13. Bringing Life to Art and Stories with Erica Eng

In this episode of Before We Get There, host Nicholas Braman talks to Malaysian author and artist Erica Eng about her inspiring journey in the world of art and storytelling. Erica shares how her love for art began with book illustrations and developed through influences like Little House on the Prairie and Roald Dahl’s works. She discusses her creative process, the emotional impact of her experiences, and the journey of writing her Eisner Award-winning book Fried Rice. Erica also delves into her struggles and triumphs, from balancing a full-time animation career with personal projects to navigating life's challenges while staying driven by faith and family support.  Erica's links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paprikapeprica/  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/paprikapeprica  Buy Fried Rice (SG): https://sg.shp.ee/2Ye1fzT  Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2h9gsrWKH9C1KY1OzR12kr?si=2a4d19970632465f   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-we-get-there/id1775182252 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforewegettherepodcast/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nicholasbraman Website: https://nicholasbraman.com/before-we-get-there-podcast/  00:00 Meet Erica Eng: Malaysian Author and Artist 01:22 Falling in Love with Art 03:24 Creating Fried Rice: Inspiration and Process 07:18 Handling Rejection and Moving Forward 12:09 Publishing Journey and Winning the Eisner Award 19:42 Balancing Career and Personal Projects 24:48 Creative Process and Inspirations 28:53 TEDx Talk and Overcoming Vulnerability 37:00 Future Aspirations and Closing Remarks