TFK Kid Reporter Axel Foster speaks with author, painter, and former Major League Baseball player Micah Johnson about his new book, Aku: Journey to Ibra.
How did you become an author?
Well, it wasn’t the most conventional conventional ordinary; common (adjective) path. I left baseball to paint. Then I created a character named Aku, after a young boy asked me if astronauts can be Black. Aku started as a 3D figure, but people started to fall in love with the character and the mission around inspiring kids to dream big. So I spent the last three years learning how to write and studying story structure.
As a kid, did you ever think you’d become an author?
Things happen in your life that you don’t plan for. Being an author was never on my radar. But I work really hard. I’m always willing to take risks and try things, even if I’m not good at them. I believe that anybody can get good at something as long as they work hard. I never thought about being an author, but once the opportunity came, I gave it everything I had—the same energy I gave on the baseball field.
What was your favorite part of the writing process?
Fleshing out the dynamic between Aku and his friends. This is the first time I’ve introduced new characters into Aku’s story. I wanted them to feel real and like they’re actual friends, to build that connection. It was really fun.
Who’s your favorite character in the book?
It all starts with Aku. I’ve became so close with Aku at this point, I feel like I am Aku. My daughter’s here with me in the studio today. There’s a character named after her in the book, and she’s yelling at me to say that character! That character is very fun and quirky. But I’ve got to stick with my guy, Aku.
What did baseball teach you about being an author?
That failure is inevitable inevitable unavoidable (adjective) . In baseball, your favorite player fails about 70% of the time. He’s still great, right? And in writing, you fail. An idea you’re excited about doesn’t work. You miss deadlines because you couldn’t get that idea out on paper. You’ve just got to keep showing up. That’s one of the biggest things.
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