Today I am so excited—and I’ll admit I’m also having a bit of a fangirl moment—because I’m interviewing Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, and Giovanni Rigano on the show!

Together, they comprise the powerhouse team behind the heart-wrenching and powerful graphic novel Illegal.

You probably already know Eoin Colfer as the bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series (one of my favorite middle grade series of all time!). What you might not know about him is that before becoming a full-time writer he worked as a primary school teacher and he spent four years working in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Italy.

Eoin’s co-author, Andrew Donkin, has written more than sixty books and graphic novels for children and adults, including collaborating with Eoin on the Artemis Fowl graphic novels. His books have been translated into thirty languages around the world and have sold more than eight million copies in the last decade.

And the master behind the artwork of Illegal, Giovanni Rigano, is an Italian artist and illustrator, who may be most well known for his role in the creation of the Artemis Fowl graphic novels. He has also created graphic novels for Disney books, including The Incredibles.

Now listen in as we all chat about their latest and amazing graphic novel, and how the comic format offers ways to draw readers in unlike any other media.

In this episode Eoin, Andrew, Giovanni and I discuss:

• The different steps in creating and completing a graphic novel.
• Combining words and pictures to create a greater emotional response in readers.
• Structuring a story with alternating timelines, and how to do it right.
• Why it is necessary to represent the perspective of children in books.
• How to use the graphic novel layout to control the pace of your story.

Plus, each of their #1 tips for writers and artists.

About Eoin Colfer

Eoin Colfer worked as a primary school teacher before becoming a full-time writer. He spent four years between 1992 and 1996 working in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Italy. His first book, Benny and Omar, was based on his experiences in Tunisia.

In 2001, the first book in the bestselling Artemis Fowl series was published and is now comprised of eight books. Over the years, his works have been named a Book Sense Book of the Year nominee, an L.A. Times Book Prize finalist, and a Virginia Readers’ Choice Award nominee. Eoin lives in Ireland with his family.

For his latest book, the graphic novel Illegal, he once again teamed up with author Andrew Donkin and graphic artist Giovanni Rigano to create this amazing and timely story. Illegal is now available from Sourcebooks.

To connect with Eoin check out his website at eoincolfer.com.

About Andrew Donkin

Andrew Donkin is the author of more than sixty books and graphic novels for children and adults. His books have been translated into thirty languages around the world and have sold more than eight million copies in the last decade. He currently lives in London.

His latest graphic novel, Illegal, was yet another wonderful collaboration with bestselling author Eoin Colfer and graphic artist Giovanni Rigano and is available now.

To connect with Andrew check out his website at andrewdonkin.co.uk.

About Giovanni Rigano

Giovanni Rigano is an Italian artist and illustrator born in Cantù, Italy. He is most well known for his role in the creation of the Artemis Fowl graphic novels, the first of which came out in 2007. Giovanni has also created graphic novels for Disney books, including The Incredibles and Pirates of the Caribbean.

In 2012, Giovanni also illustrated Eoin Colfer’s book The Supernaturalist which was also released as a graphic novel. Giovanni currently lives in Como, Italy.

His latest collaboration with Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin is Illegal which is now available.

To connect with Giovanni check out his website at riganogiovanni.blogspot.com.

Illegal

A powerfully moving graphic novel by New York Times bestselling author Eoin Colfer and the team behind the Artemis Fowl graphic novels that explores the current plight of undocumented immigrants.

Ebo is alone. His brother, Kwame, has disappeared, and Ebo knows it can only be to attempt the hazardous journey to Europe, and a better life—the same journey their sister set out on months ago.

But Ebo refuses to be left behind in Ghana. He sets out after Kwame and joins him on the quest to reach Europe. Ebo’s epic journey takes him across the Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli, and finally out to the merciless sea. But with every step he holds on to his hope for a new life, and a reunion with his family.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 227

(Right-click to download.)

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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 227: How to Craft a Knockout Graphic Novel — Interview with Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, and Giovanni Rigano appeared first on DIY MFA.