Melissa Iwai is an award-winning author/illustrator of over thirty picture books, including Soup Day, Pizza Day, Dumplings for Lili, which is a Crystal Kite Award winner and Bank Street Best Book. Her I Can Read Series, Gigi and Ojiji, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, and Gigi and Ojiji is a 2023 Theodor Geisel Honor recipient. When she is not creating, she can be found cooking and doing crossword puzzles with her husband, author Denis Markell, in Brooklyn. 

I had the opportunity to interview Melissa, which you can read below.

First of all, welcome to Geeks OUT! Could you tell us a little about yourself? 

Hi! Thank you so much for having me! I’m an artist and author of children’s books. I hail from Lompoc, a small coastal California town about 45 minutes from Santa Barbara. I studied illustration at The Art Center College of Design in Pasadena before moving east. But I consider myself a Brooklynite now, having lived her for close to 30 years! 

As a writer, what drew you to the art of storytelling, specifically to picture books?

Ever since I was little, my dream job always was to be an author/illustrator of picture books. I was an early reader, and I loved to draw. Picture books were an emotional refuge for me. I was intensely shy and anxious, and meeting strangers terrified me. I don’t know how I could have survived without books! 

How would you describe your creative process?

Very old school. I always begin with analog tools. I do a lot of sketching with a good old pencil and paper. I am one of those people who write in longhand in pen in a notebook when I am getting ideas and thoughts together. I love to plan my stories and problem-solve this way. 

For my illustrations I begin with my sketches and move on to painting and drawing with traditional art materials like watercolor, gouache, and colored pencils. 

I edit my illustrations using digital tools, such as Procreate, Photoshop.

Growing up, were there any stories in which you felt touched by/ or reflected in? Are there any like that now?

Sadly, as a kid I never saw Asian American children or people who looked like me in children’s books unless the topic was specifically about Asian culture— usually set in a mythical Asia, like the Five Chinese Brothers. 

I did have one book of Japanese folk tales, but again this hardly reflected my day-to-day life in suburban California. 

Luckily, publishing has evolved to the point where there are so many more inclusive picture books than when I was growing up. To be clear, this is a recent change, and it has been a long time coming. As an illustrator I’ve always wanted to create books with characters that are underrepresented, because I understand on a deep personal level how important it is. 

As a creative, who or what would you say are some of your greatest artistic/creative influences and/or sources of inspiration in general? 

My favorite childhood illustrators were Garth Williams, Gyo Fujikawa, and Richard Scarry. They had the ability to create magical, cozy worlds that I wanted to live in. I spent many hours poring over their artwork. I’ve always been a huge fan of the French artist Henri Matisse for his amazing compositions and color. I love how in his older years he adapted to his physical limitations and created some of his strongest pieces. 

I find so much inspiration living in NYC. Of course, there are so many fantastic museums and cultural events here. It is also without a doubt the best place for people watching because it is so diverse on every level. Part of my daily art practice is painting people (and often dogs) that I have seen during the day. I never find myself short of interesting people to draw.

What are some of your favorite elements of writing/drawing? What do you consider some of the most frustrating and/or difficult? 

I love the “discovery” phase– that period at the very beginning of a project. It’s when I explore different ideas through sketching, reading, and daydreaming. I guess the reason why I love it so much is because possibilities are wide open, and it feels like play. I don’t have any concrete expectations about how I think it will go or what it will lead to. 

The early stages of creating my final illustrations for a book can be the most frustrating for me. Without fail, I find myself questioning if I am going to be able to successfully do it. It’s silly because I’ve literally been illustrating books for over two decades, but there you go. I deal with it by pushing through all negativity and just allowing myself to fail. Eventually I get to the other side and I can see that it’s going to be all right – and I actually am pleased with what I’ve created. 

Many creators would say one of the most challenging parts of writing a book is finishing one. What strategies would you say help you accomplish this?

Believe me, I get this. In fact, Gigi and Ojiji, the first book in my early reader series was originally based on an idea I had about ten years prior. It was based on a childhood memory I had of my Japanese grandfather coming to stay with my family and how it was difficult to communicate with him. 

I had tried to write this story for years in different formats: as a picture book, an early chapter book, and even a middle grade, but I just could not complete it. 

I found myself critiquing my writing and overanalyzing at every step of the way which hindered me. A huge obstacle was getting out of my own way and allowing myself to enjoy the writing process. 

When I had the opportunity to create an I Can Read series based on a main character of color many years later, I decided to revisit this old kernel of an idea. Working within the constraints of an early reader book was very freeing for me. There are many rules to adhere to, and in a way, it limited my choices—in a good way! It became more of a puzzle to solve, occupying my analytical brain and allowing myself to write the first draft free of self-critique. I was more focused on the process rather than the final product, and paradoxically, this what ultimately allowed me to finish it. 

Aside from your work, what are some things you would want others to know about you?

I am a huge advocate of sleep and dream journaling. I occasionally have lucid dreams. I wish I had more! 

What’s a question you haven’t been asked yet but that you wish you were asked (as well as the answer to that question)? 

I guess it might be: What’s your guiding light when creating a book? For me, it’s tapping into my kid self and aiming to create something that I would have loved to read at that young age.  

What advice might you have to give for aspiring picture book creators?

It’s necessary to understand the field before submitting anything. I would advise reading as many picture books you can, especially in the age group you are interested in. Educate yourself and join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). It has launched countless published authors and illustrators, including myself. Go to www.scbwi.orgfor more information. As a member you will have access to webinars, in person conferences where you can meet editors, art directors and agents, and much more. 

Are there any other projects you are working on and at liberty to speak about?

I am in the home stretch with a huge project I’ve been working on for the past 8 years. It is called Let’s Party! A DIY Illustrated Guide to 10 Fantastic Birthday Parties. It’s a 360 page collection of step-by-step illustrated craft and cooking projects that parents and kids can do together to create a themed birthday bash. I’m so excited about this book which comes out January 2025. 

I am also in the very beginning stages of writing and illustrating the sequel to Dumplings for Lili, which will come out in 2026 (yes, publishing is a slow process!). This one doesn’t have a title yet, but it has to do with gardening, community, and multicultural cuisine. 

Finally, what books/authors would you recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT? 

I love the picture book authors/illustrators, Sydney Smith (Do You Remember? Town Is By The Sea), Beatriz Alamagna (On A Magical Do-Nothing Day), Brian Floca (Locomotive), Marc Boutavant (Around the World With Mouk), Allen Say (Grandfather’s Journey), Gyo Fujikawa (Oh, What A Busy Day!).

I actually also do read “grownup books” too! I have recently finished the Neapolitan novels by Elena Ferrente, and I highly recommend them!