Jarrett Lerner
Jarrett popped up on my Twitter feed at some point. Maybe with his Read More, Ban Less activism. I liked what I saw and have been following him ever since.
Jarrett is the award-winning creater of more than a dozen books for kids, including the EngiNerds series of middle-grade novels, and the Hunger Heroes graphic novel series.
In addition to writing, drawing, and visiting schools and libraries across the country, Jarrett co-founded and co-organizes the #KidsNeedBooks and #KidsNeedMentors projects, and regularly spearheads fundraisers for various reading- and book-related causes. He is also the founder and operator of Jarrett Lerner’s Creator Club. He lives with his wife and daughters in Massachusetts.
Jarret’s latest book A Work in Progress is an illustrator novel. It’s about a young boy struggling with his body image. Though not a graphic novel, Jarrett uses drawings along with prose to tell the story rather than an illustration of a scene. And I thought it was a book worth sharing.
- Why comics? (What compels you to create in this medium?)
I rarely, if ever, think and imagine exclusively in words and pictures. My head is typically filled with a mixed-up stew of BOTH. Comics are the only medium that lets one use both words and pictures to their maximum potential — and do so at the same time. When comics are done well, I don’t think there is any other form of storytelling (or even just communication) that is more expressive, powerful, or stimulating. It’s a beautiful and amazing thing.
- What is your favorite part/step of the process?
It’s tough to pick a favorite. But I really love when I get from loose sketches and bits of script to actually putting together pages, making decisions about paneling and layouts. That’s when a comic or graphic novel really starts to come alive for me, when I begin to get a sense of the pacing of things, and the ways in which the story will best unfold. That being said, there are also times when I really love the process of inking. I can put on a bunch of podcasts of an audiobook and just trace and trace and trace. I find that very soothing and rewarding. Also, getting to that part of the process usually comes with a great deal of relief. So that’s nice, too.
- What are you currently working on?
A whole bunch of stuff! I’ve got a series of early readers that I’m continuing to make, and I’ll be launching two new chapter book series over the next two years. In addition to that, I’ve got a few projects I am preparing for submission this summer and fall — another early reader endeavor, a solidly Middle Grade novel that I’m co-writing/co-drawing with a good pal, and a YA concept. I’ve learned over the years that I’m most productive and efficient when I’m working on a bunch of different things, especially if those things all target different audiences. Each project helps me more clearly grasp what the others are and need to be.
You can find Jarrett and links to his work at the following:
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