Six Questions with Katie Mazeika

Katie Mazeika is an award-winning author and illustrator who can’t imagine a better job than making books. She loves creating characters that make an impression and specializes in telling stories based on real people and events. Katie likes to highlight disabled voices in her work.

You can find Katie online at her website, www.katiemazeika.com, or on Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook.

1. What was your favorite book when you were a child? Why?

It was Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans. I had cancer at three so I was in and out of hospitals quite a bit, At one point, between the ages of five and six, I had several surgeries and spent over five months in the hospital. Madeline was the only book I knew that showed a little girl like myself in the hospital. Not only was Madeline in the hospital, but she had a scar too.. I wasn’t bold like Madeline but wished I could be.

I apologize, I did answered this question for” Six Questions With Mary Boone” three years ago, when my debut, Annette Feels Free was published. But Madeline makes a cameo in Maybe Just Ask Me!, so I couldn’t resist. I promise, no more repeats.

2. When and where do you do your writing and illustrating? Do you have a set routine?

I have ADHD so I’ve learned that I need to be very disciplined with my writing and illustration routine, or nothing gets done. So I’m in my studio by 9:15 every morning,  during the week and will generally work until 5:30 or 6:00, but sometimes if I’m really in the zone and don’t want to quit, I’ll work until 7:00 or 8:00. I tend to work through weekends when I have a deadline approaching. But I try to avoid it or at least spend only part of my weekend days working.

I am fortunate to have a separate studio space in my home, over the garage. I can shut the door and put on music or an audiobook while I work and not worry about disturbing anyone.

3. Do you ever feel lonely being a writer/illustrator? If so, how do you deal with that?

It can seem very lonely at times, there are no coworkers to chat with daily. But I think, for me, that’s preferable. I can focus better with no one else around. I find that the kidlit community offers all kinds of opportunities for connecting with other creators at conferences, retreats and book festivals. I enjoy those, but when they’re over I’m always happy to be back in my studio by myself. I also have a few good writer and illustrator friends that I talk to regularly. Publishing is a very weird business. Being able to talk to other people who understand how it works helps.

4. Let's talk about your new book, Maybe Just Ask Me! Where did you get the idea for this story? What was your inspiration?

I was at a kidlit retreat . We had a wonderful speaker who talked about working with children as a phlebotomist. It brought up a lot of memories for me.  Later, at the same retreat , several of us were discussing our experiences with disability. At some point I mentioned the stares I’d received since I was a kid. That’s when the idea hit me.

5. If you could tell readers one secret about this book, what would it be?

Mazie is based on myself, but her eyepatch is on the wrong eye. Mazie wears an eyepatch over her left eye. I lost my right eye. When I started illustrating the story I realized that I had to flip the eyepatch.  Illustrations move left to right. Illustrations will often show the main characters of a book looking to the reader’s right to emphasize that movement. I couldn’t do that with Mazie when the eyepatch was on her right eye, so I flipped it.

6. Who should read this book?

I think everyone should. We can all benefit from honest conversations about what makes each of us different. And I think everyone should know how to talk about disability.  I know that talking about disability can be hard. But by talking openly about it we learn and, ideally, we develop understanding and empathy.