In Japan, it's strange to openly take credit for giving to charity or even to donate publicly.
Historical atrocities have certainly shown that dehumanizing any group is the first step toward genocide.
I believe actual violence scars children much more than violence in storybooks.
I'd hasten to say that the prejudice in Dust City isn't completely analogous to racism in the real world.
Destiny isn't immutable. You can change your fate. But I'd say the only way to do it is with hard, intelligent work and long-term dedication to a goal.
People of different ethnicities are definitely not of differing species. Biologically speaking, people are people.
If some readers take away the idea that animals deserve better treatment in general, then I certainly won't argue.
I can't say I'm anything like a devoted animal rights activist, but I certainly oppose cruelty to animals.
I always hope that the artwork will complement and enrich a story.
Since I tend to write chronologically, the middle is always the place where the process is most taxing.
In medieval Europe, childbirth was a leading cause of death. So widowed fathers with children were quite common, meaning stepmothers were equally common.
I believe young children in particular enjoy witnessing the survival of youthful protagonists against terrible odds. I think it's gratifying to the reader when you give young characters that kind of agency.
I think a lot of things are at play when children enjoy a grisly old fairytale. I don't think many children take it literally, or rather it's quite clear to them that it's only a story, only make believe.
