I believe young children in particular enjoy witnessing the survival of youthful protagonists against terrible odds. I think it's gratifying to the reader when you give young characters that kind of agency.

Destiny isn't immutable. You can change your fate. But I'd say the only way to do it is with hard, intelligent work and long-term dedication to a goal.

I'd hasten to say that the prejudice in Dust City isn't completely analogous to racism in the real world.

I always hope that the artwork will complement and enrich a story.

I can't say I'm anything like a devoted animal rights activist, but I certainly oppose cruelty to animals.

Historical atrocities have certainly shown that dehumanizing any group is the first step toward genocide.

In medieval Europe, childbirth was a leading cause of death. So widowed fathers with children were quite common, meaning stepmothers were equally common.