Gabriel Valentin
Sit down with San Diego-based storyteller Gabriel Valentin as we discuss what the Lower Your Sights project means to him, his contribution to the anthology, and his thoughts on the unifying power of art.
Q: What does this project mean to you?
Gabriel: Since I was little, I have had recurring nightmares about war. I’m not totally sure where these nightmares came from, because I have never once been within any short distance of a warzone. That is something I am so truly thankful for, but when I hear these stories of children who are waking up and living their lives with the constant fear that at any second a bomb could go off nearby and end or alter their life forever, it breaks my heart. The feeling of helplessness is overwhelming. Organizations like Voices of Children are giving people like myself a chance to directly impact the life of a child that is facing these terrifying challenges every second of every day. I am fully aware that my little story won’t solve the problem, but I am hoping that it inspires people to help find solutions to protecting the lives of the children that live right here, on our planet. Kids deserve to be kids, and with organizations like Voices of Children, I am honored to be a part of the solution.
Q: What is your contribution to Lower Your Sights? (Short Story, Pinup, Etc.)
Gabriel: A short story.
Q: In addition to supplying food and essential supplies, Voices of Children also provides art therapy to help kids cope and overcome the stress, anxiety, and trauma of living in war conditions. Do you believe art has the power to heal?
Gabriel: I not only believe that art has the power to heal, I have seen its power in action throughout my entire life. I never felt like I was good at much in life, but when I discovered music and storytelling, it changed my life forever. So many things in the world just started to make sense. Art has helped heal my anxieties, art has helped me find courage, and art has helped me find the person who I want to be in this crazy world of ours. Art can heal and it does everyday!
About Gabriel Valentin
Gabriel Valentin, the creator and writer of the Digital Lizards of Doom book series, possesses a long-standing passion for fables and mythology. A self-described “hopeless romantic” of the fantasy adventure/genre, Valentin’s approach to storytelling is often noted as playful, humorous and bizarre. Valentin cites Ursula K. Le Guin, Robert E. Howard, and Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Twitter: @dlodworld | Instagram: @digitallizardsofdoom
Gabriel Valentin’s storytelling will be featured in the short story, The Journey of Milosz and Myr, from our upcoming Ukrainian benefit anthology, Lower Your Sights. You check out more of Gabriel’s work here!
Mad Cave Studios and Voices Of Children are teaming up to publish Lower Your Sights, a graphic novel anthology, to raise awareness and proceeds for children impacted by war. Earnings from the book’s sales are going directly to the Voices of Children foundation.
Lower Your Sights is available for preorder (FOC on August 29th 2022), and officially in stores on September 14th, 2022. You can pre-order your very own copy of this benefit anthology here.
