry.” Mr. Barton gave Ace a two-week detention and showed him what lesson plans, unit plans, and curriculum were all about. Then he gave Ace an assignment: plan and teach a poetry unit to your peers. Ace loved it, and two years later, in grade twelve, he had Mr. Barton’s letter of recommendation that helped him land some scholarship money he needed to go to university. That’s where Ace's love of writing and teaching started.

What have Ace’s biggest challenges been while writing? 

If you notice, Ace’s published work is in shorter forms: short stories and poetry. When he is teaching English and creative writing full-time and editing and coaching writers part-time, he finds he has trouble working on longer works, like novels. Consistency is important. In the meantime, he is learning a great deal about writing novels and is currently working on a few. Since he retires in two years, he thinks he’ll have much more time available. 

What is one thing Ace wants readers to know about his book?

How to Make a Killing Jar is dark. Bad things happen even to good people sometimes. Bathing in Fire is more experimental and has a greater range of feelings, even a bit of romance; it even has one story told from the point of view of a coin that passes through many people’s hands and another that is narrated by…a girl’s period. Ace’s poetry is focused on finding beauty despite brokenness, the way shards can come together to form a lovely mosaic. He’s primarily a literary writer, so you’re going to notice craft in the storytelling, whichever book you pick up.