In the leadup to the 2024 Portland Book Festival, we revisit our January 2011 conversation with comics artist and animator Vera Brosgol.
Vera drew on her own immigrant childhood for inspiration in creating the character of Anya, the haunted teenager at the heart of her debut graphic novel. Anya's Ghost has been named a Kirkus Best Teen Book of the year and been called "a masterpiece" by author Neil Gaiman. Vera wrote Anya's Ghost while working on storyboards for the Laika animated features Coraline and Paranorman, and has directed her own animated shorts, including the darkly comic Snow-Bo.
Vera has published many books in the years since this conversation, and her work has won the Harvey and Eisner awards, as well as the Caldecott Honor. She's appearing at the 2024 Portland Book Festival on November 2nd at 3pm in the Judy Theater, joining Karla Arenas Valenti and Breena Bard in conversation about folktales and fairytales and young girls who rescue themselves.
- KBOO