Creator Corner: Author and Illustrator Danesh Mohiuddin
Welcome to Creator Corner, a blog series where we interview the creators of our recent books. For this post, we interviewed Mummy & Me: A Monster’s Tale author and illustrator Danesh Mohiuddin, whose book published August 27, 2024!
Owlkids Books: Danesh, how and why did you begin writing and illustrating children’s books?
Danesh Mohiuddin: I began writing children’s books when my son was born! My bed time stories had to be interesting enough to keep me awake yet boring enough to put him to sleep! I’ve been illustrating for a long time, but only recently started drawing for children’s books.
OKB: What themes or topics do you enjoy exploring in your illustrations?
DM: I enjoy drawing horror but with a humorous twist. I also revel in drawing all things creepy, slimy and grotesque (but not violent or gruesome). I tend to explore themes that relate to everyday life and then find a fantastical way to express them.
OKB: What was the inspiration for writing this book?
DM: When my son Daniel was born we had no idea what that was going to be like. This is a collection of those experiences. I also was pushed to do it to take part in ‘Inktober’ a yearly month-long challenge on Instagram where artists have to draw something in ink everyday for the whole month of October. Of course, it was also the month leading to Halloween.
OKB: What was the most enjoyable part of bringing this story to life? What was the most challenging part of the process?
DM: The most enjoyable part was inking it, especially the mummy in all that wrapping. I love dipping a brush in ink and gliding it along the paper. The most challenging part was writing a narrative that put all my experiences together in a cohesive way for our readers to enjoy.
OKB: What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
DM: I hope they understand that it’s extremely tough being a parent, and we really struggle sometimes. The situation can really feel desperate and hopeless at times. But at the end of it all, the love between parent and child is extraordinary and unconditional and that makes it all worth it.
OKB: What’s a fun fact people may not know about you?
DM: When I was around 6 years old I dressed up as a mummy for a school play. I scarcely remember the play itself, but I do recall panicking in the washroom with the poorly wrapped toilet paper unraveling from every limb, and me struggling to put myself together.
