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What was your inspiration for your new series, "Ricky Ricotta's
Mighty Robot?" |
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I grew up watching Japanese monster movies
like "Godzilla Vs. Megalon", and "Gamera Vs. Guiron"
(my two faves!). There's nothing like watching guys in rubber monster
suits duke it out amongst miniature cardboard cities. The Ricky
Ricotta series is both a parody of the genre, as well as a tribute. |
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Where did you find Martin Ontiveros, the illustrator for the
series? |
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I saw his gallery show at an independent bookstore
called "Reading Frenzy" in Portland, OR. Martin had painted
many cool scenes of robots fighting space monkeys, and I remember
saying to my girlfriend, "I wish I could paint like that."
I thought Martin's style would be perfect for the "Ricky Ricotta's
Mighty Robot" series (which I had written two years earlier,
but never illustrated). So I called Martin and asked him if he wanted
the gig. He did.
Not only is Martin a "natural" at book illustration, but
he also turned out to be a swell guy and a good friend, too. |
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What
was it like working with Martin? |
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At first it was a little strange. I'm used
to writing and illustrating all by myself. When I write my stories,
I know what the pictures will look like because I see them in my
head. But with this series, I knew I wouldn't be able to draw what
I saw in my head. My linework is too loose, and I have very little
experience with action scenes.
So I sketched Ricky, his parents, and the Mighty Robot, and turned
my designs over to Martin. Martin re-drew these characters with
his broad, bold lines and then began designing everything else,
including all the supporting characters and bad guys. I expected
to have to work very closely with Martin on the first book until
he got the hang of things. But he surprised me by already having
"the hang of things." His first draft of the book was
nearly perfect! |
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What
does the future hold for Ricky and his new friend? |
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Right now, Martin Ontiveros is illustrating
the second book: "Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot Vs. The Mutant
Mosquitoes from Mercury." There's lots more action in the second
story, and it's sillier, too.
It looks like Ricky and his Robot are going to have to save the
world from the evil inhabitants of every planet in our solar system...
but I'm sure they'll be up to the job. |
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Do
you think robots would make good pets? |
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Sure!
They could help you with your homework, fly you to school, and just
think: you'd never get picked on again! |
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What
were you like in school? |
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Bored,
hyperactive, and a general nuisance. |
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Were
you encouraged to write and illustrate as a child? |
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Yes
-- by my classmates. I also got a lot of encouragement from my parents. |
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Do
you still have any of the stories/comics you did from when you were
a kid? |
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Unfortunately, I don't have any of the Captain
Underpants comics. Many of them were ripped up by my teachers, and
others were "borrowed" by my friends. They'd take the
comics home and lose them, or spill stuff on them, and bring them
back weeks later with pages missing and stuff. The only comics I
still have were about another super hero I invented called "Water
Man". My parents wouldn't let me bring those comics to school
because they knew they'd get trashed. I'm glad they made me keep
them in a safe place, because I still have all 20 issues! |
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What
advice do you have for kids who want to be writers? |
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Try
to spend as much time watching television as you can. (Grown-ups
HATE it when I say that. It's fun!). |
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Where
do you get your ideas? |
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North Carolina. |
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Which of your books are you most proud of? Why? |
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I think I'm most proud of the Captain Underpants
books, the Dumb Bunnies books, and Kat Kong and Dogzilla. They're
my funniest books. |
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Favorite thing to read? Why? |
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I
like cartoon books and humorous short stories/essays. Why? Because
I have a short attention span. |
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What
do you say to people who don't like your books because the characters
"misbehave"? |
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I don't say anything to them. I just stick
out my tongue and make rude noises. |
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