The Never Weres

What Makes A Baby

2012-02-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

I'm illustrating a great new kids' book written by Cory Silverberg and designed by Zab Design. What Makes a Baby is a book about where babies come from for every kind of family and every kind of kid.
Funds for the project are being raised on kickstarter:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1809291619/what-makes-a-baby

Canzine 2011-this Sunday, October 23

2011-10-22T08:04:00.001-07:00

Canzine 2011 poster by Hyein Lee

I'll be at Canzine this year as a judge in the 1-2 Punch Book Pitch. I won't be tabling this year but will return next year.

2pm – 1-2 Punch Book Pitch
Live on our mainstage in front of a crowing crowd, you get two minutes to pitch your book to our panel of judges. They get one minute each to tell you why you’ll never get published in a million, billion years, or why they want to see your manuscript in their inbox ASAP.

Sign up in advance to participate in the 1-2 Punch Book Pitch at Canzine. To sign up email canzine@brokenpencil.com with your: 1. name 2. email address 3. phone number 4. two or three line description of the project you are going to pitch. Sign up now, we only have room for 8 participants and this will be first come first served.

The winner of the pitch gets bragging rights and a Broken Pencil prize pack worth $200.

This year’s judges are…

Evan Munday

Evan Munday is the publicist for Toronto-based publisher Coach House Books and an illustrator whose work has appeared in books and magazines, including the novel Stripmalling, by Jon Paul Fiorentino. Evan has written and illustrated a young adult book The Dead Kid Detective Agency, which will be published this fall by ECW Press.

Fiona Smyth

Fiona Smyth is a Toronto based painter, illustrator, and cartoonist. She is currently producing two art projects funded by the TAC and the OAC, and teaches illustration and comics at OCADU. Fiona’s first graphic novel “The Never Weres” was published by Annick Press in 2011. A collection of her Exclaim comics “Cheez 100” was published by Pedlar Press in 2001. Fiona edits the drawing and comics zine The Wilding.

Amy Logan Holmes

Amy Logan Holmes is the Executive Director of Open Book: Toronto & Open Book: Ontario, an organization that works to connect readers with Ontario authors, books and literary events. Read all about it at www.openbooktoronto.com and www.openbookontario.com.

Little Island Comics -Comic Book Store for Kids! Opens in Toronto!!

2011-09-28T10:15:00.001-07:00

Little Island illustration by Geneve Firanski. Little Island logo by Steve Manale.

11am-7pm Saturday October 1^st

12pm-6pm Sunday October 2^nd

742 Bathurst Street,Toronto

It’s official: Little Island Comics’ inaugural events on the first weekend of October 2011 will mark the debut of its events space with visits from local comics creators and the launch of Claudia Dávila’s new book Luz Sees the Light.

Our Grand Opening festivities will be a celebration of children’s comics and of Toronto’s comics community. A stellar schedule of local creator visits will be augmented by fun, informal activities for kids from open to close each day during the Grand Opening weekend. As well, select titles will be offered at door-crasher prices, so be sure to check back here next week to find out about the Grand Opening deals!

Scheduled creator appearances include:

Saturday October 1st

1:00pm – Fiona Smyth (The Never Weres)
3:00pm – LAUNCH: Claudia Dávila (Luz Sees the Light)

Sunday October 2nd

12:00pm – Clayton Hanmer (Cton’s Super A-Maze-Ing Year Of Crazy Comics!)
2:00pm – Jeremy Tankard (Boo-hoo Bird)
4:00pm – Kean Soo (Jellaby) and Tory Woollcott (Mirror Mind)

We’ll see you there!(post from Little Island Comics)

http://www.littleislandcomics.com/

The Tin Manx #24

2011-09-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

Apologies to loyal Loly readers:The Tin Manx will be appearing sporadically till the spring 2012 and not following a strict once a week reading diet!

The Tin Manx #23

2011-08-30T15:41:00.000-07:00

FanExpo 2011

2011-08-24T07:08:00.001-07:00

Visit the Koyama Press booth at FanExpo: featuring these fine Canadian cartoonists:

Thursday, August 25th.
Chris Kuzma
Steve Manale
Diana McNally
Maurice Vellekoop
Britt Wilson
Jesjit Gill
John Martz
Fiona Smyth
Steve Wolfhard
Michael DeForge

Friday, August 26th
Steve Manale
Diana McNally
Brian Fukushima
Maurice Vellekoop
Mark Laliberte
Jesse Jacobs
Diana Tamblyn
John Martz
Fiona Smyth
Steve Wolfhard
Ginette Lapalme
Patrick Kyle

Saturday, August 27th
Brian Fukushima
Vicki Nerino
Alex Perkins
Mark Laliberte
Diana Tamblyn
John Martz
Fiona Smyth
Aaron Costain
Steve Wolfhard
Ginette Lapalme
Patrick Kyle

Sunday, August 28th
Steve Manale
Diana McNally
Vicki Nerino
Alex Perkins
Britt Wilson
John Martz
Fiona Smyth
Aaron Costain
Steve Wolfhard

http://joeshusterawards.com/2011/08/23/happenings-fan-expo-appearance-schedule-at-the-koyama-press-booth/
http://www.fanexpocanada.com/genre/guest/view/577

The Tin Manx #22

2011-08-23T10:10:00.001-07:00

Girls' Day Out at Paradise Comics Saturday August 20 and FanExpo

2011-08-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

I'll be part of the fun at Paradise Comics this Saturday, drop by and check out the Girl Power. Next week I'll be at FanExpo at the Koyama Press table, please check back here for specific days and hours. See you soon!!

http://paradisecomics.com/news
http://www.fanexpocanada.com/genre/guest/view/577

The Tin Manx #21

2011-08-15T14:49:00.001-07:00

The Tin Manx #20

2011-08-07T07:40:00.001-07:00

The Tin Manx #19

2011-07-30T20:23:00.001-07:00

The Tin Manx #18

2011-07-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

The Tin Manx #17

2011-07-18T13:12:00.001-07:00

The Tin Manx #16

2011-07-10T14:03:00.000-07:00

The Tin Manx #15

2011-07-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

The Tin Manx #14

2011-06-26T08:43:00.001-07:00

The Tin Manx #13

2011-06-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

The Tin Manx #12

2011-06-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

The Tin Manx #11

2011-06-05T08:31:00.001-07:00

The Tin Manx #10

2011-05-29T07:53:00.001-07:00

The Tin Manx #9

2011-05-22T10:43:00.001-07:00

Whazamo!

2011-05-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

Here is the interview I did for Open Book Toronto,
please check out the link to read the whole piece and see the other featured graphic novelists :

http://www.openbooktoronto.com/news/whazamo_profiles_fiona_smyth

The Tin Manx #8

2011-05-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

The Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2011

2011-05-15T07:29:00.001-07:00

TCAF 2011 was a great success. There were a record number of folks who attended this much loved and internationally respected comics show. I was thrilled to be there with my first graphic novel and met lots of enthusiastic readers.

Joanna Karaplis thankfully took photos of my table and me sitting at it, which I didn't think to do myself.

I did come prepared to self promote with brand new business cards and free TNW buttons with an eeping Loly on it.

Thanks to author and Annick-ster Joanna for recording these moments! Check out her word-smithy site:

http://www.joannakaraplis.com/

Thank you for buying my book!! WOOT!!WOOT!!

Here's my partner Craig manning the table while I went to spend whatever money I just made on various zines and graphic novels. TCAF is the best place to be if you collect books and zines of the comics persuasion.
I got to sit beside my old OCAD class mate Maurice Vellekoop, class of 1986! He introduced me to RAW Magazine back then and the world of alternative/underground comics.

Owl Kids author/cartoonist Clayton Hanmer was drawing up a storm at the Trio Magnus table.

http://www.openbooktoronto.com/clayton_hanmer/main

The No Girls Allowed artist/cartoonist Willow Dawson was in the house:

http://willowdawson.com/willowdawson01.htm

http://www.graphicnovelreporter.com/content/girl-power-willow-dawson-no-girls-allowed-interview

I was very lucky to share a workshop with Claudia Davila. The kids’ workshop was about using comics as an information vehicle in activism. We invited the group to suggest two characters and subject matter to be discussed within a comic. The two panel comic became a debate between a big mouth and a tulip. Two Lips (anti-enviro parties) versus Tulip, fighting it out about the importance of environment. The Tulip won with the support of many people!
Thanks to Claudia for the book trade. Her great new graphic novel Luz Sees The Light will be released very soon, it's the story of a 12 year old embracing activism by creating a more self-sustainable community.

http://torontocomics.com/luz-sees-the-light-by-claudia-davila/

http://www.claudiadavila.com/

Much thanks to the hard work of Chris Butcher and Peter Birkemoe of the Beguiling for hosting THE greatest comics convention/show in the world!! And of course the Beguiling is the best comics store in da world!!

http://www.beguiling.com

TCAF was held in the Toronto Reference Library, so any question about the validity of comics as literature have been smoted.

Check out the lovely TCAF promo-short artist, cartoonist, zinester Chris Hutsul filmed for the event:

http://vimeo.com/22999575

http://hutsulville.blogspot.com/

Thanks to the Queen of Comics Anne Koyama, the army of TCAF volunteers, and all of you who came by and said hello! See you soon.

CLONE PETS!

2011-05-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to clone a favourite pet? Well here's the site for you:

http://www.annickpress.com/clonepets

TCAF-Kids Programming

2011-05-06T15:07:00.000-07:00

Come on down!
http://torontocomics.com/kids/

11-11:45am: Comics for Change
Do you have strong opinions about the environment? Do you consider yourself an activist with no way to voice your thoughts? Fiona Smyth (The Never Weres) and Claudia Davila (Luz Sees the Light) will help you explore how comics can be a powerful message for change and touch on different ways to expand that message.

The Tin Manx #7

2011-05-06T14:58:00.001-07:00

I will be at The Toronto Comic Arts Festival in Toronto this weekend, May 7th and 8th.
There's tons of workshops for kids and panel discussions. Don't miss this free event at the Toronto Reference Library.
http://torontocomics.com/

The Tin Manx #6

2011-05-01T20:24:00.000-07:00

The Tin Manx #5

2011-04-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

The Tin Manx #4

2011-04-16T15:28:00.001-07:00

Editing Graphic Novels Seminar in Toronto

2011-04-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

The Never Weres could not have happened without the expertise of the insightful and creative editor David Wichman. If you are interested in learning about this essential part of the creative process then the Editors' Association of Canada has the seminar for you.

Editing Graphic Novels will be lead by Jennifer Lum and Alison Kooistra:

Sat., April 30th

9:30–4:30 (lunch is provided)

Early registration (April 23): $175 for EAC members, $195 non-members

(HST extra)

After April 23: $210 for members, $240 non-members (HST extra)

Room 007, Northrop Frye Hall, Victoria College, U of T

For more information and to register please go to:

http://www.editors.ca/content/editing-graphic-novels

The Tin Manx #3

2011-04-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

The Tin Manx #2

2011-03-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

Fundraisers for Japan in Toronto

2011-03-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

In 2005 I traveled with Craig to Tokyo and Kyoto, through an art grant from the Ontario Arts Council. The photos here are from that awe inspiring trip.
If you are in Toronto this week please come out to support two events to raise funds for Japan. Many local artist friends works will be auctioned.

http://www.torontoheartsjapan.com/

http://ashita11.tumblr.com/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=153943768000329

The Tin Manx #1

2011-03-21T14:11:00.001-07:00

Here is the beginning of weekly Loly posts. How did she spend her time when Xian was in school? Let's find out...

Check out the great TNW review on the blog Word of Mouse Books:
http://www.wordofmousebooks.com/?p=2232

The Never Weres Book Launch Photos

2011-03-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

The book launch was a raging success. Thanks to This Is Not A Reading Series' Marc Glassman for hosting and sponsoring the event. The Annick Press crew of Brigitte Waisberg and Joanna Karaplis and the TINARS crew of Charlie Huisken, Anna Withrow, Judy Wolfe, and Jesse Huisken promoted and organized an amazing event! Grateful thanks to all! And thank you to the ever supportive Gladstone Hotel as the venue for the party.
http://www.tinars.ca/
http://www.annickpress.com/

Artists/ Zinesters/Cartoonists Patrick Kyle and Mark Connery narrated Jesse's and Loly's parts during the reading of the first chapter.
http://www.patrickkyle.com/
http://www.perroverlag.com/markconnery.html
Here I am with the super group of my partner The Bon's Craig Daniels, Ain't the Rosedale Library's Charlie Huisken and illustrator/cartoonist Maurice Vellekoop.
http://www.myspace.com/wearethebon
http://www.mauricevellekoop.com/

Me and my best supporter!

Photo taken by supportive pal Erella Ganon. http://www.erella.com/

Friends Tracy and The Bon's guitarist Pete Gleeson join the party.

Roller Derby queen Demolition Dawn Weaver attends the event sans skates.

The party grows.

Walker Ballantyne-Hill and Judy Wolfe welcome the well wishers and work the book table.
http://www.walkerballantyne.com/

Yes, please!!

The insightful interviewer and long time supporter RM Vaughan, esteemed writer and art critic for the Globe and Mail.
http://www.rmvaughan.ca/

The Never Weres extraordinary editor and Annick Press writer David Wichman.
http://www.annickpress.com/authors/wichman.asp?author=560

Andrea Manica narrates the part of Mia, onstage with Patrick and myself.
http://cerealwithasmile.blogspot.com/

Long time pal, drummer and screenwriter/director Tina Cooper reads the part of Xian.
Mark reads Loly.
http://www.cutoffshorts.ca/

Tell us about the process...

Friends and some previous students celebrate at the launch.
http://www.selenawong.com/
http://www.ryandodgson.com/

Thank you!

Graphics Goddess/Publisher Annie Koyama, a great patron to the cartooning/zinester scene in Toronto and beyond!
http://koyamapress.com/

Some enthusiastic younger readers.

David Wichman, I hope we can do this again!

Comics and drawing jammers.

Xian, Mia, and Jesse in colour!!
Thank you to everyone who made it out to the launch! Much love!

The Never Weres Book Launch

2011-03-05T07:03:00.000-08:00

The book launch is impending and here are the deets:

Fiona Smyth’s new graphic novel launches with RM Vaughan interview, live performance, and drawings/comic jam.

Readers, writers, and artists celebrate the debut of Fiona Smyth’s first graphic novel for young readers, The Never Weres (Annick Press), as art critic for the Globe and Mail, RM Vaughan joins author and illustrator Fiona Smyth for a conversation about her vivid career. Audience members of all ages are invited to grab Sharpies and doodle a panel for the event’s collective drawings/comics jam and watch as narrators bring a chapter of The Never Weres to life against a changing backdrop of the book’s illustrations.

Sunday, March 13

The Gladstone Hotel Ballroom
1214 Queen Street West

Doors open at 2 pm; Event starts at 2:30 pm

$5 or Free with book purchase

I have been watching, collecting, writing about, and loving Fiona's work for 20 years. “The Never Weres” is the latest installment in a long, beautifully strange career.

– R.M. Vaughan, the Globe and Mail art critic

THE NEVER WERES: Cartoonist Fiona Smyth shares the story about three teens who become humanity’s only hope for survival in this science fiction, fantasy graphic novel.

Late in the next century, the human race is on the verge of extinction. A mysterious virus has resulted in no births in almost a generation. Despite the impending doom, three urban teenagers try to live their lives with hope.

Mia strives to preserve humanity’s compassion through her art and her volunteer work with the “oldies.” Tech-savvy Xian spends her time tinkering with the robots she’s sure will inherit the earth. Jesse, the son of geneticists, is convinced the future lies with cloning, but society is reeling from the grotesque failures of previous attempts. When the friends stumble upon the 60-year-old mystery of a missing girl, it leads them to the world’s only successful clone—and the key to saving our species.

As graphic novels continue to increase in popularity, this story uses the form to its best advantage in depicting a dystopian future as visually detailed as it is emotionally rich. Fiona Smyth’s energetic, hip illustration style will appeal to kids while the gripping narrative will keep them breathless to the very last page.