Arlene Klasky: On the Process of Refining Your Story
Arlene Klasky is the principal of Klasky Csupo, Inc., an animation studio based in Los Angeles, California, which she co-founded with her former husband Gabor Csupo. She is a creative force behind some of Nickelodeon’s most beloved animated TV series such as “Rugrats,” “The Wild Thornberrys,” and “Rocket Power.”
Along with Gabor Csupo, she has produced four animated feature films for Paramount, and their studio was honored with eight Emmys, five Cable Ace Awards, three Humanitas Awards, and numerous Parents’ Choice Awards. Continually driven to engage and entertain audiences of all ages, Klasky remains dedicated to developing and producing digital, television, and feature film projects.
Arlene Klasky
In this post, Arlene discusses the biggest differences in storytelling through animation and through her debut YA novel, Ming & Leopold: A City in the Sky, her hope for readers, and more!
Name: Arlene Klasky
Book title: Ming & Leopold: A City in the Sky
Publisher: Self-Published
Release date: January 24, 2024
Genre/category: YA Fiction
Elevator pitch: In the year 2299, Ming and Leopold are Good Witches who appear to be eighteen and twenty-one but have lived for a millennium. After the couple’s arrival to NYC, a war looms between Good Witches and the Dark Witch Nation, led by Zoltan Janka, who aims to seize control of Electrical Energy Plants and subjugate all of humanity.
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What prompted you to write this book?
It was less expensive than making animation.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
It took me 11 years to complete the book while also running my animation studio. The concept didn’t change, I just kept refining the writing.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
Since I had never written or published a book previously, the entire process was a learning experience.
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
Storytelling in animation takes many people working together, writing a book is a different creative experience. At first, I went over the book with a writing coach. Then I refined it.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
I hope the main characters will appeal to them and the readers will relate to their quirky relationship.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
No matter what, stick to improving the story. No matter how long it takes to finish your book. Then, follow through and write another book.
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