Nalin DeSilva: Author / Artist
Hi. I’m Nalin, the creator of Agnes The Adventurer. I came up with the character of Agnes after my eldest daughter was born. I love adventure stories, and most of my childhood was filled with larger-than-life heroes that leaped from page to page. I wanted to chronicle the adventures of a feisty, brave, and confident little girl named Agnes and her best friend, Archie — a huge blue dragon. I imagined a world where Agnes and Archie would meet different characters, both good and bad, and fantastic animals and creatures that help to change Agnes’ life.
Growing up in Papua New Guinea and Australia, I was surrounded by rain forests. Much of my time was spent running through them, observing unique insects, incredible birds, colorful snakes, and an overwhelming abundance of beautiful plants and vines. I also read a lot. Herge’s TinTin stories, Goscinny and Uderzo’s Asterix and Obelix, Edgar Rice Burrough’s Tarzan, Robert E. Howard’s Conan, and books by Michael Moorcock, Fritz Leiber, Frank Herbert, and others. Anything with adventure and where a hero would surmount overwhelming odds. Without television and electronic devices, I used my imagination to build my own toys. And I drew and painted. A lot. Looking back, I was lucky to have had the opportunity to express myself through my own creativity. I had a childhood where I spent so much time outdoors, playing, and exploring.
While developing Agnes the Adventurer, it was important to me to pull from my childhood experiences. For me, Agnes must stand as a symbol of bravery, confidence, and toughness for children everywhere while at the same time being compassionate. Having a deep and enduring love for animals and the Earth is a must as well. Writing and drawing the adventures of Agnes has given me the opportunity to revisit my childhood and enabled me to share part of it with my two little girls. I hope the world of Agnes inspires you to share her stories with your children.
