Q&A with Michael Slack

 

 

 

Michael Slack is the author and illustrator of the new kids' graphic novel Tate Tuber Space Spud. His many other books include Smoosh's Super-Duper Fun Day. 

 

Q: What inspired you to create Tate Tuber Space Spud?

 

A: A cute potato, and the Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles." I saw a photo of a potato that's surface imperfections gave it an adorable face. I wondered what its story would be. A funny sci-fi twist on the first vegetable grown in space seemed like a great place to start.

 

Then I thought about the Star Trek episode, how something that seems so benign grows into a huge problem that takes over the spaceship. I thought it would be funny if a successful space farming experiment on the ISS leads to it being overrun by rambunctious space spuds trying to be astronauts.

 

Q: Did you work on the text first or the illustrations first--or both simultaneously?

 

A: For Tate Tuber Space Spud I did something different. I wrote a first draft then did a voice recording doing voices for the narrator and all the characters. I reworked the story while listening to the recording over and over again until I had a final draft. Which I then re-recorded. Then I worked up the sketches. 

 

Q: Did you need to do any research to write the book, and if so, did you learn anything that especially surprised you?

 

A: I did a little research for the fun facts at the back of the book. The one thing that struck me was how close the ISS is to Earth. You kind of imagine it farther in space than it actually is. 

 

Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?

 

A: A good laugh and inspiration to create a comic book of their own. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I just finished two early comic book readers called Funjeepups, coming out next year. I'm also working on a follow up to Smoosh's Super-Duper Fun Day. 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Many of the characters from my books arrive while I'm working on personal art for art shows. You can see my paintings and ceramic sculptures on my website. www.slackart.com

--Interview with Deborah Kalb