Hello Ms. Simone! How are you? I just had a quick question. Does it make you sad when you have to switch artists or creative teams? Also, what tends to cause switches like that?

Yes, it can be sad when an art team leaves. I am usually fortunate enough to get a good replacement, but when someone great moves on, it can be very sad.  It can take a while to get a groove going with an artist, I always hate to break that up.

There are a ton of reasons why it happens; the artist will go do a book they have wanted to do, they get called for a special project, they get ill, they can’t keep up, they don’t get along with writer or the editorial team, they want a new challenge, there are tons of reasons.

I am lucky enough that the great majority of the artists I have worked with still like working with me, that makes me happy. Sometimes you create serious professional bonds that last forever.

I had one artist leave for religious reasons, basically, but in general, it’s not a personal thing.