An Author Interview with Tim Probert, Author & Illustrator of ‘Lightfall’

Hello, everyone!! Isabelle Knight back here again with another author interview — the first one of June to be exact! ^^ And this is interview is actually with one of my favorite authors who wrote one of my favorite graphic novels of all time — Lightfall!! Lightfall was just such a fun read, I loved the world, and the illustrations were absolutely gorgeous! And the characters and the plot were just so fun and quirky and engaging, and I loved every minute of reading it!

Which is why, today, I am super excited to be back here again with the creator of Lightfall — Tim Probert! Tim Probert is an author and illustrator, and he has worked on some fantastic books, such as the two I’ve read, Lightfall and Dungeons & Dragons! It was amazing getting to ask him some questions about his writing process and some of his tips for young writers!

Anyway, I’ve likely rambled on enough by now, so I should probably let you hear from the author himself!

1. What made you decide you wanted to try and write a graphic novel? What do you think were some of the hardest parts about writing this book?

I have been an illustrator and also working in animation for over ten years. A graphic novel is a combination of the two in some ways, illustrating an entire story and getting all of the motion and design of animation in there. Lightfall was my first graphic novel, so it was a big learning process along the way. I went through several drafts and learned more every time.

2. And what do you think were the best parts?

Although it was hard to draw and paint every page, it was also very satisfying to be able to create anything I could imagine. And it felt great when it was all complete!

3. Why did you decide to write this book for kids?

I set out to write a book that anyone can enjoy, from younger readers to adults. But I wanted to create a character in Bea that I didn’t really see when I was a kid, someone who was anxious but still heroic. So I hope kids relate to her and Cad!

4. I’m also curious on how you got started – how did you really get started with illustrating books and then writing them? Did you always want to be an illustrator/author when you were younger?

I did want to be an artist of some kind when I was younger. I didn’t think I could ever become an illustrator or author, though. I went to school for painting, then worked both illustrating books and designing for animation. It was a slow start, but I stuck with it and I’m glad I did. My best advice is to not give up and keep making work you care about.

5. Have any other authors or books or TV shows (or anything in your life, really!) that have helped inspire this book?

Lots! Lord of the Rings, Redwall and Dinotopia were all important books for me when I was younger that all helped inspire Lightfall. The works of Hayao Miyazaki are also a big influence, especially his manga Nausicaa.

6. And I really love the world of Lightfall! It’s so beautifully illustrated, and it’s got this really rich setting and history! How did you come up with all of that? Did you do a lot of planning beforehand, or did you make some of it up as you went?

It’s a little of both. I plan plenty of stuff beforehand, and I’m always writing notes and coming up with different ideas for the world and its history. But the story will also inform things, so stuff is always being added and subtracted as I go. I’m always trying to remember to put the characters and story first, and the world building is there to help support that.

7. This is my first time interviewing a graphic novelist/illustrator, so I’m curious on what the process for writing a graphic novel is like! What was your process like for writing Lightfall?

I think everyone has a different process, which is one of the great things about comics. I don’t believe there’s a wrong way to make them and it’s all about finding what works best for you. I usually start with an outline then write a script of the whole book. Then I do thumbnails, which are very loose drawings, figuring out all of the pages and panels. I edit those a few times, then draw the pages with pencil. All the pages are scanned then painted in Photoshop and the book is assembled in inDesign. Then it’s off to the printer!

8. And do you have any tips for young writers or illustrators who would really love to write their own books and get their stories out there or become a professional illustrator?

Start writing and drawing! You will learn and get better with every drawing you do and story you write. Share your work with friends and family and peers. It’s great to see how people respond.

9. Is there anything you hope readers will take away from this book?

I hope people connect with the characters and that reading the book brings them some enjoyment!

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And hello again! Tis me, Isabelle, here again! 🙂 Tim, thank you so much for doing this interview! It was great to hear your thoughts on the writing and illustrating process, and I love your advice for young writers — sharing your work can definitely be a great way to improve your writing and drawing skills! I also really loved getting to hear about how you managed to craft the history of Lightfall!

Thank you guys so much for reading this interview! I really hope you enjoyed it — it was amazing to be able to ask Tim a few questions on his writing process, and he had some fantastic answers! 🙂 And I also hope that you found something interesting in this interview that could maybe help your own writing and/or illustrating journey!

So yeah! Thank you guys so much for being here, and I also hope you’ll check out some of Tim’s books! They’re fantastic, and I look forward to seeing what future projects he comes up with next!

Until next time!

Isabelle