Welcome! This is the origin story that kickstarts my substack newsletter.
I was a BIG manga (Japanese comics) reader in grade school.
I constantly made little comics and dreamed of becoming a comic creator some day.
At first, I wanted to be a syndicated comic strip cartoonist, like Charles M. Schulz, who created the wonderful Peanuts, or Jim Davis’ Garfield, or Patrick McDonnell’s Mutts.
I even created my own comic strips in my college newspaper.
But, alas! The comic strip syndication industry was at its end of life before I graduated college. As far as a career goal, that was a dead-end. Webcomics was at its infant stage, but I personally didn’t enjoy reading on screen. I wasn’t into superhero comics, and despite my love of manga, I wasn’t drawn to the limited art-style back then.
Fast forward many years, I switched from an event-exhibit designer to a full-time children’s book author and illustrator. I had the incredible luck to work with many amazing editors and art directors, and I learned a lot about the art of storytelling. I still love and continue writing and illustrating children’s books today.
And whenever there was a chance to make comics…
In the mean time, the graphic novel industry was changing and evolving. What was once a non-existent market in America became an exciting scene, filled with talents and great storytellers.
I wanted to do my own series, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready.
But…
Why not take a leap of faith?
After working on many different ideas and proposals (trials and errors, a.k.a. the fastest way to learn), I came up with a story series filled with everything I love – action, humor, friendship, adventure, and mythology. (Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Younger Readers. Publication date: April 2, 2024)
(I want to emphasize how much I love and support local independent bookstores! They are great to both the reading communities and local communities. Ordering through Bookshop helps independent bookstores, and I highly encourage it. I also recommending ordering books through my favorites: Once Upon a Time and Green Bean Books.)
My adventure as a comic and graphic novel storyteller has just begun. I want to share with you everything I learned, from reading and observing, to creating and revising, to challenges and overall thoughts. Perhaps it will inspire you to read more amazing comics and graphic novels.
Or, better, yet, to create your own.
Let’s have fun learning together!
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Are you into comics and graphic novels? What’re some of your favorite titles? Are there topics you look forward to reading about? I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the comments section below.
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