Author Update #15

So, I am going to be a teacher.

Of what, you say?

Short Answer: Graphic Memoirs!

Long Answer: I applied to my school’s “UTeach” program — this program allows upperclassmen to develop a class from beginning to end that will run for ten weeks, once per week. I was accepted on my premise of teaching graphic memoirs, a personal favorite topic of mine. In fact, if you have never seen my (mostly) graphic memoir review series on Instagram, here is a link to my page! In the series, I write one-sentence synopses/reviews of the graphic memoirs I read.

All in all, I’ve read probably 20 graphic memoirs, and reviewed seven of these (because I didn’t join Instagram until I had already read quite a few). Now I am preparing to teach on a couple of the works I’ve read that made an impact. To prepare, I am also reading “Understanding Comics” by Scott McCloud and “Comics & Sequential Art” by Will Eisner. I also plan to read “Reinventing Comics” by Scott McCloud in the near future.

I have been collecting fiction graphic novels for probably 20 years, and have a collection of graphic novels in both fiction and non-fiction totaling nearly 40 titles, with more to come. I started reading comics when I was about eight-years-old. My first were Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman” and issues of “The Uncanny X-Men” (post-Claremont era). Because of this, I’ve always wanted to write a comic book. When I lived in San Diego, I contacted IDW ( San Diego local) about a series idea I had, but never completed a formal pitch. I regret not doing so yet, but it remains a goal of mine. In the meantime, I feel overjoyed to teach graphic form literature. It is my truest love, and I hope I can awaken that love in others, as well. Wish me luck on my first teaching position!