SPARK Spotlight Interview Sohran Rezvan

Six Quick Interview Questions with SOHRAB REZVAN

1. What is one thing we should know about you that's not in your bio?

I love comic books and graphic novels. I’ve been reading and collecting comics since elementary school. As a kid, I wanted to be a comic book artist. Unfortunately, it’s not a skill I’ve spent any time developing over the years. My kids enjoy looking through my collection and picking out books for us to read together.

2. What's something that happens in your book that will cause us to run out and buy it?

My most recent picture book, How Did the Hippopotamus Get There?, has the best ending of any of my books. All authors get better with practice, and I was very happy with both the overall story arc and how the illustrations captured the vision I had for the story in my head.

3. Why did you choose to self-publish, rather than go the traditional route? 

I did research on both the self-publishing and traditional publishing industries, and felt self-publishing is where I should focus my time. It has allowed me to put my stories out there that would otherwise not have seen the light of day. I can see improvements in my work since my initial books, and I’m now starting to publish work other than picture books. I have the freedom to write and publish whatever makes me happy, and getting books out there has given me the confidence to work on more ambitious projects.

4. What projects are you currently working on? 

In addition to putting out another coloring book, my big project is a Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) book for kids. D&D is a tabletop roleplaying game that’s been around for 50 years. You build characters and role dice to determine the outcome of your actions. The book will be over 100 pages (full color) with more than two dozen detailed maps and dozens of original drawings. I provide tips on how to get kids engaged in the game, and I include about 20 puzzles that are fun, yet challenging. The book is designed for players age 7+. Because it’s both a book and a game, I am playtesting the campaign weekly. I hope to launch the Kickstarter in February 2025.

5. How has being a member of SCBWI helped you in your writing journey? 

The resources and connections have been the most valuable parts of SCBWI for me. Getting started, I utilized resources on agents, query letters, and publishing more generally. I frequently join the SCBWI AZ calls to discuss all sorts of topics. It’s incredible how helpful the SCBWI members are and how much members love sharing what they’ve learned. I’ve also used the chat boards as a way to receive peer feedback on my manuscript drafts. Perhaps most importantly, as a writer, I used SCBWI to find illustrators for my books.

6. Is there anything else you'd like to add? 

I hate social media. I’m so bad at social media that I had to take classes through LinkedIn Learning on how to use Instagram. Unfortunately, this is not a joke. Also, getting book reviews is really hard! So please check out my books (picture books, comics, and coloring books) on Amazon and leave some honest reviews. Thanks!

Website: https://www.flatmountainpublishing.com/

Amazon Author: https://amzn.to/4433k28

YouTube: Flat Mountain Publishing

Instagram: flatmountainpublishing

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22158264.Sohrab_Rezvan