Angeli E. Dumatol Paints Youth in Soft Shades

There’s a quiet brilliance to “A Sky of a Thousand Colors.” What might seem at first like a straightforward mystery — a missing person, unanswered questions — reveals itself as an achingly tender exploration of friendship, endurance, and self-discovery. This is not just a story to be read but one to be felt, its themes resonating long after the final page.

For Dumatol, part of the inspiration for the novel came from a deeply personal source. “I actually live with an artist here at home,” she shares. “My younger brother is a visual artist — he’s actually the one who drew the cover. I’ve always been amazed at how he’s able to translate ideas into concrete pictures, especially since I cannot personally draw to save my life. I wanted to write a story focused on the visual arts. It was just a matter of when and particularly what story.”

“The main push that actually had me drafting this story was an anecdote by Dr. Oliver Sacks,” Dumatol continues. “Outside of writing, I’m actually a doctor, and one of the things that I really treasure about my job is being able to bear witness to so many stories about the human experience, and that anecdote was just one part of it. So, I wanted to translate that kind of experience into my writing and to have those stories serve as inspiration to other people, just as they inspired me.”

What makes “A Sky of a Thousand Colors” particularly poignant is how the narrative explores the costs of genius and the burdens of expectation. “It’s so easy to be blinded by the splendor, the win, the applause,” Dumatol says. “We forget that behind those wins, there’s so much that the person still has to overcome before they reach that point in their life. We tend to forget that journey, that hard work, all the perseverance, the effort you put in against all odds. Finding your colors in the midst of what appears to be such a very bleak world, that in itself is a victory. I wanted the story to remind others about that.” 

The book’s narrative structure — a dual timeline weaving between past and present — only heightens the emotional impact and suspense. Originally drafted with the timelines separated, Dumatol later experimented with alternating chapters, discovering that the shifts added layers of tension and intimacy. “It was supposed to be Part 1 and then Part 2,” she explains. “But while I was in the middle of writing it, I found the pace to be quite dragging. So, I experimented with the idea of alternating the timelines instead and was pleasantly surprised to find that it works.”

The true essence of the story, however, is in the evolving bond between Gwen, Jet, and Jasper, three characters whose paths converge in ways that are both deeply human and profoundly moving. It’s undeniably through its characters that the novel sheds light on the sacrifices and quiet resilience often overlooked, honoring the unseen struggles that shape our greatest achievements.

“‘A Sky of a Thousand Colors’ is, in its heart, a story about friendship,” Dumatol confirms. “I knew right from the beginning that I wanted it to be character-driven. Gwen, Jasper, and Jet actually were the first characters I developed while drafting this story.” 

To bring these characters to life, she created intricate backstories and assigned each of them “color personalities” as a creative starting point. “Jet is, of course, black, Gwen is white, and Jasper is orange,” she says. These symbolic traits provided a foundation, but as the story progressed, the characters grew and transformed in ways that surprised even their creator.

“As the writing went on, similar to how a person develops as they go along with their life, have many experiences, meet other people, so did the characters,” Dumatol says. “Beyond the colors, I think they took on a life of their own.”

Bringing the visual arts to life on the page was another unique challenge, one that Dumatol approached with unwavering dedication. “I had to translate a lot of visual imagery into words and hope those words translated back into that visual imagery for the readers,” she recalls. “Two different artistic mediums that I had to bridge using words. So, while I was writing, I tried my very best to immerse myself in the world of painting, which brought me closer to my brother.” From art classes to museum visits, she delved into the artistic process, working to make every scene feel authentic and vivid. This commitment not only enriched the narrative but also lent the story a tangible, tactile beauty.

But readers don’t need a visual arts education to connect with Dumatol’s novel. Her story speaks to fears that resonate with artists and non-artists alike. The fear of losing abilities — especially those that define or drive you — is universal. It’s the struggle of an artist, or any individual, faced with the daunting question of what comes next. Dumatol captures that emotional complexity with gentle empathy, offering a powerful illustration of the quiet strength needed to navigate such challenges.

“As a doctor, I really wanted to show how impactful disease can be, not just to the person afflicted, but also to the people around them — especially the ones who care about them,” Dumatol says. “But above all, I wanted to show that even during the darkest of times, even when the world seems at its worst, hope still remains. We’re not alone, and there is still a very colorful life worth living.”

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About the Author:

Angeli E. Dumatol is a nuclear medicine physician by profession and when she’s not in the clinics, she can be found writing stories, reading books, or getting lost in a daydream. She was a Fellow of the 3rd Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Writers Workshop and the 1st Kabanata Young Adult Writers’ Workshop, as well as an awardee of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature in 2011. With a firm belief in the healing power of smiles and stories, Angeli’s ultimate wish is to be able to use both medicine and literature in making a difference in people’s lives. She’s a part of #RomanceClass, a community of Filipino writers, readers, and creatives dedicated to happily ever afters. Angeli currently lives in Quezon City, Philippines with her ever supportive family.

Cover Photo: Courtesy of Penguin Random House SEA