Kids Comics Pitchfest Showcase

Inbetween

Artsy, 11 year-old military kid, Edna, wants life to be “normal” like the TV families on her favorite programs. But her BFF moves away, her mom's moodswings increase by the day, and she's out of sorts at her new jr. high school. Being the ignored middle kid is nothing new but Edna's never felt this lost before, especially when bad news hits home. She starts running with the kids on the fringe--the ones who don't seem to care. But when a prank goes ablaze, Edna realizes it's up to her to keep from burning up her own future.

INBETWEEN is a middle-grade, slice-of-life graphic novel about coping with a parent’s mental illness and family chaos, getting lost in tweenhood struggles, and finding a way back to oneself through love of art and family.

My Why:

I initially wanted to tell this story in prose. At one point, it was about a "fictional" girl named Elsa. But having written memoir and personal essays for years (just for fun), the process of excavating my past and writing in 1st person felt natural. In 2020, my 11-year old self showed up. She nudged me to write this as a comic. I resisted. It's supposed to be prose, I argued. She persisted, suggesting I take a longform comic writing class. I grew curious and did it. The floodgates opened: I recalled my huge comic collection. I remembered how comics influenced my drawings. My love for comics was reignited. So, my Inner Kid and I are a team. Entrusting the stylus and keyboard to her is both rewarding and terrifying. Most of all, it's a joy.