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I’ve always loved the community online centered around posting a chapter at a time and getting responses from readers right away. It served as a way to receive quick feedback and allowed me to really learn what my readers thought!

The artist Duta, also known as Fuyuki123, has undoubtedly played a significant role in helping you shape the TBATE world and bring it to life. How did you first start working together? 

Funny story, when Gabby, my manager at Tapas, forwarded me Duta’s resume and sample, I almost rejected him because I thought his art style didn’t fit TBATE. Of course, now, I wouldn’t know what to do without him, but it’s crazy to think where I’d be now if I hadn’t accepted Duta as my artist.


Many people don’t know that there’s a whole TBATE team. What is it like to have a team to work with and support you? 

While the TBATE team is always shifting and growing, I can safely say that they’re the ones that keep me grounded and sane. While I’m immensely grateful at how well-received the comic has been, the amount of pressure to do better and be better is always weighing on me so it’s truly relieving to know that I have a team to rely on.


Your fans might be surprised to hear that even while writing TBATE, you didn’t want to pursue a career as a writer. That being said, what aspects do you like about being a writer?

My favorite thing about being a writer and what made me want to actually start writing was just being able to tell a story that helped people take their mind away from the stresses of the real world. TBATE was never meant to be a masterpiece of prose or some poetic story with a deep and philosophical meaning behind it. It was simply meant to be a light and enjoyable experience.


TBATE offers readers a unique experience in that it is both a comic and novel. What do you enjoy more: writing comics or novels?

While I love writing the novel, I also love seeing my words come to life in a visual format. While the final product between a novel and a comic is vastly different, I believe that they’re both mediums for storytelling that I’ve come to greatly appreciate. 


Most of your readers probably don’t know that you’re Asian American. How does this part of your identity influence the content you create? 

I grew up in a Korean household, speaking mainly Korean while at home. I’m able to read Korean and grew up reading Korean webtoons and Korean webnovels. All of this, consciously or not, has shaped TBATE into what it is today, and I’m sure my readers can attest to these influences.


The fanbase for TBATE is really growing these days! What’s one of the memorable fan comments you’ve come across? 

One comment in particular that I still remember was by a fan that emailed me late at night. He wrote that he was clinically diagnosed with depression and went to say that he had been going through some dark times in his life. He shared that this story had managed to bring him a few smiles during this time. I have no way of knowing if this is true or not, but that was one of my proudest moments as a writer.


When you’re not working on TBATE, what’s one TV show you enjoy watching? 

I would say one of my favorite TV series is Avatar, the Last Airbender. It is the perfect combination of western cartoon and eastern-inspired animation that I hope to one day emulate with my writing.

Thank you for reading (and watching) our Creator Spotlight on the talented creator, TurtleMe! Please look forward to our next Creator Spotlight coming soon!

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