What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2014?
Performing a public reading of one of my comics at the Emerging Writers Festival in Adelaide in September really stands out. It was an honour to be one of two comic creators reading alongside prose writers such as Benjamin Law and Clementine Ford. It was also nerve racking – I’d never read one of my comics in public before. In fact, I’d often been perplexed at the urge that drives people to stand on a stage and try to entertain others. But having now done it myself, I can tell you that it feels pretty damn good to hear a roomful of strangers laugh at your jokes.
What are some of the comics you've enjoyed in 2014?
Awkwood by Jase Harper (Milk Shadow Books) – crisp art and a funny concept with a believably flawed protagonist
Through The Woods by Emily Carroll (Margaret K. McElderry Books) – beautiful and creepy
The Don Rosa Library by Don Rosa (Fantagraphics) – the archive series I’ve been dreaming of for 15 years
Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, and Brooke Allen (Boom! Box) – pure, manic fun
Seconds by Bryan Lee O’Malley (Random House) – engrossing and moving
What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2014?
I traveled to Newcastle with my partner, fellow cartoonist Georgina Chadderton, in October for the National Young Writers Festival. It was my first time at the festival, and it was an enormous amount of fun. Strictly speaking, this was still comics related, as we were invited there to participate in events as cartoonists, but we attended as many of the other, non-comics sessions as was physically possible, and I immensely enjoyed all the workshops, panels and readings. A great trip, and a great festival – but I nearly needed another holiday afterwards to catch up on sleep and recuperate!
What are you looking forward to in 2015?
After several years of focusing on short comics for anthologies, I’m planning my first proper graphic novel: a screwball romantic comedy for young adults and the young at heart. The idea been gestating for a few months now and I’m really excited about getting it on paper! My aim for 2015 is to complete the script and start drawing – I expect it to be a multi-year project.
