I finally finished this short story I've been working on for a while. I'm posting two pages a day from my first proof copy on instagram.com/joansteacy . It has 54 pages but because I'm taking pictures of each page using my iPhone the images are aren't perfect. I wanted to share my book to see what people think. I haven't submitted it to a publisher yet.  

 

 

Ken and I went to the San Diego Comic Con last summer, 

here are a few images. We hadn't been to this event in 

almost 20 years and it's grown to one hundred and fifty 

thousand people!! 

This show is the biggest international show in the world. 

Also the swag bags are the biggest as you can see!

 Sorry for the long silence... In the summer I spend more time outdoors rather than on my computer.  Maybe now I'll get back to posting a few things... when I'm not so distracted.

The image above is Joe Ollman (who is an amazing graphic novelist) interviewing me last June at the Hamilton Cartoon Foundry. Unfortunately I don't have a recording. I really enjoyed talking with Joe, he made me feel at ease with his conversational stye of interview. I also found out he grew up from where I grew up in Waterdown!

I'm having technical difficulties. I can't seem to access my photos... I haven't posted in while so not sure what's up. Anyway, Im off to the big ComicCon in San Diego this week and hopefully be able to post photos of that, when I figure this thing out.  Sorry for the inconvenience. 

I'm so happy this event is happening in Hamilton at the central library. Below is the old building, featured in my graphic memoir Scrappy Jack. The new library is part of the Jackson Square now. The old building still exists. Many years ago my dad use to frequent that library regularly, as a young boy. How appropriated I'll be presenting his story book there...

I will have a table and have my graphic novel Aurora BoreAlice and Scrappy Jack for sale. I'll also be interviewed by Joe OlImann at 11:30. I'm looking  forward to being a part of this Cartoon Foundry event. Hope to see you their!

 

I had fun at my book launch at Legends best comic and book store ever! That's Gareth the owner and cartoonist extraordinaire!! 
 

 

CBC interview

Here's a recent CBC interview I did with Gregor Craigie, about my book. 

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-48-on-the-island/clip/16067036-scrappy-jack-100-years-hardship-laughter-recycling

 

Hope to see you there!
 

 

Here's one of the few photos I have of the "Boomtruck" featured in my book Scrappy jack.The three people (my brother and two friends) sitting on the front, acted as a weight to hold it down. I'm not sure what my dad was trying to pick up on the other end but it must have been heavy. Notice the red gas tank on the side... that was the fuel tank! 

A day at CCAF!

Last week I had a table at Camosun Comic Art Festival, first time presenting Scrappy Jack. It was high fives all day! I hadn't been to Camosun in 4 years... just before COVID shut down the college. Also the last year I would be teaching there. Since then I've been very busy creating new works and attending comic art festivals. CCAF was especially fun because I got reacquainted with lots of students and friends I hadn't seen in years. I also got to meet this years new crop of amazing new graduate students. I'm thrilled the program Ken and I co created over 10 years ago is thriving under the guidance of, Gareth Gaudin cartoonist extraordinaire!! My next event I will be launching Scrappy Jack at Gareth's Legends Comic and Book Store. I'll make another announcement closer to that time on May 17th.

 

Understanding Media Intensive taught by Andrew McLuhan

I highly recommend this 10 week on line course for anyone interested in Marshall McLuhan's book Understanding Media that he wrote in 1964. It was as timeless then as it is today. I took the course during COVID when Andrew first offered it. His teaching style and delivery is wonderful,  he's a natural teacher like his father Eric and grandfather Marshall McLuhan.  

https://grayarea.org/course/andrew-mcluhan-teaches-understanding-media-intensive-part-one-2024/ 

Changes I made.

The above image is where I was working out some ideas for the cover of my new book and four new pages. Below that is the final pencil drawing. Later it was digitally  coloured in photoshop. 

My original version of my book title was " So, That's That! " which was an expression my dad used  a lot.  The new version I changed to "Scrappy Jack"with a different cover Illustration. I also added four new pages and changed the writing  to integrate with the story. 

When I first decide to write and illustrate a book of my dads life for his 100th birthday, it was a daunting task! But, I was determined to do it... in 1year, not knowing if he would live to see it. He did! I presented the book to dad and mom, in a quiet room were I could read out loud, without any noise distractions. A wonderful experience, what can I say... So, That's That!

My publisher from Vancouver arrived today with a box of my books! I plan on having a book launch in Victoria but I haven’t picked a time or place. I’ll keep you posted when I do. 
 

Coming soon…

I’m excited to announce the publication of Scrappy Jack by Midtown Press in Vancouver. As far as I know it should be in book stores, schools and library’s this month. A French version is also in the works! 

The original version on this blogspot was self published in 2007 for my dad’s 100th Birthday. At the time I set out to write and illustrate this book I was determined to get it done and present it to him on his Birthday, not knowing if he’d live to see it… happily he did. 

In this 2024 version I have adapted the writing for a younger audience and added four new double page illustration's to enhance the story. My dad was a great story teller and as a result I was inspired to tell them, through words and pictures based on what I remembered while growing up. 

That’s me and my brother on the back cover, my two sisters on the front.