101 Reasons Why: The Interview Series, Interview 3 (playful producer Duane Piedmont)

Happy 2024 and almost Lunar New Year!

This is the third installment of Neko Productions’ guffaw-fest of conversations entitled 101 REASONS WHY! The debut kidlit book behind it all is available for purchase on Amazon. In the spirit of generosity, please enjoy the following companion piece at no cost! This interview illuminates the kinds of stories that regular folks employ to survive everyday existence.

From interview #1 (Deborah Gilels), here is a recap of 101 REASONS WHY: The Article Series origins:

LA-based animation studio Neko Productions rolls into new territory between fact and fiction. Along with creator Ofir Lobel, Neko has a comedic middle grade graphic novel series in production. The title is 101 REASONS WHY, and the theme is kids’ creative explanations for all kinds of scrapes: lost homework, uneaten vegetables, half-finished chores, and the like. In other words, the books illuminate lengths to which adolescent excuses stretch. Lobel’s own childhood tall tales serve as inspiration.

In honor of the occasion, Neko presents an anthology of dialogues with adults who are former small fry. Herein lies interview #1 (of 101). The fearless interviewee is publicist and producer Deborah Gilels. The purpose of this exercise is…