The last week of July 2025 Jo Knowles and I will teach a week long workshop in creating comics about growing up. This is the sixth year (I think) we’ve taught together, and every time it’s a wonder— and how not? We spend most of each day together talking about, drawing, and sharing stories about pivotal times in our lives. Who will be there? In the past we’ve had students from all over the country and of all ages, and we create an atmosphere that’s kind, humorous, and encourages the kind of courage it takes to write about not the easiest times— growing up!
Someone's Gonna End Up Crying
Available to preorder now from you favorite local bookshop for pickup on May 27, 2025!
I’m proud to have illustrated Jo’s new middle grade novel, a story about 10-year old Maple who draws comics in response to stresses in her life– hey, that sounds familiar! Jo has an amazing ability to speak of deep emotions through the details of daily life, and to bring humor and imagination to difficult times. Some scenes I loved drawing include Maple as Captain Ladybug flying to a recycling center to dispose of the kitchen timer that torments her during math tests, Maple rolling down a hill in a barrel (I tried this when I was a kid, not recommended), Maple’s dream treehouse, and scenes of a “portal potty,” Maple’s dad’s means of escaping to Dadlandia, where he’s free from responsibilities of family.
The chance to make these illustrations grew out of teaching Coming of Age Comics together with Jo at CCS for five summers in a row, continuing this year. I love this week, and learn new aspects of story telling from Jo every year. Registration is open for Coming of Age Comics summer of 2025— a week packed with exercises designed to get to the heart of stories of growing up.
CCS Appeal: In Any Era Remarkable Talent Needs Help to Take Root
What if the Charlotte and Emily Bronte, instead of going to school in Belgium, arrived in Vermont to study cartooning? The Center for Cartoon Studies really ups anyone’s game, whether you’re small, plain, and obscure from Yorkshire, or mighty and popular from anywhere else.
Read the whole comic HERE. Or stop by CCS in White River Junction, VT to pick one up! Or apply for your own creative experience! And donate to help support this remarkable institution.
Charlotte Bronte Before Jane Eyre Review in the New York Times
This review in the New York Times one is the best yet! It appears in the print edition on Sunday Dec. 1st.
“This emotionally nuanced and visually stunning biography, illustrated in deft pencil strokes colored with moody shades of blue and featuring an insightful introduction written by Alison Bechdel, is the latest venture from the Center for Cartoon Stories…”
Stuck in Vermont and a Book Launch
Join me and Jason Lutes at Phoenix Books on Sept 26th for a launch of Charlotte Bronte Before Jane Eyre and Houdini: the Handcuff King. We’ll have a discussion about historical biography and creating graphic novels.
If you can’t wait for that, here’s Episode 591 of Eva Solberger’s Stuck In Vermont, where I talk about making the book about Charlotte Bronte, the great cartooning weather in the state of Vermont, and a theme park idea. (hint: there will be gruel.)
Joining the Center for Cartoon Studies
This fall (2019) I am joining the faculty at the Center for Cartoon Studies, that offers a two-year MFA and certificate program in creating comics. It’s so exciting to come out of my hermit cave and to be a part of this community dedicated to providing the highest quality of education to students interested in creating visual stories.
Not Actually the Center for Cartoon Studies!
This is Roe Head School where Charlotte Brontë studied and taught. If only they had offered comics as a subject—would we be reading Jane Eyre the graphic novel?
My Life with Charlotte Bronte in SevenDaysVT
This one page is in the annual Cartoon Issue, with a great cover by Alison Bechdel.
