Storycomic Presents: Interviews with Amazing Storytellers and Artists

On this episode of Storycomic Presents, I’m joined by my recurring podcast friends Kurt Sasso and Jeff Haas for our quarterly podcasting roundtable.
Every few months, we get together to talk about the real behind-the-scenes work of podcasting: what’s working, what’s changing, what tools we’re using, what’s frustrating us, and what we’re learning from the guests, creators, and audiences we serve.
Podcasting is more than just hitting record. It involves booking, preparation, interview flow, audio quality, editing, publishing, promotion, consistency, and the challenge of keeping your creative energy up over time. In this roundtable, we talk openly about the practical and creative sides of making shows — from what makes a good guest conversation to how podcasters can keep growing without losing the joy of it.
We’ll also look at how the podcasting landscape is shifting, including video, social clips, AI tools, newsletters, community building, and the continuing challenge of discoverability.
If you host a podcast, want to start one, guest on podcasts, or simply enjoy hearing how independent creators keep their shows moving, this conversation is for you.
 
#Podcasting #PodcastRoundtable #Podcasters #PodcastTips #PodcastLife #PodcastCommunity #IndiePodcasting #ContentCreation #CreatorTalk #InterviewPodcast #PodcastGrowth #PodcastGuests #Storycomic #KurtSasso #JeffHaas
Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano
See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

Mark Bell returns to Storycomic Presents to talk about his newest Kickstarter, S.P.I.R.I.T. #1–4: Mothman Needs Us!
The campaign brings readers into the world of S.P.I.R.I.T., an all-ages supernatural comic about a group of teen girl paranormal investigators who use science to explore, question, and sometimes debunk the unexplained — until the unexplained starts talking back.
With issue 4, Mark brings in Mothman, one of the most famous cryptids in American folklore. The campaign pitch promises an LGBTQ+ all-ages supernatural adventure where a group of teen girls help Mothman and a drag queen save a bus full of kids. That mix of cryptid weirdness, humor, action, and heart is exactly what makes Plague Doctor Press comics so much fun.
We talk about why Mothman is such a perfect fit for S.P.I.R.I.T., how Mark balances spooky material with all-ages adventure, how queer characters and community fit naturally into the story, and what it takes to keep an indie comic series moving from issue to issue.
If you like ghosts, cryptids, young investigators, found family, and indie comics with heart, this is a Kickstarter to watch.
#MarkBell #PlagueDoctorPress #SPIRITComic #MothmanNeedsUs #Mothman #KickstarterComics #IndieComics #AllAgesComics #LGBTQComics #SupernaturalComics #CryptidComics #ParanormalComics #ComicCreator #Storycomic #ComicsInterview
The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.
See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/
 
Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano
See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!
 

On this episode of Storycomic Presents, I’m joined by bestselling author and former attorney William Bernhardt to talk about his book The Superman Wars: A Battle for Truth, Justice, and an American Icon.
Most people think they know the story of Superman. William Bernhardt argues that they don’t.
Behind the world’s first superhero is a decades-long fight by co-creator Jerry Siegel to reclaim credit, dignity, and justice after corporations made billions from the character he helped create. Drawing on newly uncovered legal documents and interviews with people who had never spoken publicly before, Bernhardt explores how Superman became what some call the “original sin” of the comic book industry.
This is more than a behind-the-scenes comic book story. It is an American history about creativity versus commerce, power versus persistence, and what happens when artists lose control of the work that defines them.
We talk about who Jerry Siegel really was, how much of him lives inside Clark Kent, the role of Joanne Siegel, the legal battle over Superman, and why “truth, justice, and the American way” becomes especially complicated when you look at how Superman’s own creators were treated.
With new Superman and Supergirl films bringing fresh attention to the icon, this conversation could not be better timed.
#WilliamBernhardt #TheSupermanWars #Superman #JerrySiegel #JoeShuster #ComicBookHistory #ComicsHistory #SupermanHistory #CreatorRights #TruthJustice #AmericanIcon #DCComicsHistory #AuthorInterview #Storycomic #ComicBooks
The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.
See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/
 
Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano
See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

On this episode, I’m joined by award-winning author N. West Moss to talk about her middle-grade debut, Birdy, on sale February 17, 2026.
Birdy follows eleven-year-old Birdy and her younger brother, Mouse, after the death of their mother. The two siblings have always been a team: Birdy is realistic and protective, while Mouse is trusting and hopeful. But after their mother dies of cancer, they are forced to leave the city and move to the country with relatives they’ve never met.
Their new home with Aunt Mitzie and Uncle Shadow is messy, warm, chaotic, and unfamiliar. There is food in the kitchen, room to play outside, and adults who seem to care. Mouse begins to feel at home. Birdy, however, can’t let herself trust it — because their social worker has promised to find them a permanent placement by the next school year.
We talk about writing grief for young readers, the bond between siblings, the fear of trusting adults after loss, and how family can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.
This is a heartfelt conversation about resilience, belonging, and what happens when a guarded child starts to hope.
#NWestMoss #Birdy #MiddleGradeBooks #KidsLit #ChildrensBooks #ComingOfAgeNovel #SiblingStories #FoundFamily #GriefInKidLit #BooklistStarredReview #FosterCareStories #FamilyStories #AuthorInterview #WeMakeChildrensBooks #Storycomic
The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.
See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/
 
Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano
See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

On this episode, I’m joined by returning guest Alexis “Lex” Fajardo, Eisner Award-winning cartoonist and creator of Kid Beowulf, to talk about his newest Kickstarter: The Kid Beowulf Odyssey Annual.
The campaign features a 44-page, full-color comic book collecting three new stories from Kid Beowulf Odyssey. It follows twin brothers Beowulf and Grendel as they enter a new adventure where they must survive a land of myths and monsters.
If you’re new to the series, Kid Beowulf is a middle-grade graphic novel adventure inspired by epic poetry and world mythology. It reimagines Beowulf and Grendel as 12-year-old twin brothers traveling across distant lands, meeting legendary heroes, and stumbling into danger everywhere they go. Lex has described the series as a gateway into older stories like Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and The Ramayana, using comics to point readers back toward the source material.
We talk about creating annual-style comics, building a mythic universe, writing for middle-grade readers, crowdfunding, and why monsters are often the best way into timeless stories.
 
The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.
See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/
 
Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano
See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#DavidMcCord #NewVentureGames #TabletopGames #BoardGames #GameDesign #StrategyGames #HistoricGames #ClassicGames #SoloGames #PrintAndPlay #PegGames #GameDesigner #IndieGames #TabletopCommunity #Storycomic
On this episode, I’m joined by David McCord, the game designer, artist, collector, and founder of NewVenture Games.
NewVenture Games is dedicated to preserving classic games from history while also creating new tabletop experiences. David’s catalog includes traditional strategy games, Peg Pastimes, solo games, print-and-play games, and original tabletop designs. His work brings together art, game mechanics, history, manufacturing, and the simple joy of sitting down to play.
We talk about how David became interested in tabletop games, what makes historic games worth preserving, and why simple rules can still create deep strategy. We also get into the creative process behind designing a game: choosing components, building boards, testing rules, creating artwork, and figuring out whether a game is fun enough to keep coming back to.
If you love board games, strategy games, classic games, game history, or the maker side of tabletop design, this is a great conversation.
We also talk about why tabletop games continue to matter — not just as entertainment, but as a way to think, connect, compete, learn, and spend meaningful time away from screens.
The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.
See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/
 
Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano
See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

On this episode , I’m joined by Amy Meislin Pollack, author of The Adventures of Jelly Bean series.
Amy has been living with the character of Jelly Bean since she was in fourth grade in 1960. Over the years, she told Jelly Bean stories to her students during a 40+ year teaching career, then to her children, and later to her grandchildren. Now Jelly Bean’s adventures are available for middle-grade readers everywhere.
The series follows a fourth-grade girl facing the kinds of challenges many kids recognize: friendship drama, popularity, feeling overlooked at home, family conflict, changing relationships, grief, and learning how to make choices on her own. In the first book, Jelly Bean’s day begins with the kind of disaster only a kid could truly appreciate — falling into the toilet, missing carpool, getting to school late, and losing her chance at one of the good parts in the Thanksgiving play.
Across The Adventures of Jelly Bean, The Further Adventures of Jelly Bean, and The Still Further Adventures of Jelly Bean, Jelly Bean learns that life is complicated, relationships change, and growing up often means discovering who you really are.
We talk about Judy Blume-style honesty, teaching, parenting, grandparenting, and why kids still need coming-of-age books.
#AmyMeislinPollack #TheAdventuresOfJellyBean #JellyBeanBooks #MiddleGradeBooks #KidsLit #ChildrensBooks #ComingOfAgeStories #FriendshipBooks #JudyBlumeFans #FamilyStories #GrandparentAuthor #TeacherAuthor #BookInterview #WeMakeChildrensBooks #Storycomic
The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.
See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/
 
Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano
See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

John Holland is back on the show for a new Kickstarter  — Vampires vs. Zombies, a comic idea that has been living in his head for years.
John first tried to bring the story to life with artist Hernan Gonzales, who drew about eight pages in black and white. John loved the pages, especially the way the black-and-white style made the red blood stand out, but the project stalled when he had too many things going at once and not enough money to keep it moving.
Years later, after Hernan moved on to work on Star Trek for IDW, John found himself working with another artist he admired: Jorge Luis Gabotto. While taking a short break from Akemi, John revisited the old script, realized he already had the story mapped out, and brought Vampires vs. Zombies back into motion.
In this episode, we talk about unfinished creative projects, knowing when to return to an old idea, the fun of classic monster matchups, and how Jorge’s art, colors, lettering, and character expressions helped shape this new version of the comic.
If you like indie comics, horror-action, vampires, zombies, and behind-the-scenes creator stories, this episode is a fun one.
#JohnHolland #DieBoldComics #VampiresVsZombies #KickstarterComics #IndieComics #HorrorComics #ZombieComics #VampireComics #ComicCreator #CrowdfundedComics #JorgeLuisGabotto #IndieHorror #ComicBookKickstarter #Storycomic #ComicsInterview
The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.
See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/
 
Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano
See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!
 

#TheEyeCollector #JonathanBall #GMBChomichuk #ImageComics #StrangerFiction #AlchemicalPress #CosmicHorror #HorrorComics #IndieComics #CreatorOwnedComics #ComicBooks #Apollo10 #SurrealHorror #ComicsInterview #Storycomic
On this episode, I’m joined by Jonathan Ball of Stranger Fiction and GMB “Greg” Chomichuk of Alchemical Press to talk about their new Image Comics series, The Eye Collector.
The Eye Collector begins with the Apollo 10 mission, when humans make wishes over the Moon and draw the attention of an ancient spectral being. What does it want with Earth? What does it want with us? And what happens when desire, perception, and reality start to blur?
Jonathan and Greg describe the series as cosmic horror, but it is also an experiment in what comics can do on the page. Each issue is designed to stand alone while building into a larger, multi-generational story that moves from the Moon to Earth and into a strange future. The series uses surreal visuals, shifting perspectives, and horror rooted in the terrible bargain: what would you trade to get what you most desire?
We talk about the origins of The Eye Collector, the move to Image Comics, how Jonathan and Greg collaborate, and why this story feels like the kind of horror only comics can fully pull off.
If you love cosmic horror, experimental storytelling, strange comics, and creator-owned genre work, this is a conversation worth seeing.
The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.
See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/
 
Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano
See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#ShifaSafadi #ShifaSaltagiSafadi #SistersAlone #MiddleGradeBooks #NovelInVerse #VerseNovel #KidsLit #ChildrensBooks #SurvivalStory #Sisterhood #GriefInKidLit #SyrianAmericanStories #NationalBookAward #WeMakeChildrensBooks #Storycomic
On this episode of We Make Children’s Books, I’m joined by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, the National Book Award–winning author of Kareem Between, to talk about her new middle-grade novel in verse, Sisters Alone.
Sisters Alone follows two Syrian American sisters, Rama and Leena, who are trapped alone in their rural home during a deadly blizzard. With their father away for work, the storm leaves them without power, food, shelter, and anyone to rely on except each other.
But this is more than a survival story. Rama and Leena are grieving their mother’s death, and each sister carries that loss differently. Rama is fiery, angry, and trying to take responsibility for everyone. Leena is quiet, withdrawn, and silently blaming herself. As the blizzard grows more dangerous, the sisters have to face not only the storm outside, but the pain and misunderstandings between them.
We talk about writing in verse, balancing suspense with emotional truth, creating Syrian American representation in middle grade, and how stories about survival can also become stories about love, grief, and healing.
The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.
See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/
 
Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano
See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devlin, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!