Olivia Stephens
Olivia Stephens is a graphic novelist, illustrator, and writer from the Pacific Northwest. Artie and the Wolf Moon is her debut graphic novel. She has illustrated for a number of publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, and FIYAH Literary Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction. Olivia graduated with a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design. When not drawing, she enjoys eating spicy foods and losing her voice at rock concerts.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Bleach (manga by Tite Kubo)
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“Each of us is born with a box of matches inside us but we can’t strike them all by ourselves…”—Like Water For Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Hiromu Arakawa, Tite Kubo, and E.K. Weaver
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
There’s too many stories going on in my head, and after a while it starts to get crowded.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Writing fiction is all about making up fake stuff, but the one thing you can’t fake is enthusiasm. Write about the things that make you excited; the subjects that ignite your passion. That is when fiction starts to feel real.
