For writer/artist Ezra Claytan Daniels, writing is more than a profession. It’s a calling. I recently spoke with him about his latest graphic novel, Mama Came Callin’.
Tell me about your latest book.
Mama Came Callin’ is a swamp noir graphic [novel] about a young woman named Kirah who’s forced to reconcile with the legacy of hate and violence from which she’s descended. The story threads real history with pulp slasher motifs to reflect our nation’s inability to confront its own history.
Why did you decide to write it?
I was in Florida quite a bit about fifteen years ago, particularly in Gainesville and near Jupiter, and I was struck by the very distinct identity of those areas. This book started as a pulpy, genre-driven experiment, but as I pushed further, it evolved into something deeply personal. That shift made it probably the most challenging project I’ve written, just because it required digging deeper emotionally than I ever had.
Who is your favorite character and why?
Usually I hide a lot of myself in side characters. That’s where I feel safest putting my own perspective and wish fulfillment. But with this book, I stopped dodging it and let Kirah be the proxy. Writing her was honestly really therapeutic, and in some ways, she became a version of who I was trying to understand—or even grow toward.
When did you fall in love with the written word?
I’ve been drawing and writing stories my whole life. Film was a huge early influence, but I struggled with anxiety, so the collaborative intensity of filmmaking felt really daunting. But luckily I could draw. Writing and drawing comics gave me total authorship and control. I could work alone, take my time, and shape a complete story before ever putting it in front of anyone.
If you could pick another profession, what would it be and why?
My wife and I bought our first house a few years ago, and two weeks after we moved in, the WGA [Writers Guild of America] went on strike, so I suddenly had no income. It was a really scary time, but I threw myself into learning how to do basic home renovation and furniture building, partly to save money, and partly to take my mind off the stress of the situation. But I kind of fell in love with it and frequently considered pursuing it if the writing ever dried up.
What author would you fangirl over?
Too many to mention. But I did fangirl pretty hard when I met Samuel Delany. The look of the main character in my first published graphic novel Upgrade Soul was inspired by him, and I was able to give him a copy. Then he messaged me on Facebook like three years later just to tell me he hated it! He was super gracious and funny about it; the book just wasn’t for him. But that insane high of seeing a new message from Chip Delany, only to be swatted down instantly by the actual content of the message, still cracks me up to this day.
What books have you read lately and loved?
Easy. Tananarive Due’s The Wishing Well.
What books are you most excited to read next?
My buddy Justin Key’s book, The Hospital at the End of the World!
What’s next for you?
I’m writing on the new season of Severance right now. And I’m deep into my next graphic novel, which will be my first time drawing a book since my debut Upgrade Soul.
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Instagram: Instagram.com/ezracdaniels
Website: www.ezracdaniels.com