Kids Comics Pitchfest 2023 Showcase
Comics creators from around the world submit their unpublished projects to be previewed online by editors and agents. A panel of judges (click here to see the juror list) select the top pitches. Projects are archived here so that industry pros may view them and discover new talent.
Connecting Threads
It is a a story of loss of family and culture in foster and adoption, loss of connection to siblings and culture, and the feeling lack of belonging in the new family. It's also about coming of age as a minor living on her own, and then finding family including 4 other siblings also removed from first family. A recent presentation in a writers group felt that visual storytelling of marginalized voices on this topic was missing. Characters in the story also have other challenges. It is a YA book that fits a graphic medicine genre and resonates with readers.
Age Range:
Young AdultGenre:
BIPOC, Memoir, Social IssuesPage Count Estimate:
90
My Why:
Stories of Indigenous people and how their culture was stripped from them and families disrupted by removal after boarding schools were winding down is in the news frequently In our family, 5 siblings, were born, removed, fostered and most adopted. It's also the story of coming of age, challenges, and searching for family. Our first family is unusual in that every child was removed. Two sisters were adopted together, one brother grew up in foster care. It's also the story of finding each other and feeling profound love and belonging.
Elizabeth Blake
Publications: Sleep Baby Sleep 2016, illustrator. Story shows images of families in many cultures and phases of the moon done in painted washi paper collage. GreenBean: True Blue Family, 2012, early reader. Earlier work, public health project with a series of 54-page booklets on child health. Education: Graduate program in illustration at Academy of Art SF and UW program in children's book writing. Also worked as a pediatric NP in clinic and schools.