Emma Hunsinger is the author and artist of How It All Ends, which was an Indie Next Pick, received five starred reviews, and was named to six "best of the year" lists. She is also the creator of the comic "How to Draw a Horse," which was nominated for an Eisner Award and included in the prestigious annual "Cartoon Takeover" print edition of the New Yorker. She lives with her family in Vermont.
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| Emma Hunsinger | |
It seems that your first graphic novel follows a similarly atmospheric trajectory to "How to Draw a Horse." What does that feel like?
To be honest, it was pretty unexpected in both cases. I'm just so thrilled to be making comics that were published. So, the rest feels like gravy.
How It All Ends weaves together family, friends, and school in a way that feels realistic and natural. How did you balance these topics?
I vividly remember the way time at home blended into time at school. And that balance is important because who we are at home is different from who we are in the classroom. Who we are can even change based on which friend we're with. Showing the range of a teenager's life validates that feeling of "containing multitudes."
Your characters are super expressive. How do you capture that in your illustrations?
I sit at my desk and contort my face for hours. Funny enough, I don't do it in front of a mirror. I did a lot of penciling for this book in the Dartmouth College library. So not only was I a townie in the library, but I was also a townie in the library mugging for hours.
Could you tell readers a bit about the decisions you made around your color palette?
I wanted to make something that could only be a graphic novel, and having a color story was part of that. Blue represents reality and red represents imagination. I used yellow when it felt "right." I think that's what makes it work. The reader doesn't have to decode it; they can just feel.
What were the editorial and design processes with Greenwillow like?
My editor, Martha Mihalick, was so patient with me as I learned on the job. Over the course of two years, I made about three rough drafts, then a pencil draft, then did the final art. Martha helped me level up my storytelling in a way I never could have managed on my own. Art director Paul Zakris and I collaborated closely, especially on the cover design and title treatment. It means a lot to me to have a say in how the reader enters the book before the story starts.
Are you working on anything new?
Yes, my second graphic novel! I'm so honored to be part of Greenwillow. I was a huge Amelia Bedelia fan as a child, so I like to tell people I'm part of the "House of Bedelia."
Is there anything else you'd like to say to Shelf readers?
I've gotten incredible notes from booksellers and those compliments hit different. To have someone who is always reading books tell you they liked your book is special. Thank you all for reading! I look forward to making so many more books for you. ♥️