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Back to Featured Interviews >> MEET AKEMI GUTIERREZ
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| Akemi Gutierrez |
I loved to pretend. I spent my days exploring winding rivers in my bedroom, spying on the sleeping giant underneath the foothills by our house, and playing kooky games with my brother.
What was your first job after college?
I left art school early to work at an animation studio. I enjoyed working for a variety of studios before going to Disney Feature Animation where I worked on “Pocahontas,” “Mulan,” “Emperor’s New Groove” and others.
What gave you the idea for THE PIRATE AND OTHER ADVENTURES OF SAM & ALICE?
My older brother and I used to play imaginary games together when we were kids. He created wonderful worlds for us to explore and play in. We usually flew to outer space and battled aliens in our space ship with no real props other than the sofa’s seat cushions. We also explored distant jungles (always dangerous) and zombie infested islands. I wrote THE MUMMY AND OTHER ADVENTURES OF SAM & ALICE and its sequel THE PIRATE AND OTHER ADVENTURES OF SAM & ALICE from these memories of very happy adventures with my brother. He passed away in 2000.
When is your next book going to be in book stores?
I illustrated a bilingual children’s book that was written by Jorge Ramos called, I’M JUST LIKE MY MOM; I’M JUST LIKE MY DAD. It’s published by HarperCollins and will be available in July 2008.
Is there anything about yourself that you’d like to share—hobbies, where you were born, special talents?
My favorite creature is the sea cucumber.
My favorite cuddly animal is the wombat.
My favorite fish is the sun fish.
My favorite pet is my hamster.
I don’t like lima beans.