iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Last week, I saw Joe Hisaishi perform at the Hollywood Bowl, and it brought me back to his wonderful book. Check out some of Hisaishi’s tips on creativity and how they apply to my own work as a graphic novelist on my latest Substack! Read the full post here. 🎶 🔗 tinyurl.com/MapleHisaishi

Joe Hisaishi's book "How to Create an Emotional Experience" has taught me a great deal about growing as an artist.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

So happy to see Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Battle of the Beasts included in The Horn Book’s “Sequels with speech balloons” roundup! Book 2 sends Wukong and Cerberus into Japanese folklore, full of monsters, magic, mischief, and monkey trouble. 🙈🙉🙊 Thank you, @thehornbook.bsky.social!

The Horn Book features Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Battle of the Beasts as one of seven graphic-novel sequels for intermediate and middle-school readers.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

I’m so excited to be working with Joy Peskin and FSG on FURRY TALES, my upcoming middle grade graphic novel series about cats, dogs, and the humans who loved them through history! ❤️ Huge thanks to my agent Joanna Volpe, Jenniea Carter, and the team at New Leaf Literary! ❤️

Publisher's Weekly Children's Bookshelf announcement of Maple Lam upcoming middle grade graphic novel series: Furry Tales. The two book deal is acquired by Joy Peskin at FSG. The first book is set to release Winter 2029.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Join me on a real-talk about the ups & downs of traditional publishing. 7 honest lessons I learned along my creative journey. It’s a one hour talk with 30 mins Q&A. Hope to see you tmr! 😊 Info and registeration link: www.scbwi.org/events/MD-MapleLam

The road to making books is a meandering labyrinth. I know. I’ve been there. (Still there.)

Yes, it can be confusing, defeating, and sometimes frustrating. But hang in there. You’re not alone.

Whether you’re a newbie or a veteran, come join my SCBWI online workshop: Seven Publishing tips with Maple Lam. I’ll share what I’ve learned from my 10+ years as an author-illustrator.

Pick up a new tip. Learn from my mistakes. Or, if you are seasoned-pro, get a minty shot of creative adrenaline. December 9, 2025 (Tuesday) 6:30 PM to 8 PM, EST. Free for SCBWI members. $15 for non-members. Registration required. See you there!

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Join me on a real-talk about the ups & downs of traditional publishing, from pitching ideas, finding your people, to the waiting game. I will be sharing 7 honest lessons I learned along my creative journey. I look fwd to sharing the journey with you. Register today! 😊 www.scbwi.org/events/MD-Ma...

Register for Maple's publishing workshop via SCBWI Webinar.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Happy songs, happy hunters, happy Friday!

Monkey King Su Wukong and Cerberus the three headed dog dressed up as characters in KPop Demon Hunters.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

My friend just told me MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS: THE BATTLE OF THE BEASTS made #1 Bestseller on Amazon-Singapore! Thank you for all the support, readers in Singapore! ❤❤❤

Monkey King And The World of Myths: The Battle of the Beasts made Amazon-Singapore #1 Bestseller.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Thank you for the interview, Jonathan Roth! 😀 tinyurl.com/Mk2JohnRoth

Cover of MONKEY KING 2: THE BATTLE OF THE BEASTS

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

“Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Battle of the Beasts” is out today! 📚🎉🎂 Happy book birthday to the mightiest monster hunter in the Three Worlds! 🐒👑👊 Substack Link: tinyurl.com/2pmpvv7a

Book cover of MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS: THE BATTLE OF THE BEASTS.

"Many rounds of character design are created during story development."

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

Come join the book party this Sat (August 23) at 2pm to celebrate MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS: THE BATTLE OF THE BEASTS! Find out all the behind-the-scenes & get your books signed~! See you there! ❤️ Once Upon a Time Bookstore 2207 Honolulu Ave. Montrose, CA 91020 tinyurl.com/mr2pjk9p 😀

Monkey King 2 Book Party this Saturday Aug 23 at 2pm at Once Upon a Time Bookstore!

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Meet Shuten-Doji, leader of beasts and yokai, in MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS! Book 2, THE BATTLE OF THE BEASTS, is coming out Aug 19, 2025. PreOrder today! 😊 tinyurl.com/MK2Order

Shuten-Doji is the leader of beasts and yokai in Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Battle of the Beasts.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Meet General Raiko, commander of the Imperial Guards, in MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS! Book 2, THE BATTLE OF THE BEASTS, is coming out Aug 19, 2025. (Publisher: Penguin Putnam) PreOrder today! 😊 tinyurl.com/MK2Order

General Raiko is the commander of the Imperial Army, and he warns that no one will get away with breaking the law under his watch.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Meet Kit the fox yokai in MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS! Book 2, THE BATTLE OF THE BEASTS, is coming out Aug 19, 2025. PreOrder today! 😊 tinyurl.com/MK2Order

Kit the fox yokai wants revenge in the upcoming book MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS: THE BATTLE OF THE BEASTS

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Meet Momotaro the Peach Boy in MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS! Book 2, THE BATTLE OF THE BEASTS, is coming out Aug 18, 2025. PreOrder today! 😀 tinyurl.com/MK2Order

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Racking my brain and pulling my hair in trying to figure out a solution to a story. Sometimes, my friend, the fun is in the challenge.

An illustrated elephant that looks frustrated.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

“Monkey King 2: The Battle of the Beasts” got a Starred Review from Kirkus! Yaaay! Thank you! ⭐️ Link to full review: tinyurl.com/MK2KirkusReview #MonkeyKing #GraphicNovel #KidLit #KidsComic #Culture #Mythology

Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Battle of the Beasts got a Kirkus Starred Review.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Thank you, BookTrust, for including MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS: THE MONSTER AND THE MAZE in the 2024-2025 Great Books Guide! I feel so honored! #MonkeyKing #GraphicNovel #KidlitGN #GreatBooks #MiddleGrade

Cover of action-adventure-world-mythologies middle grade graphic novel MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS Book 1.

Summary of MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS.

Cover of BooksTrust's Great Books Guide 2024-25.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Passed by my hood & saw some fantastic lion dances at a store's grand opening. Speaking of lion dances, have you read my good friend Benson Shum’s @bshum79.bsky.social wonderful and gorgeously illustrated book WE ARE LION DANCERS? Check it out! Esp. perfect for age 5-7. #LionDance #read #kidlit

Lion dance in front of the grand opening of iTaiwan Foods.

Cover of Benson Shum's book WE ARE LION DANCERS.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Hello friends in Hong Kong! I will be signing books at Hong Kong Fringe Club this Sunday at 11am with Hong Kong International Literary Festival! Copies of my books will be available for purchase there. Swing by to say hello~! See you there! 😊 #HKILF #ReadMoreBooks #KidLit

Monkey King Sun Wukong telling readers that Maple Lam’s book signing event at the HK Fringe Club will be held this Sunday March 2 at 11am. Event open to public.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

A memoir of a trailblazer filled with heart, honesty, humor, and inspiration. What a living legend, Connie Chung! LOVE! Highly recommend.

Cover of Connie Chung's memoir, with Connie in her younger years.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

I absolutely LOVE Eliza Wheeler’s latest picture book A COZY WINTER DAY, filled with delightedly illustrations of little animals and their wonderful lives in their cozy nooks in Acorn Village. Highly recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #PictureBook #ACozyWinterDay #Winter #Goodreads #KidLit

Cover of Eliza Wheeler's picture book A COZY WINTER DAY, with lovely illustrations of little animals.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS: THE MONSTER AND THE MAZE is a Golden Kite Awards 2025 Finalist! 🐒👑📚 So honored to be among such amazing books! Thank you! ❤️ Check out the finalists here: tinyurl.com/49aftfca #GoldenKiteFinalist #KidsGN #GraphicNovel #Kidlit #scbwi #monkeyking

Cover of Maple Lam’s book MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS: THE MONSTER AND THE MAZE, with monkey king Sun Wukong flying a golden kite.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

In addition to gaming three times a week, I am now taking competitive badminton training classes to level-up. 🏸

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Excited to share that the Chinese translated version of DIM SUM, HERE WE COME! is now available!

Cover of DIM SUM, HERE WE COME!, a picture book that celebrates love and culture through food. Written and illustrated by Mape Lam.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Hi, I'm Maple Lam, author & illustrator & graphic novelist. My latest graphic novel, Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Battle of the Beasts, is coming August 19, 2025. Check out my bi-monthly newsletter, where I discuss all things comics and graphic novels! Nice to meet you here! 😀

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Happy Sunday! Here are 3 recommendations to kickstart 2025! I WANT TO READ ALL THE BOOKS By Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com OWLY: THE WAY HOME By Andy Runton @owly.bsky.social THE TRAVELING CAT CHRONICLES By Hiro Arikawa Happy reading! #Read #Goodreads #ReadMoreBooks

"The Traveling Cat Chronicles" by Hiro Arikawa

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Happy new year~! ❤️ I am Maple Lam, a children's book author & illustrator with special love in mythology, history, and animals. I love creating picture books and graphic novels! Rep by Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary. www.maplelam.com #KidLitArtPostcard #kidlitart #illustration #art

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

I finally had a chance to read Ruth Chan’s debut GN UPROOTED, a memoir about her experience moving to Hong Kong in her middle school years. It’s a wonderful story, filled with humor & emotional resonance. Also, I really enjoy recognizing a lot of places featured! Highly recommend! Congrats, Ruth!😀

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Saw a new cat today on my morning walk. I whispered, “Hey, Calico. Welcome to the hood.” Then it magically dashed over and allowed me to pat and play with him/her. A great way to start the morning. Happy weekend, everyone! ❤️

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 28/06/2024

I will be at ALA tomorrow (Friday, 06/28), 5:30pm-6:30pm at the San Diego Convention Center, Exhibit Halls B2-G, Booth #1619! Penguin Young Readers will be giving away copies of MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS, and I will be there for the signing! Come say hello! 😀

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 17/06/2024

Hello friends! I will be at ALA San Diego on June 28 (Friday) at Exhibit Hall, Booth 1717 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Come say hello! I would love to meet you! #ALA #ALA2024 #MonkeyKing

Maple Lam will be at ALA on Friday, June 28, 2024 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm at Exhibit Hall, Booth 1717.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 09/04/2024

Friends and readers in Michigan, I will be at Grand Rapids Comic Con this Saturday (Apr 13), signing books and sharing my graphic novel creative process at a workshop. Come say hello! #grandrapidscomiccon #grandrapidsmichigan #comic #kidlit #graphicnovel #monkeyking

I will be at Grand Rapids Comic Con this Saturday! Come say hello!

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 07/04/2024

Greater-LA readers: In celebration of MONKEY KING #graphicNovel bday, I will be doing a mini-presentation & signing books at #OnceUponATimeBookstore in #Montrose, CA, today at 2pm! See you there! More info: tinyurl.com/43n78c6j #monkeyking #bookevent #booksigning #comic #kidlit

Monkey King graphic novel book launch at Once Upon a Time Bookstore today at 2pm!

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 28/03/2024

Thank you for having me, The Children's Book Podcast, where I get to share the joy of creating DIM SUM, HERE WE COME! (Publisher: HarperKids Books)! Listen here, or wherever you find podcasts! Link: www.matthewcwinner.com/.../dim-sum-.... #dimsum #dimsumherewecome #kidlit #podcast #picturebook

Maple Lam on The Children's Book Podcast

Maple Lam talks about her book DIM SUM, HERE WE COME! on the Children's Book Podcast

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 27/03/2024

Love the Cintiq. I still use the Intous as a mouse. :)

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 12/03/2024

Thank you, Andy Runton, creator of the OWLY series, for your kind words on MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS: THE MONSTER AND THE MAZE. (Penguin Kids. Coming April 2, 2024) Pre-order today! Link: tinyurl.com/yf5fxrud #monkeyking #kidsgraphicnovels #read

Andy Runton says Monkey King and the World of Myths is action-packed and adorable, and it will leave you with a big smile on your face.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 14/02/2024

Finally caught up with part of my schedule and am in a happy state. I'm a few days late (consider me a slow jogger), but I still want to wish everyone a very Happy Lunar New Year, filled with good food, good luck, and tons of love! Love you all! 🧧❤️🐲

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 05/01/2024

“Monkey King 1: The Monster and the Maze” got a Starred Review from Kirkus! So honored! Thank you! Link to full review: www.kirkusreviews.com/.../maple......

"Lam seamlessly weaves together threads from Chinese and Greek mythology to great effect... A quest for friendship, self-acceptance, and belonging." From Kirkus, Starred Review.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 02/01/2024

Happy new year, everyone! This week, I share my small way of tracking habits. Do you have a system? I would love to learn and get inspired from everyone. Happy 2024! 😀 Link: maplelam.substack.com/p/a-new-year...

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 19/12/2023

Final Substack post of the year, giving thanks, and 2 organization recommendations if you are interested in creating children’s book and children’s graphic novels. Link: maplelam.substack.com/.../goodbye-.... Happy holidays!

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 09/12/2023

Sketchbook doodle. Happy weekend, everyone! ❤️

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 06/12/2023

📚👍🏼 Just finished the heartfelt MG graphic novel DUEL by Jessixa Bagley and Aaron Bagley. It's a story about family, lost, sibling rivalry, and fencing! SO GOOD! Highly recommend!

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 29/11/2023

This week on my Substack, I share the joy of reading and learning about history through comics and graphic novels. 😊 maplelam.substack.com/p/developing...

Reading and learning history through graphic novels.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 22/11/2023

Today I learn that Ctrl+Command+Space on my mac brings up the Character View panel. 😀

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 20/11/2023

Finally had a chance to finish Book 4 of THURSDAY MURDER CLUB. A lot more sadness, but still really good! It remains one of my recent favorite murder mystery series! ☺

Thursday Murder Club Book 4: The Last Devil to Die, by Richard Osman.

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Maple Lam @maplelam.bsky.social · 17/11/2023

Currently reading: SUPER BOBA CAFÉ, by Nidhi Chanani (Pub: Harry N. Abrams. Reading age: 8-12) More info: tinyurl.com/ymkx99dk

Graphic novel: Super Boba Café, by Nidhi Chanani

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