On the last day of November

The road to the end of the year is paved with my artistic intentions. I have lists of short comics to make but life upended my fall plans. Including last week when we missed Thanksgiving because everyone was sick.

Working on books demands planning. Earlier this week I struggled to remember if a book was slated for 2026 or 2027. Then my husband asked me about the previous weekend and my mind was blank. My memory has always been weak but there’s an art to keeping your head in the present, past and years in the future. It’s not the kind of art I can do. Markings of time, arbitrary as they are, create a magnetic push and pull inside me.

As the end of the year approaches, I want to do everything and nothing.

I want to tick off every task and also settle into a fuzzy blanket with cats and read for days. Maybe I will complete many mini comics before years end, maybe not. I am old enough to know that it’s important to set flexible intentions.

I’m grateful that for you as I do my best to share my work and bit of myself here, however and whenever that may be.

To thank you, my prints, cards, magnets are on sale through the end of the week with the code holiyay23. Super Boba Cafe is half off when you buy directly from Abrams.

In the spirit of gifting, I want to recommend some graphic novels that I loved this year.

The Tryout - Christina Soontornvat and Joanna Cacao

My kid read and re-read this so many times I had to wait for my turn. It’s relatable and funny.

A first time for everything - Dan Santat

Another funny, revealing and relatable memoir of a first Europe trip. Every story beat and moment had me laughing, crying or cringing.

Invisible - Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Gabriela Epstein

Another re-read wait on this one! Finally, we read this together in Spanish and English and it’s important for conversation about language, access and doing what you can to help and very well told.

Parachute Kids - Betty Tang

I also read this with my kid after she read it on her own. So many conversations ensued about immigration, culture and the American dream.

Please shop with your local independent bookstore and if that’s not possible, bookshop.org.