Raina Telgemeier's Blog, page 10
October 16, 2013
Explorer: The Lost Islands. Out Now!
I’m pleased to announce that Explorer: The Lost Islands is in stores now!
I drew a 16-page story for this anthology called Desert Island Playlist, which was written by Dave Roman and colored by Braden Lamb (who is also coloring Sisters!). Here’s a sneak peek for you:
Look for Explorer: The Lost Islands (and the previous volume, Explorer: The Mystery Boxes) at your favorite independent book store or comic shop!
September 30, 2013
October & November Events!
Quite a few more events coming up in the next couple of months, PLUS I’m finishing up the artwork for Sisters–so I’ll keep this brief!
October 12-13
Alternative Press Expo, aka APE
San Francisco, CA
I’m a special guest! Find Dave and I at table 231. Here are the panels I’ll be part of:
CBLDF: Raising a Reader
Saturday, October 12
12:00–1:00
Spotlight on Raina Telgemeier
Saturday, October 12
3:45–4:30PM
Love & Comics: Working with a Spouse
Sunday, October 13
12:30–1:30PM
Keeping Comics Alive: Comics for a New Generation (How did they get into comics and how they inspire new readers)
Sunday, October 13
4:30–5:30PM
Saturday, October 19
Books for the Beast
Baltimore, MD
Adults and teens must register in advance
October 25-27
Quai des Bulles
St. Malo, France
I’ll be signing with my French publisher, Akileos, all weekend! Come get a copy of Souriez or En Scene! and I’ll draw in it for you!
Wednesday, October 30
Signing at Bulle
6 Rue Saint-Honoré
Le Mans, France (time coming soon!)
Thursday, October 31
Signing at BDNet
26 rue Charonne
75011 Paris, France
4pm (16:00)
Sunday, November 3
Allentown Art Museum
Allentown, PA
Fall Festival: Worlds of Wonder
12-4 pm
I’ll be signing and presenting! More info soon!
Sunday, November 17
AASL National Conference
If you’re a school librarian coming to this conference, I look forward to seeing you!
September 23, 2013
Fairy Tale Comics: Out Now!
Fairy Tale Comics is in stores TODAY!
I wrote and drew an 8-page Rapunzel story. Here’s a short interview about my story I did with the librarian book blog, Stacked. The other stories in this book are really good, and the cartoonists who drew them are amazing! You should seek out their other work if you like what you see!
Here’s a panel from my story.
Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists
Various authors; edited by Chris Duffy
Published by First Second
Hardcover; 128 pages
ISBN: 9781596438231
September 16, 2013
Book Fests! Princeton, NJ and Brooklyn, NY!
This weekend you can find me at TWO book festivals!
Princeton Children’s Book Festival
Saturday, September 21
Signing in the Purple Tent from 11am-4pm
Presenting my work from 2:20-2:30pm
Books for sale via JaZams of Princeton!
Brooklyn Book Festival
Sunday, September 22
Event: Comics Quick Draw!
11:00am
Three cartoonists face off in this fast-paced battle of the sharpies. Drawing from audience suggestions, the award-winning and reader-adored Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Platypus Police Squad: the Frog who Croaked), Eisner Award-winner Raina Telgemeier (Drama), and Printz Award and National Book Award-winner, Gene Yang (Boxers & Saints) will battle with pen and pad. And, everybody wins; finished art will be gifted to some of the lucky young people in attendance. Moderated by Calvin Reid (Publishers Weekly Comics World).
Location: Youth Stoop (Borough Hall Plaza/Columbus Park)
Book signing immediately to follow.
September 9, 2013
Small Press Expo: 9/14-9/15 in Bethesda, MD!
This weekend is the Small Press Expo (aka SPX) in Bethesda, MD! I’m a special guest this year. You can find me at table #K1-2 both days with copies of all my books, original art, and a few t-shirts. I’ll also be on the following panel:
Raina Telgemeier and Gene Yang in Conversation
Saturday, September 14
3:00 – 4:00
The rise of comics for younger readers has been among the most striking developments in comics publishing of the past decade. Raina Telgemeier’s YA graphic novels Smile and Drama have both been New York Times Graphics Books #1 Bestsellers; Gene Yang’s YA book American Born Chinese was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award, among other honors. These two artists join us for a unique conversation about their work, moderated by journalist Chris Mautner.
Location: White Oak Room
If you’ve never been to SPX before, it’s one of the most welcoming small press comics events in the country. From SPX’s tumblr, here’s a list of first-time-attendee questions and answers!
See you there!
September 3, 2013
September Events! Bethesda, Princeton, and Brooklyn x2!
It’s September, and the fall event circuit is gearing up. Here’s where you can find me this month:
September 14-15
Small Press Expo
Bethesda, MD
I’m a special guest at this year’s SPX! You can find me at table #K1-2 both days with copies of all my books, original art, and a few t-shirts. I’ll also be on the following panel:
Raina Telgemeier and Gene Yang in Conversation
Saturday, September 14
3:00 – 4:00
The rise of comics for younger readers has been among the most striking developments in comics publishing of the past decade. Raina Telgemeier’s YA graphic novels Smile and Drama have both been New York Times Graphics Books #1 Bestsellers; Gene Yang’s YA book American Born Chinese was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award, among other honors. These two artists join us for a unique conversation about their work, moderated by journalist Chris Mautner.
Location: White Oak Room
If you’ve never been to SPX before, it’s one of the most welcoming small press comics events in the country. From SPX’s tumblr, here’s a list of first-time-attendee questions and answers!
*****
Saturday, September 21
JUST ADDED! Princeton Children’s Book Festival
Princeton, NJ
Check back for program and signing schedule soon!
*****
Sunday, September 22
Brooklyn Book Festival
Brooklyn, NY
Comics Quick Draw!
11:00am
Three cartoonists face off in this fast-paced battle of the sharpies. Drawing from audience suggestions, the award-winning and reader-adored Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Platypus Police Squad: the Frog who Croaked), Eisner Award-winner Raina Telgemeier (Drama), and Printz Award and National Book Award-winner, Gene Yang (Boxers & Saints) will battle with pen and pad. And, everybody wins; finished art will be gifted to some of the lucky young people in attendance. Moderated by Calvin Reid (Publishers Weekly Comics World).
Location: Youth Stoop (Borough Hall Plaza/Columbus Park)
Book signing immediately to follow.
*****
Sunday, September 29
Fairy Tale Comics Event and Signing
Community Bookstore
Brooklyn, NY
11:00am
Meet three of the talented cartoonist contributors to the new comic anthology Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists: Raina Telgemeier, Charise Mericle Harper, and Brett Helquist! Each cartoonist will introduce their fairy tale adaptation and kids will have the opportunity to participate in a brief drawing workshop. Ages four and up.
*****
Hope to see you! I’ve got more events coming in October, and I’ll post about those closer to the fact. Enjoy your fall…the best season of all!
August 31, 2013
One Year…
My next graphic novel, SISTERS, will be out one year from today!
I know that seems like a long time, but I’m still drawing it. I’ll finish up the art around New Years, then the book goes into production (more about what that means here and here), and the finished product will be in stores on September 1, 2014. I hope to announce book tour dates sometime late next summer.
I’ve been posting process shots over on Facebook and Instagram (@goraina). Here’s just a little bit of the work in progress that is making a 200-page graphic novel…
I think it will be worth the wait!
Anyway, all is not lost! I’ve got short stories in several anthologies coming out between now and Sisters’ release date:
Fairy Tale Comics
I wrote and drew an 8-page Rapunzel story.
In stores September 24!
Explorer: The Lost Islands
I drew a 16-page story, written by Dave and colored by Braden (who is also coloring Sisters!).
In stores October 15!
Funny Pages: Recess
I wrote and drew 14 pages for this anthology.
In stores July, 2014!
*****
August 25, 2013
Advice for Budding Cartoonists
I get letters and emails from a LOT of aspiring writers, artists, and cartoonists, asking for tips and advice. Without knowing each of you personally, it’s hard to be too specific, but I do have some general advice for budding creators that I can share!
READ.
Sounds obvious, but it bears mentioning: The best way to learn how to write is to read. The best way to learn how to write and draw comics, is to read comics. (Or manga, or graphic novels, or whatever you want to call them.) Study your favorite books. Read them out loud. Look up any words you’re unfamiliar with. What appeals to you? Why? Read outside of your favorite genres—you might discover some new favorites!
Practice, practice, practice.
Practice drawing all the time. Take classes. Keep a sketchbook. Draw from life as often as you can. Draw things you’re not comfortable drawing. You’ll only improve.
Sketchbook pages from a visit to Muir Woods in Northern California.
Share.
For years, I was too shy to show anyone my comics. But, once you start to share, people can enjoy them, give you feedback, and help you improve. You might even meet people who share your interests, and now you’ve got a support system! Don’t wait to start sharing your work!
I met my husband Dave through comics! He’s a cartoonist, too!
Collaborate.
Not everyone is the best artist. Not everyone is the best writer. But maybe you can do one and your friend can do another. Team up to create something!
Young cartoonist collaborators in Portland, Oregon.
Small is okay.
Often, young cartoonists have ideas for long, multi-volume, epic series. They are planning out the story arcs and worldbuilding and drawing hundreds of pictures of character costumes. Why not try creating a short story using these characters and this world, instead? It’s a better and faster way to get to know them. Creating short stories (1 page, 3 pages, 10 pages…) is a great way to improve your craft.
From a silent 3-page story called Small Steps.
Self-publish.
Also known as: make mini-comics! Xerox your pages, fold and staple them into booklets, and share or sell them with your friends. You can absolutely call yourself a self-published author, because you make mini-comics! Here’s a link to a mini-comic making tutorial.
My mini-comic series, Take-Out. Each was 12 pages long, black and white. I handmade and sold/distributed about 7,000 copies, total, of my minis!
Post your comics online.
Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram, DeviantArt…pick a social networking platform, and start sharing your work online. Don’t worry too much about things like copyright. If you can give yourself some sort of schedule (one page per week; two comics per month; whatever seems comfortable), you’ll build an audience and build up a body of work before you know it.
Do it ‘cause you love it.
If you want to make comics or any kind of art…don’t let anyone stop you!
*****
This essay was originally posted on Inside A Dog. Copyright Raina Telgemeier.
August 19, 2013
A Tour of my Workspace
I thought I’d share a look at my desk! It’s messy, but most of the mess is stuff I reach for on a regular basis.
Here’s view number one:
Stuff you can see in this photo:
•My bulletin board. Full of reference, inspiration, art from fans.
•A t-shirt I designed for a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation walk team, featuring the BSC’s very own Stacey.
•Below that, a cardboard box full of fan letters. I need to answer these.
•My laptop. This has my script on it, plus music, reference, email, and the inevitable Twitter.
•Empty teacup number one.
•Old photos. I’m working on a book about my sister and I when we were little, so, old family photos are helpful!
•Pens. Brushes. Lip balm.
•A bunch of old sketchbooks.
•The paper (Bristol board) for the pages I’m drawing.
•A necklace made of sculpey, of the happy face from the cover of Smile, made by my fans/friends!
•Under the desk: an old monitor somebody gave me, that I haven’t found a good use for yet.
And view number two:
•The page I’m working on!
•My pencil, eraser, and blue layout pencil.
•More photos.
• Full teacup.
•Little IKEA desk lamp.
•iPod speaker doc.
•Empty teacup number two.
•Used tissue. I’ve had pretty bad allergies this season!
•Color wheel. I don’t use this much anymore, but I like it.
•Cup of water for rinsing my brushes.
•Bin full of ink, thumbtacks, pencil sharpener, scissors, and miscellany.
•Space heater, down below. My studio is badly insulated, and FREEZING in winter!
•Outside the window: Queens, New York. My view is of a couple of parking spaces, a few trees, and the apartments across the way. There are a couple of stray cats that like to sit on top of my neighbors’ cars, and I like watching them. The window faces west, so I get some pretty nice sunsets here.
I don’t always work at my desk!
What about you? What things are essential to your workspace?
*****
This essay was originally posted on Inside A Dog. Copyright Raina Telgemeier.
August 18, 2013
‘Beginnings’ in Japanese!
A few days ago, I learned that the manga Barefoot Gen has been banned from some schools in Japan for its depiction of violence. If you’ve ever seen me talk, you might know that Barefoot Gen is one of my seminal influences as a cartoonist, and I hold its creator Keiji Nakazawa in the highest regard. Mr. Nakazawa passed away last December, and I never wrote a proper eulogy for him, but I wrote a short comic over a decade ago called Beginnings, which says everything I wanted to say about the book and what it means to me.
I received a very kind letter from a father in Japan (@unpocketable on Twitter) over the weekend, who was frustrated over the book banning and came across my short story. He asked if he could translate my comic into Japanese for his young daughter to read, and to share with some of her friends and others in his community. I was delighted by the idea, and he sent me the translated version so I could share it here on my website, too. Without further ado:
Thanks to @unpocketable, and again, the original English version of Beginnings can be read right here on my site.
