Michael Spradlin: OKAY, BUT WHAT’S A MANGA?

When HarperCollins asked me if I wanted to turn my beloved Spy Goddess series into manga, it took me a while to make up my mind. The conversation went something like this:

Them: Hello, Mike? HarperCollins here. How would you like to turn Spy Goddess into a manga series?

Me (in serious writer voice): Well, I'll have to think abo...OKAY!

At first, I wasn't sure what lava bubbling out of the ground had to do with books (oh, wait, that's magma!)....

I was excited because I grew up reading and loving comic books. And manga is the comic book of the new millennium. So a chance to turn Rachel Buchanan, Spy Goddess, into an illustrated action hero? Where do I sign up?

Writing manga was a real challenge compared to writing novels. With manga, you quickly learn what it means to "show don't tell." Everything has to literally be seen on the page. No interior monologues. No long descriptions of places or events. Show.

Stretching my writing wings was fun. You'll have to read SPY GODDESS: THE CHASE FOR THE CHALICE (on sale in February) and tell me if we succeeded or not.

But I'd like to know if you've ever tried a new style or format for your writing? How did you find the experience?

Michael P. Spradlin
Author of the Spy Goddess series

www.michaelspradlin.com
www.myspace.com/michaelspradlin
www.myspace.com/spygoddess

Check back to hear from a new HarperTeen author!