Author Vicky Fang's Realm of Creative Problem Solving
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Time to read 2 min
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Time to read 2 min
Hi! I'm an author-illustrator based in Vancouver, BC (though I used to live in the San Francisco Bay area.) I'm the author of Layla and the Bots, Best Buddies, AlphaBot, and most recently, Ava Lin! And a fun fact... I once asked David Bowie to move in line without realizing it was him. (In my defense, it was his turn in line.)
I write books to inspire kids to be creative problem solvers. It started off specifically in STEM, but my goal has always been to empower kids to think through any problems and tackle them in creative ways, including social-emotional challenges. I want to equip kids with the confidence to navigate our world in thoughtful and proactive ways, with stories and characters that resonate.
I love the ideation phase of projects, because of the excitement and the potential! But on the other end, when even one kid tells me they love my book, or tells me it's the first book they read by themselves, or hands me a piece of fan art, suddenly all of the business part of the job melts away and I'm so grateful to have had the privilege of creating something meaningful for that one kid. I love those moments.
My latest project, the Ava Lin chapter books, were inspired by my kids and by my own childhood. Ava is a huge optimist (inspired by my son) and she is trying to navigate school and home, where she often missteps or misunderstands (inspired by me, see above personal experience with David Bowie.) But despite her mistakes, which are relatable and hilarious, Ava always finds a way to bounce back.
My identity as a Chinese American shows up in Ava Lin through the details of her day to day experiences, from dim sum to her grandma (Popo) to cultural expectations. I've been wonderfully touched by all of the parents and kids that have reached out with gratitude for the representation that Ava provides! I'm so proud that the cultural details are recognized and embraced while the themes are universally relatable.
Hmm... I guess, really, that I'm continually evolving as an author and as an illustrator. Every book represents something important and true to my heart. I've had many past lives, as an actress, a robot designer, a new media artist, a coder...and I pull on every aspect of my past and present life to tell stories. I'm so grateful for all of the support I've received, from readers, from educators, from parents, and from the writing community.
I'm very excited for my next series, One Mad Cat, which releases July this year. It's about an easily annoyed cat who steps outside of her comfort zone to help solve mysteries for her friends. It's a super cute, fun, and relatable early graphic novel, illustrated by me!
I'm at www.vickyfang.com or @fangmousbooks on IG and most social media platforms!
