Dax Riner
Photo used with permission of Dax Riner.
Dax Riner is a proud vegan and an avid sports fan who lives and dies with the Oakland A’s; he also enjoys reading, music, and history. Dax lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his wife Adriana and their seven rescue cats.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
- Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl
What’s your favorite line from a book?
- "A cat’s rage is beautiful, burning with pure cat flame, all its hair standing up and crackling blue sparks, eyes blazing and sputtering."—William Burroughs, The Cat Inside
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Charles Bukowski, Hergé, Rick Perlstein
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
- The magic and power of the written word captivated my imagination at an early age. By sixth grade, I knew writing would play a huge role in my life, and thanks to the seemingly endless possibilities that writing affords—poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art criticism, essays, sports, and on and on—it has, it does, and it always will.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
- Utilize all of your senses—look, listen, feel. Trust yourself. Stay true to who you are, what you believe, and your definition of success.
