We chat with author and illustrator Bree Paulsen about The Firelight Apprentice, which brings her fantastical storytelling and warm, sparkling artwork to this story that celebrates the bond between sisters.
Hi, Bree! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Of course! I was born and raised in Southern California. I think that fact surprises people because my work is very autumnal, and expect me to be from Pacific Northwest or New England, but I just have a love for the feel of autumn and all things spooky. A lot of that love comes from Halloween being a big holiday for my family, as I grew up with my parents going all out with decorations and throwing parties. Other than that, I studied animation at Laguna College of Art and Design, and use what I learned getting my degree so much while working on my graphic novels. There is a surprising amount of overlap between the two fields, from pitch packets and all the visual development that goes into creating a world.
When did you first discover your love for stories and illustrating?
I guess ever since I was a kid. I would just listen to music and draw for hours, coming up with characters and stories the music inspired. Art was always encouraged in our home so I always had plenty of sketchbooks to fill. I believe I still have most of them.
Your latest release, The Firelight Apprentice, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Whimsical, challenging, somber, exciting, scary
What can readers expect?
Readers should definitely expect something somewhat dark and a bit serious, especially those who discovered me through my Garlic books. There is some overlap in the rustic, “cottage-core” vibes and magic, but the story of Flight is a bit more complicated, with come very somber moments and dark themes throughout.
Where did the inspiration for The Firelight Apprentice come from?
The general gist of the story is one that I have clung to for years given the dream it was based one is one of the most vivid I have ever had. I had it back in high school when my friends and I were getting really into Studio Ghibli films. I had grown up with My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service, but had no idea there were so many more at the time. I think readers find the influence pretty easily, especially with how similar the setting is to Hayao Miyazaki’s adaptation of Howl’s Moving Castle.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
It’s the quiet moments I love the most between characters, whoever it may be, where they simply talk about what’s on their mind or whatever emotions they are through. It’s something that is in all my work, because I like showing that is okay to vulnerable once and a while, and have characters lower their usual guards.
Can you tell us about your process when it comes to crafting a story and then illustrating it?
So I always start with a script. That script is broken down by pages and panels so I have the pages preplanned a little when I start to thumbnail and sketch. Whenever I hit walls when writing, I pull up a playlist of music I turn to for inspiration and play some mindless game. As I write and sketch, I am also doing a lot of research and pulling reference I plan to use. I will also photographic reference and make 3D models for environments to help speed up the sketching process. While I am sketching, I am also working out all the lettering so the compositions of each page is more cohesive and flows. After all my pages are sketched out, I ink and color using a color script I have put together so that the colors are consistent throughout the book.
What’s next for you?
I am currently working a YA adaptation of Dracula that is told from Mina’s point of view. For those who have read the original novel, the book itself basically exists because of Mina’s efforts of transcribing everyone’s diaries and letters. I am honestly surprised she has not be the point of view character in any other adaptations of the novel, which is sadly mirrors how she is pushed aside in the story, only to find herself in more danger.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
Very different from what I have created, but in a monstrous vein of work I would love to pursue in the future has be Someone You Can Build A Nest by John Wiswell, which came out earlier this year. It’s a gruesome horror that is deep-down very sweet and cozy (at least for me) as the reader follows a monster falling in love with a kind human. As for what I am looking forward to, I am always anticipating the next volume of Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama. It is my favorite ongoing manga at the moment and I am thrilled it is getting an anime adaptation.
