KCU Pitchfest Showcase 2023 (Top 50)

Dead Girl Dreams

On the isolated Elderberry Island, timid teenager Codi Crane begins to be plagued by strange dreams that seem all too real. Still, she feels relatively safe under the watchful eye of her loving but slightly overbearing Grams. After reconnecting with her old friend Lia Nightingale, it seems like Codi’s introverted life might start to change…that is until Lia goes missing on Codi’s birthday. Now trapped in the Dream World, where a horrific monster is hunting her, Lia’s spirit begs Codi to uncover the truth behind her disappearance. In the real world, Codi finds herself at the center of escalating drama between the matriarchs of two prominent families: Grams, and Lia’s domineering grandmother, Opal. As tensions rise and secrets are exposed, Codi is thrust into a world she never knew she was a part of and forced to make a choice that impacts the entire island.

Blending magic with mystery, this graphic novel focuses on queer relationships, feminine power, and dismantling old, harmful traditions.

My Why:

As a queer woman from a very open and loving family, one of my main goals is to write stories about queer people where their sexuality is not the plot of the story, just part of who the characters are. By writing a story that includes a queer relationship, I hope to normalize the idea and open the minds of people who may not be as accepting of others.

Another prominent theme in this story is generational trauma. My family has a history with a particular subsect of a religion whose outdated customs have caused pain and hardship for generations. This same kind of hyper-focus on tradition is reflected in the current political climate, manifesting in rewriting laws to erase bodily autonomy and fundamental human rights. I wanted to write a story where these harmful societal structures and old-fashioned teachings are abolished in favor of a brighter future that benefits all people.

I hope that this story will show others how forcing other people to conform benefits nobody and that it’s okay to change and learn from new
experiences.