Lucas Turnbloom: I Knew Exactly Where I Wanted To Go With Each Book
In this interview, author Lucas Turnbloom discusses the emotional impact of ending a trilogy with his new graphic novel, Steve L. McEvil and the Twisted Sister.
Lucas Turnbloom is the author and illustrator of Crown Books for Young Readers’ graphic novel trilogy, Steve L. McEvil, Steve L. McEvil and the Second Wind, and Steve L. McEvil and the Twisted Sister. Lucas is also the co-creator, co-writer and illustrator for Scholastic’s graphic novel series, Dream Jumper, as well as the creator of the social-media based webcomic, “How to Cat” which has more than 400,000 followers readers. Lucas currently resides in San Diego with his wife, two sons and rescue cat, “Sweetie.” Follow him on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram.
Name: Lucas Turnbloom
Literary agent: Judy Hansen
Book title: Steve L. McEvil and the Twisted Sister
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Release date: March 11, 2025
Genre/category: Children’s Graphic Novels
Previous titles: Steve L. McEvil; Steve L. McEvil and the Second Wind; Dream Jumper: Nightmare Escape; Dream Jumper: Curse of the Harvester
Elevator pitch: When a 12-year-old supervillain wannabe and his friends get lost somewhere in the galaxy, it’s up to his genius sister and the family cat to bring them home and prevent the destruction of Earth. That is, if she feels like it.
What prompted you to write this book?
I have been drawing cartoons my whole life. Whether it be stories about flatulent robots and sassy cats, to unflattering caricatures of my supervisors at the day job, it comes naturally to me. So, when Crown said they would PAY me to write and draw the Steve L. McEvil trilogy—a series about a family of inept supervillains, a housekeeping robot, and a cat with a serious attitude—I couldn’t pass that up. The only catch was I couldn’t draw caricatures of my production team. I reluctantly agreed.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
Steve L. McEvil and the Twisted Sister is the third book of the McEvil trilogy. So, by the time we got to this book, my team and I had a good grasp of the characters, and the story just flowed. I should note it was helpful that I knew exactly where I wanted to go with each book, how Steve would pass the supervillain torch to his sister, Eve, and most especially the big reveal at the end. All-in-all, each book in the McEvil trilogy took around a year from idea to publication. Let me add that deadlines really have a way of keeping you focused. Are you a lollygagger? This probably isn’t the profession for you.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
I worked as a graphic artist for more than 20 years before I began working as a professional writer. So, I know a thing or two about working with inept editors and production crews. This was absolutely not the case with the McEvil team. Everyone knew their job, and how to make the best books possible. I couldn’t have asked for a more professional art and editorial team, and I am eternally grateful. We made some amazing books!
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
I have found that if you love telling stories, the characters become real to you. The McEvils became very real to me, like family. So, when I finished the last page of Steve L. McEvil and the Twisted Sister, I wept uncontrollably. I didn’t realize until many months later that I was in a kind of mourning and wasn’t ready to say goodbye. That really took me by surprise.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
Laughter. Copious amounts of laughter. I want Steve L. McEvil and the Twisted Sister to be something kids read repeatedly, discovering something new and hilarious each time they do. But most especially, I hope these characters will find a special places in their hearts, allowing the McEvils to live on forever.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
You know that story idea you’re thinking about right now? Do it. Stop thinking about it and just do it. If your brain is saying, “I’m not in the right headspace now,” or “Maybe I’ll start tomorrow,” those are amateur thoughts, and doesn’t gel when you’re facing deadlines. There is NEVER going to be a better time to write than now, so do it. If you commit to just 30 minutes of writing a day, you would be AMAZED by what you produce by the end of the month. And if you’re worried that your idea has been done before, stop worrying! It totally has, no question. However, it’s not IF an idea has already been done, it’s what YOU do with the idea that makes all the difference. So, you know that sign you’ve been waiting for? This is it. Get started.
Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Editor of Writer's Digest, which includes managing the content on WritersDigest.com and programming virtual conferences. He's the author of 40 Plot Twist Prompts for Writers: Writing Ideas for Bending Stories in New Directions, The Complete Guide of Poetic Forms: 100+ Poetic Form Definitions and Examples for Poets, Poem-a-Day: 365 Poetry Writing Prompts for a Year of Poeming, and more. Also, he's the editor of Writer's Market, Poet's Market, and Guide to Literary Agents. Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.
