Meet the Filipina writer who co-wrote New York Times bestselling graphic novel

For Filipina writer Mikki Crisostomo, who co-wrote “The Long-Lived King,” seeing her name on a book in a bookstore on its release day was an emotional milestone that left her in awe.

The graphic novel, set in Disney’s “The Owl House” universe, became even more meaningful for Crisostomo when it debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times bestseller list — an achievement the writer did not expect.

“It’s written for ‘Owl House’ fans, but I think maybe I underestimated how many people really care about the show because enough people cared about it to propel it to number two, like the top two on the New York Times bestselling list,” she told ABS-CBN News. 

The original animated series follows Luz Noceda, a human girl who discovers a portal to the demon realm and becomes an apprentice to a rebellious witch. 

The graphic novel released in September continues the story after the show’s finale, centering on a Titan named King, who accidentally wipes out Luz’s memory. It explores heavier themes of death and grief, offering a more mature story for viewers who have grown older since the show ended. 

Crisostomo admitted she was nervous about how “Owl House” fans would receive the story, knowing their deep passion and attachment to the series. However, the response has been overwhelming, with readers connecting with the emotions at the heart of the narrative and leaving positive reviews. 

“I’m just amazed that people like it,” she said, expressing her gratitude for the readers.

Crisostomo’s passion for storytelling began with books. Growing up, she recalled spending hours at bookstores with her family, developing a love for reading that eventually shaped her creative pursuits.

She graduated from the University of Philippines-Diliman before pursuing a master’s degree in screenwriting at Columbia University in New York.

She then joined Disney Television Animation, the production company behind “The Owl House.” After sending sample works and getting an interview with creator Dana Terrace, she joined the writing team of “The Owl House” for its second season.

For Crisostomo, being a good writer in animation isn’t just being good with the words. It’s also about being collaborative, sharing ideas with other creatives in a writer’s room.

“Because animation is a really collaborative medium where it’s not just one person who can handle it all. It takes a village just to make five seconds of an animated clip,” she said.

Crisostomo said being in a writers’ room allows creatives to learn from one another.

When “The Owl House” creator Dana Terrace invited Crisostomo to co-write “The Long-Lived King,” they revisited one of Terrace’s ideas about life, death and what comes after.

The project also challenged Crisostomo to approach storytelling differently. Unlike animation scripts, graphic novels require careful attention to each panel, illustration, and page turn. 

The experience left her wanting to write more books. Unlike seeing her name in television credits, holding a published book gave her a tangible connection to her work.

“Writing a book is something that you can hold in your own hands, I’d love to write another one. It’s been extremely cool to kind of experience writing a book and seeing it come to life,” she said.

Crisostomo advised aspiring writers to read widely, study how stories are crafted, and embrace the imperfect first draft. She learned the “vomit draft” technique at Columbia University, which encourages writers to put their ideas on paper before refining them.

“It is so much more important to also sit down in front of your computer or your notebook and actually start making it happen. Even if it’s bad, at least you’ll have something that you can improve later,” she said.

Successful stories, for Crisostomo, require multiple rounds of revision. Even discarded drafts, she said, help writers identify how to improve their stories.

Crisostomo hopes to inspire the next generation of Filipino storytellers to believe that they, too, can succeed in the international animation industry. 

“Kaya rin nila. Kaya rin ninyo. I think there’s nothing really particularly special about me that helped me stand out, other than, I guess, just being in the right place at the right time,” she said.