Author Maya Kurita: Writing, Importance of Art, & Ghosts of Ikari

Writer Maya Kurita stops by Nerdy Mewzings and talks about the different kind of pressure that comes with calling yourself an author, working with a literary agent, and conquering deadlines leading up to publishing. Maya’s book in progress features monster hunting in Sengoku-era Japan, drawing inspiration from two of her favorite series, The Witcher and Shogun. It involves creatures from folklore, real historical figures in an alternate history, and a warden named Raiko who will not stop until he gets his brothers back.

She recalls a first middle-grade manuscript she wrote for her daughter, a year of drafts after being told Japanese fantasy “has no market,” then finding her agent through Alex Tamaki’s The Book of Fallen Leaves.

James and Maya compare comic deadlines to going on sub, talk the difference between comic and book conventions, meeting Matt Dinniman, the importance of writing groups, paying artists, and why AI covers and digital-only media make her want people to keep buying real books.

Leave a 5 STAR review if you want more creators outside the usual comic-artist lane, and remember, Keep it Nerdy! 

Follow Maya on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mn.kurita.writes

Patreon members get episodes 48 hours early, a shout out on the show, and can send questions for upcoming guests, join them here: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings

Timestamps

0:00 - Early mornings, MMA nights & warmup timing

4:00 - Pressure from fighting vs pressure from writing

7:00 - WorldCon, Rose City & book-community support

12:00 - Meeting Matt Dinniman (and not following him)

18:30 - Family in film, early reading & fantasy roots

21:00 - Elevator pitch: Witcher meets Shogun

23:00 - First manuscript, “no market,” finding an agent

27:00 - Deadlines: books vs monthly comics

33:00 - Who owns the work: indie vs Big Five

36:30 - Covers, paying artists & William Thompson

41:00 - Friendships, Japanese history group & feedback

47:00 - Basics over flash, drafts vs edits

53:00 - Online groups, resources, AI art & physical books

1:03:00 - Where to follow Maya & outro