What We’re All About

Janna Morishima is the founder of Kids Comics Unite and a literary agent who specializes in graphic novels and visual storytelling. Connect with her at Kids Comics Unite and Janna Co.

Hello all! I’m Lisa Lowry, program manager for KCU. I’m a writer and mom to a 4-year-old. As a writer, I love to play with language and form and am enjoying the challenge of writing my first graphic novel script.

I didn’t read many comics as a kid, but I have vivid memories of my dad reading Visiting the Art Museum (by Laurene Krasny Brown and Marc Brown) to me and my sister. I love moving through the museum with the characters, getting to hear all their voices, and eavesdropping on side characters. I recently bought an old copy to read to my daughter.

Pre-pandemic I spend a lot of time on the static trapeze. I’m hoping to go back… eventually. Can a city be a hobby? If so, I would also say New Orleans is my hobby. I spent many years of my childhood there and there are so many things I love about it. If you are heading there for a visit, I’ll send you my recommendation list.

As a member of the KCU team, I want to continue to build this vibrant, diverse and supportive community of creators. To me, curiosity is the best word for what I want for myself and for KCU.

I'm a visual storyteller living in San Antonio, TX who works in multiple mediums, but by far my favorite is making comics! It's funny I never once thought about writing comics until 2020.

I had it in my mind for a while to be an animator, storyboard artist, or a motion graphic artist, but that changed over time and for a while... I felt lost. One day I decided to challenge myself to create a comic and something clicked in place. Finding KCU and connecting with other comic artists sealed the deal. Ever since, I have been filled with gratitude and obsessed with learning the craft.

And baking, especially cakes. I am trying my hand at bread making. So far so good. I think I am ready to try brioche or sourdough. If you guys have any tips or tricks let me know!

My mission as KCU's blogger and art director is to mine those rich nuggets of wisdom, polish them 'til they shine, and share their value across the kidlit community. I want to imbue fun and play into our everyday. Life's too short to be taken too seriously. Besides, we are comic artists — it's in the title 😉

When I was growing up, I looooooved comics, mostly of the Sunday Funnies variety, like Calvin & Hobbes, Fox Trot, and The Far Side. But way back then, it wasn’t considered “real reading". Fast forward a few years and a spirited little gal named Babymouse had my first-grader devouring books faster than I could check them out of the library. It was then that I realized the power of the graphic novel format, especially for newly independent readers.

My elementary school years were some of the best of my life, so when my kids started school, I was happy to jump right back into that world with them. They are growing up and moving on now, but not me. I’m stayin’ right here; creating books, activities, and videos for elementary-age readers and writers.

One of my favorite things about comics is how kinetic they are, despite being a “still” format. I’m excited for the chance to polish up already-awesome KCU visual content to reflect how vibrant, joyful, and kinetic this KCU community is!

Salut! I'm Rivkah LaFille (pronounced "lah-fee"), and I am a children’s writer, illustrator, and graphic novelist who specializes in slice-of-life type MG and YA stories with HEART. My graphic novel series, STEADY BEAT, was nominated to the American Library Association’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens list, and I was Illustrator Coordinator for the Society or Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (in Austin) in which I am still a very active member. I've been published in instructional books and children's magazines, write tutorials, articles, and reviews, teach workshops, and help people pitch their own kidlit GNs, too!

Here at KCU, I teach online courses on both writing and illustrating graphic novels for kids, from babies to teens. I also lead several online communities dedicated to providing access to resources, information, and critiques to aid in furthering the careers of kidlit comics creators and growing the kidlit comics industry in general.

Currently, I am working on a midgrade graphic novel about Creative Writing with First Second as well as a young adult graphic novel with Candlewick about wishes, family, and learning to let go of someone you love. I'm making plenty of magic, and I hope that at KCU, I can help you make magic too!

I am an artist and art teacher who loves a good story. I also love the prospects of the future, because a) We'll all be robots who live forever, so I'll finally be able to catch up on all the great books, movies, and video games in the world, b) Scientists will be able to slow the Earth's rotation and create 48-hour days, allowing twice as much time to create art, and c) Hover boards will actually hover! But I digress.

Since childhood, I have been imagining and creating worlds through writing and art. After earning a B.F.A. in drawing and painting and dabbling in the world of fine art, I returned to my passion of creating narrative illustration.

Nowadays, I find myself working more digitally than traditionally. In addition to teaching middle school art and savoring family life with my wife and two sons, I enjoy hiking, surfing, collecting comics and graphic novels, traveling, gardening, playing my PS4, brewing beer, and trying unique food.

Jill Anderson of Jill Lynn Design is a web designer and developer who makes custom WordPress websites for creative professionals. Whether you need a website for yourself or for your client, I love partnering with talented designers, writers, and creatives—like the Kids Comics Unite team!—to craft custom, responsive WordPress websites. Let’s collaborate to build a strong online presence you’re excited to share with the world.