Mike Curato is an author and illustrator of books for children, teens, and adults. He is best known for his Little Elliot picture book series and his young adult graphic novel, Flamer, which received several honors including the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Young Adult, the 2021 Massachusetts Book Award for Young Adult, and was listed as one of NPR’s Best Books of 2020. Flamer also has the distinction of being one of the most banned and challenged books in the United States, and Mike has become a fierce advocate of free speech. He continues to create books that center love, compassion, and friendship. Mike’s debut adult graphic novel, Gaysians, released in June of 2025 to critical acclaim.

I had the opportunity to interview Mike, which you can read below.

First of all, welcome back to Geeks OUT! For those unfamiliar with you, could you tell us a little about yourself?

 My name is Mike Curato. I am an author and illustrator of graphic novels and picture books. A lot of my work revolves around friendship and chosen family. And I’m pretty gay.

What can you tell us about your latest project, Gaysians? What was the inspiration for it?

Gaysians is inspired by the first group of gay friends I made when I moved to Seattle after college. They happened to also be Asian, and I felt seen and understood by them in a way I never experienced up to that point. 

Can you give us any trivia (that hasn’t already been given) about the characters from Gaysians? 

K is a Leo, John is a Capricorn, Steven is a Libra, and AJ is a Pisces.

How would you describe your creative process?

I usually start out messy and then refine. That describes both my writing and my illustrations. I try not to self censor when I’m starting out, so I’m a bit all over the place. Then when I discover things that are exciting me, I hone in. 

What are some of your favorite elements of writing/illustrating? What do you consider some of the most frustrating and/or difficult? 

I think my favorite parts of writing and illustrating are the discoveries, the happy accidents, and the “AHA!” moments that I didn’t see coming. The most frustrating part of this work are the time constraints. That said, I need a deadline, or else nothing will get done.

Aside from your work, what are some things you would want readers to know about you?

I was an avid X-Men collector as a kid. I love karaoke. I kind of need sweets to function. 

What’s a question you haven’t been asked yet but that you wish you were asked (as well as the answer to that question)?

Sure, how about: Mike, you love food so much, is there any food featured in the book? 

Oh my God thank you so much for that question! YES! There are many meals in the story that feature different Asian cuisines. My Seattle Gaysian friends and I would often meet to dish at different Asian restaurants around Seattle. 

What advice might you have to give for any aspiring storytellers out there?

Create the stories you wish existed. Make work that makes you feel.  

Are there any other projects you are working on and at liberty to speak about?

I am working on several projects, one of which is a middle grade graphic novel called PALS, about a penpal friendship in the 90s. I co-authored it with my childhood penpal, Lara Robbins, and I’m currently illustrating it. 

Finally, what books/authors (LGBTQ+ or otherwise) would you recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT? 

Some of my favorite graphic novels include This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden, American Born Chinese by Gene Leung Yang, and Killing and Dying by Adrian Tomine.