Saki Tanaka is an author, illustrator, mother, friend and overall, salt-of-the-earth, lovely human. She celebrates the differences that make us who we are in her magical tales. We had the opportunity to learn more about her artistic process.
What can you tell us about your upbringing and how you entered the world of art and writing?
I grew up moving from country to country, raised by a Mexican mother and Japanese father. This steeped my childhood in an unusual concoction of intercultural influences like Mexican folktales and Japanese manga, video games and anime. I loved this as a dreamy kid who desperately wanted “magic” to be real, always looking for portals into enchanted realms. I spent hours drawing, writing and building these imaginary places into being! While it’s wild that I now get to do this as an author and illustrator, arriving here wasn’t a straightforward path.
My early interests in painting flourished thanks to supportive parents. They exposed me to a lot of fine art—the surrealists were my natural favorite, especially Salvador Dali and Remedios Varo. While not a direct visual influence, their work has affected the lens through which I perceive the world.
My love for art traveled with me as my family moved around the globe, affording me a lot of incredible experiences. But this transient upbringing also did a number on my sense of identity and self-worth. I was a perennial outsider, and in my keenness to fit in, struggled to express myself authentically—a critical skill for thriving in the arts. So when my well-meaning parents nudged me towards more fiscally responsible ways to channel my creative endeavors—like becoming a designer—I did.
At first, I enjoyed the visual and conceptual problem-solving that graphic design required. But strictly “reality based” ideation eventually took a toll on my soul that constantly yearned for whimsy. This made me seek out night classes where I could draw and write. One led to another, and I eventually realized that my love of magical worlds, storytelling and illustration could come together in picture-book making! I developed a visual style, amassed a portfolio, and wrote manuscripts to query. This ultimately led to me signing with my dream agent, and getting our first book deal in 2020.
In your recent book Between Words, we meet a lovable character named Kai. Can you give us a snippet of this story and what readers can expect?
Our beloved Kai lives a nomadic life, following the seasons with his Pa. At each new village, he struggles to make friends because of the strangeness of his words. It’s not until his frustration sparks an enchanted encounter that he learns the wordless magic of kind gestures which form bonds. This ode to belonging is a fantastical re-imagining of my childhood moving around the globe, and a celebration of friendship that overcomes language barriers to bridge worlds without words.
Based on the responses I’ve gotten so far, readers can expect equal doses of enchantment and empowerment. It’s rewarding to hear caregivers say the book is sparking thoughtful conversations with kids about belonging and multilingual friendships. It’s also an honor to find out that kiddos are asking to read the book over and over, and that the wordless underwater scenes are their favorite part (mine too)! Perhaps the biggest surprise has been receiving heart-felt reactions from adults. Many have reported that the book hit some soft spot and made them tear up. It’s a powerful reminder that feeling like a misfit is a universal pain we all contend with, and sharing this experience connects us to each other.
Where do you find your inspiration for your art and characters?
A lot of my inspiration comes from noticing what makes me tick. Reawakening my intuition this way has helped me become more intentional about what I create and why. Between Words was inspired by a radio story about the world’s deepest freshwater cave that made me wonder what fantastical realm and creatures these pools concealed! I find that I’m inspired by real-world phenomena that feel otherworldly, and this can include everything from the word “crepuscular,” to Schmincke’s beautifully granulating pigments, to expansive Denver skies. These sparks become ingredients for worlds I want to dream into existence.
Childhood passions and ponderings also inspire a lot of ideas for me. I remember asking questions like “why am I me?” before I knew how to read or write. At a macro level, philosophical quandaries about our perception of reality, existence, and the elusive concept of “truth” continue to captivate me. I have nascent book ideas circling around topics I’m fascinated by like dream-work (to better understand how my actions are dictated by my subconscious), and the theory of relativity (to wrap my head around the nature of time), that thrust me into “research” rabbit holes!
While these detours make for a slow creative burn (Between Words took a decade from idea to publication), I like to think this indulgence enables me to create richer stories and deeply feeling characters who are born from some aspect of my self-excavation.
Do you think you will ever move from children’s books to young adult or beyond?
My bookmaking journey started with attempts at long-form prose for middle grade chapter books! I might pick these dusty manuscripts back up one day. Also on pause is a graphic novel I’m hoping to revise and get out into the world. While I’ve never considered writing for adults, this could certainly change! I’m one of those grownups who likes to read books for younger readers and wants to make ones that appeal to readers of all ages.
What were some of your favorite books as a kid?
Chris Van Alsburgh’s Garden of Abdul Gasazi felt mystical with an eerie sense of humor that made the story linger in my body. Others I remember loving are Runaway Bunny, The Secret Birthday Message, and a Japanese picture book called Ookina Ki Ga Hoshii (“I Want A Really Big Tree”). I feel like the common thread is some flight of fancy in the plot or art that made me believe magical adventures could be waiting just around the corner.
Where can we find your work?
My work’s internet home is www.sakitales.com and @sakitales3 on Instagram. You can find copies of Between Words at West End Books, Second Star to the Right, and The Bookies Bookstore (some of which are signed)!
What can we expect from you in the future?
I just finished art for my second picture book, Nimbus Plays Alone, about an introverted raincloud who navigates making friends and letting others in while being true to themselves. While most of this story takes place in the sky, I’m thrilled that I got to feature the Colorado landscape as part of the environment. It’s impossible not to be inspired by the beautiful mountains, wildlife, flora and fauna that surround us! Now that that’s wrapped, I’m starting work on my third book, based on my Japanese grandmother who nurtured my love of reading and whimsical tales.
When you’re not creating, how do you spend your free time?
Free time is limited now that my partner and I have a 10-month-old. As a family, we’ve grown fond of finding restaurants and specialty supermarkets in random strip malls around Denver. Whenever we’re driving and some spot catches our eye, we’ll look it up on Google maps and check it out.
While I identify as an introvert, I find spending time with fun-loving kindred spirits intensely gratifying and heart expanding. We go on inspiration expeditions to fuel our creative tanks.
When I’m able to carve out solo time, I enjoy taking myself on artist dates at the Denver Art Museum, thrifting on Broadway, and puttering around in our backyard as an amateur gardener.
Thank you so much for letting us take a peek inside your creative world, Saki. We too are inspired by books that make us cry, clouds, thrifting and synthy indie pop, we’re so grateful to know you.