ALIA Graphic Podcast
111 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago -In this podcast, the ALIA Graphic team discusses the latest news relevant to libraries and graphic novels. We also interview Australian comic book creators in our creator chats series. Our group of volunteers aims to support library staff interested in all aspects of collection development, advocacy and programming related to graphic novels and comics.
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Episodes
87 Creator Chat with Paul McLaughlin
April 15, 2024 22:00 - 33 minutes - 62.4 MBThis month Rebecca sits down to chat with Paul McLaughlin, the creator and writer of Lil Viking Space Rangers. Chapter 2 is out now with art by Trudi Monteath and Sarah Rackemann. Chapter 1 and 3 have art from Liana Wright. The discussion covers this delightful and humorous comics for kids, the process of making comics, Paul's experiences with libraries and doing workshops at libraries and, of course, he has three comics he recommends too. For more on Lil Viking Space Rangers visit: https...
86 March Roundup
March 27, 2024 21:00 - 20 minutes - 38.8 MBIn this roundup episode Jade and Rebecca sit discuss their recent reads, they pick their favourite newly released graphic novels and the latest news and resources, including: collection management and weeding of superhero comics, U.S. publishers ramping up releases of middle grade manga and lots of adaptations of books into graphic novels. New titles picks: The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha No Remorse: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and M...
85 Creator Chat with Queenie Chan
March 24, 2024 21:00 - 1 hour - 130 MBIn our latest creator chat, Marissa sits downs with Queenie Chan, a Sydney based comics creator working in manga style. She has published three volumes of The Fabled Kingdom, which is a mix of prose and manga, the Women Who Were Kings series of manga and now she's republishing an expanded and updated three volume edition of The Dreaming, a manga located in an Australian boarding school in the bush. We discuss her influences, what it's like working in the manga style in Australia, the origi...
84 February Roundup
March 03, 2024 00:45 - 25 minutes - 20.4 MBIn this month's roundup Gabby and Marissa discuss their recent reads. They also discuss Webtoons, Lore Olympus and the new Inklore imprint, and some other news like the recent article from The Guardian discussing comics, graphic novels and manga in France. They also discuss their favourite picks out of the new graphic novels published recently and coming up soon. You can find the whole February Roundup blog post with more news, resources and the full list of new titles in our new website: ...
83 Creator Chat with Tim McEwen of Greener Pastures
February 27, 2024 20:34 - 1 hour - 53.9 MBIn this creator chat we talk to Tim McEwen, co-creator of Greener Pastures. He's been making comics since the 80s and Greener Pastures is making a comeback that will, finally, include trade paperbacks and a graphic novel. Tim and Iurgi discuss Australian comics, the Comic Arts Awards of Australia (formerly Ledger Awards) and, of course, the ambitious plans to reprint Greener Pastures in trade paperbacks and finish the story they started back in the early 90s. For more info on Greener Pas...
82 Creator Chat with Chris Gooch
February 12, 2024 00:43 - 46 minutes - 37.5 MBIn this creator chat we talk to Chris Gooch who’s recently published his third graphic novel with Top Shelf: In Utero. A young adult monster story with some horror thrown in for good measure. We talk about Chris' comics making process, which he often shares on social media too. His advice for young creators starting to make comics. The origins of In Utero and the influences in In Utero, from Otomo's Domu to the first couple of episodes of Digimon. We also discuss his love of genre stories...
81 January Roundup
January 29, 2024 21:06 - 40 minutes - 32.4 MBIn this month's roundup James and Iurgi comment on their recent reads and several best graphic novels of 2023 lists published by different sources such as No Flying No Tights, Popverse and The Guardian. They comment on the recent announcement of Angourleme's Grand Prix award winner. They also discuss one of the big debates last year: are comics in crisis? While some talk doom and gloom, sales of comics are very strong with comics appearing at the top of the charts regularly and in different ...
80 Our Favourite Reads This Year
December 13, 2023 21:00 - 18 minutes - 14.5 MBIn our final podcast for 2023, Iurgi, Marissa and Rebecca get together to discuss their favourite reads this year. It's a mix of ongoing series, new series and old publications that we have revisited. Our favourite reads this year are: Iurgi Eventually Everything Connects by Sarah Firth Nightwing by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo (DC Comics) Spy x Family Tatsuya Endo (Viz Media) Revenge of the Librarians by Tom Gauld (Drawn & Quarterly) Marissa The Nameless City trilogy by Faith Erin Hi...
79 ALIA Graphic Webinar: Let's Get Practical
November 20, 2023 21:39 - 1 hour - 51.9 MBThis is a recording of the webinar held November 16 2023. We get many questions emailed to us by librarians and library staff across the country about the different factions of the graphic novel and comic world. So we thought that this year we would spend the time hearing from you and providing answers to those questions that you may have been wanting to ask for a while. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
78 October Roundup
October 29, 2023 21:38 - 40 minutes - 32.6 MBIn this episode Iurgi and Gabby discuss: the Harvey Awards announced at the New York Comic Con the little we know about Raina Telgemeier's upcoming graphic novel a really interesting survey carried out by the School Library Journal in the U.S. with really interesting data the Library Journal's upcoming Library Con Live and our very own upcoming webinar as well as their recent reads and favourite picks from this month's new graphic novels. For more news and the complete roundup of res...
77 Creator Chat with Sarah Firth and Eventually Everything Connects
October 09, 2023 21:00 - 1 hour - 52 MBSarah Firth is a cartoonist, artist, writer, speaker, and graphic recorder who has been published extensively in Australia and overseas. Her work has appeared in the Eisner Award winning anthology, Drawing Power, and the Ledger Award winning anthology, Neither Here Nor Hair. She is also a founding member of Graphic Recorders Australia, a not-for-profit professional association that supports the Graphic Recording community in Australia. Her debut graphic novel “Eventually Everything Connect...
76 Creator Chat with Mat Groom of Inferno Girl Red
September 13, 2023 22:13 - 1 hour - 48.1 MBIn this month's creator chat we catch up with Sydney based writer Mat Groom, one of the creators of Inferno Girl Red. Volume 1 was an incredibly successful Kickstarter and then it was published by Image Comics, earlier this year. The team is now on campaign mode for volume 2 on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2129645662/inferno-girl-red-books-one-and-two-by-mat-groom-erica-durso We talk about tonkusatsu TV series, comics, manga, and Inferno Girl Red. For more on Mat Gr...
75 August Roundup
August 28, 2023 22:00 - 40 minutes - 32.7 MBIn this episode Marissa and Iurgi cover a lot of ground. They discuss the comic they've been reading recently, the Comic Arts Awards of Australia and their favourite picks of the new titles published recently, including four new Australian graphic novels we're really excited about. For more news and the complete roundup of resources and podcasts visit our main blog: https://aliagraphic.blogspot.com/ You can also follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ALIAGraphic Hit the subscribe but...
74 Creator Chat with Georgina and Owen of Papecuts Comics Festival
August 22, 2023 01:50 - 1 hour - 68.4 MBPapercuts Comics Festival is a biennial comics festival held biennially in Adelaide, it is being run for the third time this September but the festival directors, Georgina Chadderton and Owen Heitmann, still found time to sit down with James for a Creator Chat to explain why they run the festival and what we can expect from this year's program. For more information about Papercuts Comics Festival go to https://www.papercutscomicsfestival.com/ The website for Georgina's work is http://www.g...
73 Creator Chat with Jason Pamment and Remy Lai
August 09, 2023 02:00 - 53 minutes - 42.7 MBIn this creator chat we catch up with two of the most amazing creators for young readers. Both Jason Pamment and Remy Lai made quite a splash when they published their first graphic novels, Treasure in the Lake and Pawcasso. They were both in our Notable Australian Graphic Novels list in 2021 and they garnered a lot of recognition both in Australia and internationally. As they both published a new graphic novels so close together we thought it was an excellent opportunity to bring them tog...
72 July Roundup
July 26, 2023 05:31 - 18 minutes - 15.1 MBIn this month's roundup we discuss what we've been reading lately, the best middle grade graphic novels of the year so far (according to Booklist), the Eisner Awards and our favourite picks from this month's new graphic novels. For more news and the complete roundup of resources and podcasts visit our main blog: https://aliagraphic.blogspot.com/ You can also follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ALIAGraphic Hit the subscribe button for our podcast and blog and please leave us a glo...
71 June Roundup
July 03, 2023 11:42 - 22 minutesIn this month's roundup we discuss what we've been reading lately, reading recommendations for Pride Month(including Australian titles) and our favourite picks from this month's new graphic novels. For more news and the complete roundup of resources and podcasts visit our main blog: https://aliagraphic.blogspot.com/ You can also follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ALIAGraphic Hit the subscribe button for our podcast and blog and please leave us a glowing review, it will make you ...
70 May Roundup
May 30, 2023 01:35 - 56 minutesIn this month's roundup we discuss what we've been reading lately, the latest news (including the Eisners controversies around LGBTQIA+ graphic novels, and a practical guide to comic book collection development) and, of course, our favourite picks from this month's new graphic novels. We also discuss King Con, the new library comic con at Kingston Libraries in Victoria with Iurgi, who was one of the organisers. And, finally, we discuss a few webinars, some that have already taken place a...
69 James Foley and Brenton McKenna in Conversation
May 14, 2023 01:59 - 1 hourIn our first creator chat of the year we're honoured to have James Foley and Brenton McKenna in conversation. James recently published Secret Agent Mole Book 1:Goldfishfinger(Scholastic) and Brenton McKenna recently published Hairy Holes (Magabala Books). We sat down with them after they read each other's books and they just started talking. We hope you enjoy this amazing conversation between two amazing comic book creators who clearly know and admire each other. To find out more about Ja...
68 Notables, news and new titles
April 30, 2023 01:21 - 56 minutesYou may have noticed we have been a little bit quiet. We haven’t had a podcast episode since December. That’s quite a long time. The good news is that we’re back! We have a new podcast episode with Gabby and Iurgi discussing some of the news, what they’ve been reading and discussing their favourite picks from the graphic novels released this month. Best of all, we also have a creator chat lined up which should be out around mid-May. We’re very excited that we will have James Foley and Br...
67 End of year wrap up
December 14, 2022 21:01 - 37 minutesIt's the end of the year and we've gathered to discuss our favourite graphic novels of the year, including: It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth by Zoe Thorogood Barb the Brave by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson Shadow of the Bird (Lightfall #2) by Tim Probert Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe Spy x Family series by Tatsuya End Our Dining Table by Mita Ori M is for monster by Talia Dutton Magus of the library by Mitsu Izumi And special mentions of some Australian titles: Our Members Be...
66 Webinar: Nurturing and inspiring reading and creativity using graphic novels and manga
December 04, 2022 21:36 - 1 hourWe are excited to have four amazing speakers to talk about all things comics and manga. In this webinar we will focus on Junior and YA comics as well as manga and we will explore how they inspire reading and creativity. Hosted by ALIA Graphic Convenor Iurgi Urrutia, we’re pleased to announce four incredibly exciting speakers: Gabby Cundy, librarian specialising in Children's and Youth literature and comics. Elizabeth Maruffo and Campbell Whyte, comic book creators, artists and directors of Mi...
65 November Roundup
November 26, 2022 22:18 - 43 minutesIn this month's roundup we talk about the 30th Anniversary of Power Rangers, Tommi Parrish's new graphic novel, the upcoming reprint of Queenie Chan's The Dreaming, Superman: Son of Kal El, and eComics at libraries. Borrow Box is now also offering comics through its app and Comics Plus has some exciting updates. We also discuss our favourite picks from the new graphic novels just published and what we've been reading lately, including Rebecca Stewart's Infernal Regions. For a full list o...
64 Creator Chat with Sarah W. Searle
November 19, 2022 23:41 - 24 minutesIn this month's creator chat, Bradley from the ALIA Graphic team, catches up with Sara W. Searle. Sarah migrated from New England to Perth and has been fully embraced by the Australian comics community where she has already received three Silver Comic Arts Awards of Australia. Her latest graphic novel is The Greatest Thing, published by First Second. You can find out more about Sarah on her website: http://www.swinsea.com To stay up to date with ALIA Graphic, subscribe to our blog: http...
63 October Roundup
October 31, 2022 00:40 - 26 minutesIn this month's roundup we talk about Peach Momoko's Demon Wars, a manga that expands the Marvel Universe, mixed with Japanese folklore. We also discuss a blog post from librarian Sara Smith that gathers together all the main comic awards in the U.S. as well as YALSA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens list in one handy blog post. We also discuss our favourite picks from the new graphic novels just published and what we've been reading lately. For a full list of this month's news, a handy lis...
62 Paul Metcalfe and graphic novels at TAFE libraries
October 16, 2022 21:00 - 40 minutesFollowing his article on a recent issue of ALIA's Incite magazine, in this creator chat Paul Metcalfe, coordinator of the Albany Campus Library of South Regional TAFE in WA, joins us to discuss how he introduced graphic novels to the campus' learning resource centre. He discusses at length how he fell in love with the medium, what prompted him to build a graphic novel collection and how he went about it. See below for a list of additional resources mentioned in the discussion and provide...
61 Creator chat with Gary Proudley
October 10, 2022 11:32 - 48 minutesIn this Creator Chat we catch up with Gary Proudley, the creator of Talgard a barbarian who uses intelligence to solve problems, rather than force. Talgard is also quite an interesting comic as every story is exactly four pages long and with art by a different Australian creator. Gary Proudley discusses Talgard and some of the other comics. You can follow Gary on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gary_proudley and check out his website: https://www.garyproudley.com/ You can also check out ...
60 September Roundup
September 30, 2022 08:37 - 37 minutesIn this month's roundup we talk about our recent discussion with librarians on the Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable's Addressing Comic Book Bans and Challenges Commitee. The news of Will Eisner's A Contract With God going to Broadway. Melbourne based creator Reimena Yee winning an Ignatz award and of of course, we also discuss our favourite picks from this month's new releases as well as what we've been reading lately and more. We also announce our upcoming creator chats and our upcomin...
59 Comic Book Bans & Challenges
September 18, 2022 11:56 - 1 hourUnfortunately we have to talk about challenges, bans and censorship of comics and graphic novels. This is not something we'd like to talk about but it's an important conversation and there are some uncomfortable truths we must face. In this special episode, we discuss challenges and bans to books and specifically to comics in libraries across the United States of America. Looking from a distance, the current wave of challenges and bans the US is going through seems alien to us. We are co...
58 Creator Chat with Jon Sommariva
September 09, 2022 04:00 - 51 minutesThis month we catch up with Jon Sommariva, an amazing artist with a very distinct style. His art is always full of energy, dynamic and fun. He’s worked pretty much for everyone, DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, Disney and Nickelodeon. Among others. He’s drawn The Avengers, Batman, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Star Wars to name a few. In our chat we talk about how he got into comics, some of his favourite comics to read and to draw. And, of course, we also talk about the really exci...
57 August Roundup
August 31, 2022 09:33 - 35 minutesIn this month's roundup we talk about the Perth Comics Arts Festival, the Comic Arts Awards of Australia, Neverlanders by Tom Taylor and Jon Sommariva, an interesting article looking at the Comics Code Authority and how it helped super hero comics. We also discuss our favourite picks from this month's new releases, what we've been reading lately and more. For a full list of this month's news, a handy list of all the new interesting graphic novels that have caught our attention and the lin...
56 July Roundup
July 29, 2022 11:13 - 42 minutesIn this month's roundup we talk about the Eisner Awards, the Graphic Medicine Award, Lore Olympus, our favourites picks from this month's new releases, what we've reading lately and more. For a full list of this month's news, a handy list of all the new interesting graphic novels that have caught our attention and the links to the webinars discussed please visit our blog: https://aliagraphic.blogspot.com Hit the subscribe button for our podcast and blog and please leave us a glowing revie...
55 What to expect at PCAF and the CAAA
June 24, 2022 01:41 - 26 minutesThe first weekend of August the Perth Comic Arts Festival will be taking place and it's going to be bigger than ever with about 85 comic book creators from W.A. and across Australia tabling and presenting their comics on the market day, on Sunday 7 August. But that's not all, on Saturday, there will be plenty of panel talks and workshops. Entry to PCAF will be totally free. On the Saturday, as part of PCAF, the Comic Arts Awards of Australia will also be presented. These are Australia's mo...
54 Creator Chat with Sam Wallman
June 07, 2022 08:13 - 48 minutesThis month we sit to talk with Sam Wallman, a comics journalist and cartoonist. His drawings have been published in The Guardian, The New York Times, The Age, ABC and SBS. He has also done a lot of work for unions and for the Workers Art Collective. He has recently published his first graphic novel, Our Members Be Unlimited, about the history of unionism. In this wide ranging conversation, we discuss his influences, unions, activism and, of course, comics! For more on Sam Wallman visit h...
53 May Roundup
May 29, 2022 01:24 - 27 minutesThis was a great month for Australian comics. We talk about Safdar Ahmed's Still Alive receiving the NSW Premier's Book of the Year literary award and how other awards are starting to include graphic novels. We mention a couple of great podcasts and three new graphic novels by Australian creators. We also talk Manga and our favourite picks from this month's new releases. For a full list of this month's news, a handy list of all the new interesting graphic novels that have caught our atten...
52 April Roundup
April 28, 2022 05:37 - 31 minutesThis month James and Marissa discuss the latest news and new release titles including Manga and Free Comic Book Day. For a full list of this month's news, a handy list of all the new interesting graphic novels that have caught our attention and the links to the webinars discussed please visit our blog: https://aliagraphic.blogspot.com Hit the subscribe button for our podcast and blog and please leave us a glowing review, it will make you feel warm and fuzzy and every little bit helps. H...
51 Creator Chat with Jessica Walton and Aśka of Stars in Their Eyes
April 14, 2022 10:46 - 1 hourThis month we sit to talk with the creators of Stars in Their Eyes, a graphic novel published by Fremantle press that made it to our Notable Australian Graphic Novels of 2021 Shortlist and will be published early 2023 by Scholastic internationally. Jessica Walton and Aśka talk about what attracts them to comics, how Stars in Their Eyes came about, and how important it was to them to get this story and its themes of disability and identity. Jessica Walton is a picture book author, teache...
50 March Roundup
March 31, 2022 23:55 - 21 minutesThis month Gabby and Marissa discuss the latest news and new release titles including junior books, Manga and more. For a full list of this month's news, a handy list of all the new interesting graphic novels that have caught our attention and the links to the webinars discussed please visit our blog: https://aliagraphic.blogspot.com Hit the subscribe button for our podcast and blog and please leave us a glowing review, it will make you feel warm and fuzzy and every little bit helps. Ho...
49 Nancy Silberkleit Comics, Reading, Education and Archie Comics
March 25, 2022 23:27 - 56 minutesEarlier this month we had Nancy Silberkleit, the co-CEO of Archie Comics talking about children, comics, reading, education and, of course, Archie Comics. This is a recording of the event. For more on Archie Comics: https://archiecomics.com To stay up to date with ALIA Graphic, subscribe to our blog: https://aliagraphic.blogspot.com You can also follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ALIAGraphic. Hit the subscribe button on our podcast and please leave us a glowing review it will...
48 February 2022 Roundup
February 28, 2022 04:35 - 46 minutesIt's the end of February and that means our monthly roundup is out now. This month James and Iurgi discuss the disturbing wave of challenges and bans in the U.S. that have affected a lot of books, graphic novels, libraries, and educators. The bad news is that as distant as this may seem from Australia, the current campaign of challenges is serious and disturbing. The good news is that people and organisations are getting organised and taking action. The discussion moves to Australian com...
47 Jason Pamment and Treasure in the Lake
December 10, 2021 01:00 - 33 minutesOn our final creator chat of the year we talk to Jason Pamment who recently published Treasure in the Lake, a middle grade graphic novel that marks his debut. Jason has worked a lot in animation, short films and commercials. Tresure in the Lake, published by Allen & Unwin in Australia and New Zealand and Harper Alley in North America presents the story of two friends growing and drifting apart. There are also elements of mystery and fantasy. To find out more about Jason Pamment check out...
46 November Roundup
November 28, 2021 12:02 - 27 minutes - 22.1 MBIn this month's roundup podcast we discuss the announcement that Alejandro Jodorowsky and Moebius' classic, The Incal looks set to be adapted into film by none other than Taika Waititi. We also discuss tbe new LGBTQ+ comics, with the announcement of a new imprint with Mariko Tamaki at the helm and Manga. Of course, we also highlight our personal picks from this month's new release titles, which include: 5 Worlds Book 5 by Alexis Siegel, Mark Siegel (Penguin) Friday Book 1: The Last Day of...
45 October Roundup
October 25, 2021 12:01 - 38 minutes - 31.2 MBIn this month's roundup podcast we discuss Saga coming back in January, publishers promoting the benefits of graphic novels, single volume mangas for 16+, Superman Jonathan Kent and the upcoming TV series adaptation of Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese. Of course, we also highlight our personal picks from this month's new release titles. For a full list of this month's news and a handy list of all the new interesting graphic novels that have caught our attention please visit our blog:...
44 A Chat with Glom Press
October 20, 2021 21:47This month we talk to Glom Press, an award winning indie publisher of comics from Melbourne. How did an indie publisher of Australian comics come to be? What's indie publishing like? And much more is covered. To find out more about Glom Pres and their work visit their website: https://www.glompress.com If you like what we're doing, hit the subscribe button to stay up to date. You can also follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ALIAGraphic and check our blog, https://aliagraphic.blogs...
44 A Conversation with Glom Press
October 20, 2021 11:57 - 49 minutes - 91.7 MBThis month we talk to Glom Press, an award winning indie publisher of comics from Melbourne. How did an indie publisher of Australian comics come to be? What's indie publishing like? And much more is covered. To find out more about Glom Pres and their work visit their website: https://www.glompress.com If you like what we're doing, hit the subscribe button to stay up to date. You can also follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ALIAGraphic and check our blog, https://aliagraphic.blogsp...
43 Getting Graphic: Comics Around the World Webinar
October 14, 2021 11:54 - 1 hour - 76.6 MBOur first live ALIA Graphic webinar is the perfect introduction for librarians and educators wanting to know more about comics and graphic novels around the world and in Australia. Hosted by ALIA Graphic Convenor and Iurgi Urrutia (Kingston Libraries, Victoria), we’re pleased to announce three exciting speakers: Daniel Best is an Australian comics historian and author with a vast knowledge of Australian comics history. Australia has had, and still has nowadays, a great range of comic creato...
42 September Roundup
September 28, 2021 12:53 - 26 minutes - 21.4 MBIn this month's roundup the team discusses some of the latest news and resources as well as their favourite picks from this month's new release graphic novels. For a full list of this month's news and a handy list of all the new interesting graphic novels that have caught our attention please visit our blog: https://aliagraphic.blogspot.com You can also follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ALIAGraphic. Hit the subscribe button and please leave us a glowing review it will make you ...
41 Creator Chat with Charlotte Rose Hamlyn
September 27, 2021 12:50 - 32 minutes - 60.7 MBIn this month's creator chat we talk to storyteller and creator Charlotte Rose Hamlyn. Charlotte works mostly for television as a presenter and screenwriter. She was also the creator Opposite Land, a graphic novel published through Random House in 2017. We discuss her love of storytelling for kids, her love of comics and the new book she's working on. To find out more about Charlotte and her work visit her website: https://www.charlotterosehamlyn.com If you like what we're doing, hit the...
40 Creator Chat with Alysssa Bermudez
September 12, 2021 23:32In this episode we talk to Alyssa Bermudez who recently published Big Apple Diaries, a middle grade graphic novel that recounts the days when young Alyssa negotiated living in between her separated parents and all the usual middle school concerns, including a big crush on a boy. Then the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened changing everything. This comic diary in graphic novel form is a great coming of age story that Alyssa, now living in Tasmania, plans as the first of three graphic novels. To...
40 Creator Chat with Alyssa Bermudez
September 12, 2021 12:48 - 30 minutes - 55.8 MBIn this episode we talk to Alyssa Bermudez who recently published Big Apple Diaries, a middle grade graphic novel that recounts the days when young Alyssa negotiated living in between her separated parents and all the usual middle school concerns... mostly a big crush on a boy. Then the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened changing everything. This comic diary in graphic novel form is a great coming of age story that Alyssa, now living in Tasmania, plans as the first of three graphic novels. To ...