SUPERMAN visits Pasadena

Matt de la Peña at Vroman’s (Photo – Mike Pashistoran)

Superman has left the big city of Gotham.

By Mike Pashistoran

In “Superman: Dawnbreaker” the Man of Steel is in a small town called Smallville. We do not follow his superhero exploits and powers in the colorful images of a comic book, but in the black and white text of a young adult book.

Author Matt de la Peña has been primarily a writer of some 20 young adult novels and picture books. Taking on a comic book superhero whose story is known far and wide is a new type of book for the author!

The author is on tour and made a pit stop here at Pasadena’s renowned Vroman’s Bookstore. About 20 fans came out on Monday, March 25, to meet and hear author de la Peña’s supertalk:

So, I was asked if I was interested in doing a book on Superman? Yes!  My Mexican-American dad wanted to feel more American and he felt Superman was about the most American fun thing to do!

So many people know the storyline, this character Superman, so it made it very hard to write this book.  But, I probably knew more about Superman than other superheroes!

I think what makes a good book ending is when it’s both inevitable and surprising.

It took me about 15 months to write this book. Most of my books take over a year, so, I think this was probably the fastest book I’ve written!

This is a DC Comics and Penguin Random House book–first time with two publishers.  So I’d hear from one publisher (“make more edgy”) and then the other publisher would call (“this is too edgy. Superman would never do that!).

I’m working next on another YA book and two picture books.

After 15 years in New York City/Brooklyn, de la Peña is returning to live in California (San Diego).