What inspired Michael Ian Black to write I'M BORED (plus info about YOU'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT, which launches next week)

Photo credit: Martin Crook / SWITCHED

I asked Michael Ian Black what inspired him to write I'M BORED and the process, and here's what he replied:

I wrote I'm Bored as a reaction to my children constantly telling me how bored they are. How boooooored! They are eight and ten, and it seems as if there are not enough activities in the world to keep them occupied. Not going outside or staying inside. Not playing games or reading books. Nothing. So I thought it would be funny to imagine something even more boring than being a kid: being a potato! 

 Once I had the idea, the book was actually pretty easy to write. I'd written three previous children's books, but this was the first one I conceived  with some visuals in mind. Unfortunately, I am not an artist, but thankfully my editor Justin put me in touch with the amazing Debbie Ridpath Ohi, who really made the text come alive. Children's books are a collaborative medium, similar in a way to film and television. Because I do not have the ability to actually create the art I see in my head, it's so important to have people like Debbie who can not only translate my words to the page, but also make them so much better through their artwork. 

*blush* 

Thanks, Michael!

Incidentally, MIB's newest book, YOU'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT: Tales Of Sex, Death, and Other Humiliations launches next week. It's received some great pre-release reviews, and I'm looking forward to reading it. Some related articles about the book:

Michael Ian Black On Middle Age | Chicago Sun-Times

Five Questions For Michael Ian Black | USA Today 

Huffington Post piece on MIB and his new book

Kirkus Review of the book

Where you can find out more about Michael:

Twitter: @michaelianblack

Michael Ian Black on Facebook

Michaelianblack.net

Wikipedia entry on Michael Ian Black