We chat with author Tori Tadiar about Ilustra: Daybreaker, which sees the mythology of the Philippine Islands comes to life in this funny, warm, and enchanting graphic novel about making friends, learning to let go, and finding your place in the world.
Hi, Tori! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi, my name is Tori Tadiar, and I’m an IT professional by day and an author/illustrator/comic artist whenever I can be! I was born, raised, and continue to be based in the Philippines and my stories are inspired by my heritage with a healthy dose of fantasy.
I’m the author and illustrator of the Filipiniana-fantasy graphic novel Sagala, the all-ages Art Deco Manila comic Twinkle, Twinkle, and now, the Disney-Hyperion middle grade graphic novel series based on Philippine folklore, Ilustra.
When did you first discover your love for writing and illustrating?
I’ve been writing and illustrating stories for as long as I can remember! A lot of my childhood memories involved drawing on scraps of paper my aunt brought home from her office, which eventually got stapled together into some sort of loose narrative. I was around six when I came up with the first and only edition of “The Magic Ocean” – a two-page short story that had no magic, no ocean, just a six-year old’s birthday party, a lot of gifts, and a half-finished drawing of a rainbow-colored whale.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Enormous Turnip (the Read-it-Yourself Level 1 edition). I still have my old copy to this day.
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Pokemon Chapter Book series by Tracey West. I tried writing my own versions of the episodes I watched, complete with illustrations!
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Daytripper by Fábio Moon & Gabriel Bá
Your latest graphic novel, Ilustra: Daybreaker, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Mythical, Magical, Adventurous, Funny, Heartwarming.
What can readers expect?
Daybreaker is a fast-paced adventure where our young heroes jump from one mythical problem to another while dealing with their own very personal circumstances. We have a grandmother visiting from the afterlife in the form of a moth, a magical curse binding three very different kids together, ancient trees acting as a portal to faraway places, a sun-devouring beast, the goddess of dawn, and other creatures based on Philippine folklore and mythology. All this in the first week of summer break!
Where did the inspiration for Ilustra: Daybreaker come from?
Philippine folklore and mythology is the main draw of the Ilustra series – I was a big mythology fan when I was in school, and a lot of the myths I learned about were foreign to me: Greek, Norse, Japanese. But I knew next to nothing about any Philippine pantheon. I wanted to create a middle grade fantasy story that was loosely based on what was closer to home, and I had a grand time doing research and learning about different deities and creatures!
While the hook of the series is really the mythic and the fantastical, the heart of Daybreaker was inspired by my own childhood. The characters are inspired by family, friends, and random moments with strangers, the settings are actual places I’ve been to, and the problems and conflicts were drawn from my experiences growing up.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or illustrating?
I enjoyed writing and illustrating our main trio, Mika, Halle, and Teo. I enjoyed figuring out how their different personalities would clash or cooperate in a given scenario, and I loved drawing the different expressions they would make in the midst of whatever trouble they got themselves into!
Did you face any challenges whilst creating? How did you overcome them?
Working on a graphic novel takes a LOT of time and discipline, and the greatest challenge was remaining consistent. There were many instances when I just didn’t have the motivation to draw the same character for the thousandth time, and it just felt so much easier to take time off and enjoy other hobbies.
I believe what helped was the support of my loved ones! They let me have the time and space to focus on drawing, or forced me totouch grass when the workload got truly isolating – depending on what I needed at the time.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on the Ilustra sequel, Tidalrise. It will be out next year and picks up where Daybreaker left off. Stay tuned!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I mostly listen to audiobooks since I’m focused on inking comic pages. I’m late to the party but I recently finished Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo – I already miss the characters.
This year, I’m looking forward to amassing more local komiks. There are so many new titles coming out recently from Filipino comic artists and I can’t wait to get my hands on them!
