Hi! It’s my as-promised, infrequent newsletter!
What’s happened since the last one? A LOT, and thank you for asking:
My first in-person book launch.
Word on the Street Lethbridge.
One epic day with FOUR classroom visits.
I solved cursive writing. Single-handedly. Wow.
Launch Party: Shirley & Jamila’s FIRST Fall
Since both of my books were released during pandemic, this was the *very first* in-person celebration of becoming an author. Autumn 2022 is my Fall book’s FIRST FALL, since Shirley & Jamila’s Big Fall was delayed multiple times (I assume specifically because of that shipping barge stuck in the Suez canal…)
The launch was a delight! It was hosted by Analog Books, a fantastic indie bookstore. The owners, Penny & Scott could not have been more lovely, not to mention Hugo the store cat (more on him in a moment).
I chatted with our full house of attendees (If you were there, I thank you!) about making Big Fall, and a mix of kids and adults provided the direction that made THIS beautiful beast:
To recap a few of his myriad features, Catboy has horns, a high-top haircut that houses a farting bird; he loves to vacuum and serve both fast-food and the odd human head in the comfort of his Air Jordans. He’ll hear your order through his pierced elephant ears with an angry, yet concerned expression. Hugo the cat is also present. He stole the show in drawing form, and in real life, when he podium-crashed mid-drawing session.
Word on the Street
Another first! Truly, it couldn’t have been nicer. The weather, the people, the turn-out! I spoke to a full house (it was a tent) of adults and kids who were hilarious and together we made TWO supreme beings that if given sentience would rule us all:
I also was delighted to meet other authors, as one of them myself! An underground cabal I am truly delighted to join. (I was seated next to the AMAZING Maude Barlow: author, activist, friend of Jane Fonda who once complimented her great legs. She’s on the front lines of making water a human right. Follow her incredible work here. Stay for more stories about Jane Fonda and sneaking back stage at a Stones concert).
I signed books in the sunshine. Highly recommended. Nothing bad about this. Pure delight. I’m extremely grateful to Word on the Street/the Lethbridge Public Library for having me. Libraries are fantastic. Do people know this? It’s true.
Author Visits
The magnificent people behind the Rocky Mountain Book Award (Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer was a proud nominee) sponsored a series of author visits for Alberta schools (remember getting to meet an author in school? Robert Munsch came to my elementary school and I’ll never forget it). I did my first 4-visit day, and maybe my last? The classes were amazing, but I was a ZOMBIE by the end of the day. (I think 3 visits per day or less might be the sweet spot.)
Not pictured: My intense and ever-growing respect for teachers who present to kids all day.
(Imagine on any level wanting to cut wages, funding or do anything other than support these people? Click here to support the fight for excellent public education. Click here to read about SOS, an advocacy group fighting for equitable and accessible public education, and to keep public funding in public schools.)
I Solved Cursive
Over at twitter dot com, I cracked a mystery that’s plagued generations: Why does the Cursive G look the way it does? A tweet from Mariko Tamaki started the whole thing:
It was only my interest in typography and brush lettering that cracked this one for me.
I put the process into a video too… which then went viral on TikTok(?!). 4.2 Million views and counting. As a Woman In Her Forties (tm) I am struggling with this limited (and one-post specific) notoriety. Do I buy a private island or is it too soon? Sure, I’ve yet to monetize this in anyway, but I want to be forward-thinking. Like those guys who ran Fyre Fest. They’re doing great now, right? RIGHT?
My actual next move has been to post more cursive writing breakdown videos on TikTok. They are fun, and as a life-long lover of typography and problem-solving, they scratch an itch. Follow me here to see those and whatever else book & comic related I might be posting
That’s it for October. I hope you’re celebrating the spooky season in style, and reading a lot of comics! Since I’m an advocate of celebrating Halloween all year, here’s a list of great graphic novels (age group follows title) to add to your reading list:
The Montague Twins: The Witches Hand by Drew Shannon & Nathan Page (teen)
The Montague Twins: The Devil’s Music by Drew Shannon & Nathan Page (teen)
Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brogsol (tween-teen)
Through the Woods by Emily Carroll (teen & up. Excellent HORROR)
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh (middle grade)
The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag (middle grade)
Nightlights by Lorena Alverez (middle grade but with some beautiful/scary images)
Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier (middle grade)
The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo by Drew Weing (middle grade)
Happy reading!
-Gillian