Ethan M. Aldridge Interview - Chestnut Street ~ JeanBookNerd

Photo Content from Ethan M. Aldridge

Ethan M. Aldridge is a bestselling author and illustrator. He is the creator of the fantasy graphic novel ESTRANGED (a Junior Library Guild selection, Indie Bestseller, and YALSA Great Graphic Novel For Teens), and it's follow up THE CHANGELING KING (coming fall 2019).

Ethan was raised in a small town in Utah. Growing up, Ethan’s favorite things to draw were monsters and whatever dinosaur he liked that week. He now does more or less the same thing for a living. Ethan lives in New York City with his husband, Matthew, and their dog, Kitsune.

Ethan has had the pleasure to create work for HarperCollins Publishers, Penguin Random House, and EA Games.

Series: Estranged (Book 1)
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (August 7, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062653865
ISBN-13: 978-0062653864

Praise for ESTRANGED

“A splendid tale of faery magic and adventurous siblings, all told in gorgeously rendered watercolor panels: this is exactly my kind of thing.” —Ben Hatke, author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Zita the Spacegirl trilogy

“It’s got dragons. It’s got drama. It’s got depth. And it’s got me impatiently awaiting Ethan M. Aldridge’s next eye-popping adventure.” —Tim Federle, award-winning author of Better Nate Than Ever and Five, Six, Seven, Nate!

“A compelling story about finding identity in a world where magic dangers lurk just around the corner. I loved Estranged!” —Molly Ostertag, author-illustrator of The Witch Boy

“As richly imagined in the full-color illustrations, the worldbuilding is both accessible and as familiar as those genre stalwarts… this should easily resonate with preteen and teen fans of both Holly Black and Neil Gaiman.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Worthy of inclusion in any fantasy collection.” —School Library Journal

“[F]un, daring, and dark...with themes and art that fall into the realm of Neil Gaiman, Michael Ende, and Jim Henson. Coupled with the beautifully toned watercolor art, the interdependence of and tension between the two protagonists makes this book stand out.” —Publishers Weekly

“The deliciously captivating start to this adventure series will leave readers hungry for more.” —Booklist

Greatest thing you learned at school?
I'm afraid I wasn't a particularly good student. I spent too much time doodling the corners of my homework. I suppose, to that end, I learned that teachers don't particularly enjoy drawings of dragons eating the algebra equations.

When/how did you realize you had a creative dream or calling to fulfill?
I've always loved drawing and telling stories. As far back as I can remember, it's been my favorite way to pass the time. When I found out there was a whole job based around doing both of those things, I knew it was all over for me.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
I love getting to interact with readers who connected with what I'm trying to say in my stories. Whether it's at conventions or through letters or social media, that connection through storytelling is something I find endlessly fulfilling.

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
I'm currently working on a new fantasy graphic novel, separate from Estranged. I can't say too much about it right now, but keep an eye out for more news soon!

If you could work for anyone you choose, who would it be?
I'm lucky in that I get to work for myself, and that work is done in a collaborative medium. I've already got to work on collaborations with some writers I really admire, like Lauren Oliver and Erin Morgenstern. There's a lot of authors, both past and present, I would jump at the chance to work with, like Holly Black, Kat Howard, and Diana Wynne Jones.

What is the first job you have had?
I was a farmhand on a turkey farm, where I worked from the age of 13 to a bit over 16. Mostly, the job entailed me keeping the turkey's feed buckets clean and shoveling the poop out of their pens.

Best date you've ever had?
My boyfriend of the time took me to a wonderful performance of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." It was outdoors, in the middle of the woods, and the production moved further into the forest as the story progressed, as we the audience followed. It was strange and beautiful and exactly my kind of thing. I'm married to that boy now.

What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?
I wish I could report something inspiring and profound, but it's usually something along the lines of "Urmph, murmph. Why is the sun so bright? Hurmph."

What is your most memorable travel experience?
My husband and I were in Paris, and we'd had a couple of days of heavy touring around. We'd stopped in the Luxembourg Gardens, and were just sitting there, enjoying the early autumn foliage. I very vividly remember just sitting there, resting in a beautiful place. It's simple, but a moment I think about a lot.

When you looked in the mirror first thing this morning, what was the first thing you thought?
"How is my hair doing that!?"

What decade during the last century would you have chosen to be a teenager?
It might sound odd, but I think this decade. Teens today face a lot of challenges and complications and fears I didn't really have to deal with, but they're also more connected. There's more access to diverse and experimental and challenging stories in all kinds of new and old and interesting mediums. There are more ways now to find those in your camp, and I could have really used that as a teen. Plus, AO3 is a thing. I would have torn through that thing as a teen.

What do you usually think about right before falling asleep?
I'm usually kept awake a bit by untangling the bits of story I've worked on during the day, which usually spools out in to possible ideas for future books and comics and short stories and, and, and...It's very important that I keep a notebook near my bed.

Edmund and the Childe were swapped at birth. Now Edmund lives in secret as a changeling in the World Above, with fae powers that make him different from everyone else—even his unwitting parents and older sister, Alexis. The Childe lives among the fae in the World Below, where being human makes him an oddity at the royal palace, and where his only friend is a wax golem named Whick.

But when the cruel sorceress Hawthorne takes the throne, the Childe and Edmund realize that the fate of both worlds may be in their hands—even if they’re not sure which world they belong to.

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