Tag Archives: library of congress

National Book Festival 2014: Rep. John Lewis & Andrew Aydin

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Rep. John Lewis and Andrew Aydin appear at the 2014 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Speaker Biography: John Lewis has served as the U.S. States representative for Georgia’s 5th Congressional District since 1987. He is senior chief deputy whip for the Democratic Party. Rep. Lewis had been serving America long before his congressional career began, as he is revered as a major civil rights icon, lending his resounding moral voice to the cause for more than 50 years. He was a key player in the movement to end racial discrimination and segregation as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. In the first book of his graphic memoir trilogy, “March” (Top Shelf Productions), published with co-writer Andrew Aydin and New York Times best-selling artist Nate Powell, Rep. Lewis recounts his lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, chronicling the days of Jim Crow to the broader civil rights movement, and telling of his experience at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. “March” has been recognized as the winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award, a No. 1 New York Times bestseller, a No. 1 Washington Post best-seller, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book and an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book.

Speaker Biography: Andrew Aydin is an aide to Rep. John Lewis and co-author of the first book of the Congressman’s graphic novel memoir trilogy, “March” (Top Shelf Productions).

For transcript, captions, and more information.

National Book Festival 2014: Bryan Lee O’Malley

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Bryan Lee O’Malley appears at the 2014 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Speaker Biography: Award-winning cartoonist, writer and artist Bryan Lee O’Malley is best known for his New York Times best-selling Scott Pilgrim series. O’Malley first captivated readers with the story of Scott Pilgrim, a 23- year-old slacker-sometimes-musician on a mission to defeat the seven evil exes of his love Ramona Flowers. The popular graphic series was adapted into the major motion picture “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” in 2010. O’Malley has received many accolades, including the Doug Wright, Harvey, Joe Shuster and Eisner awards. In his latest graphic novel, “Seconds” (Ballantine/Random House), O’Malley tells the story of Katie and her magical mushrooms, a tale of existential angst, everyday obstacles, young love and ancient spirits.

For transcript, captions, and more information.

National Book Festival 2014: Jeffrey Brown

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Jeffrey Brown appears at the 2014 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Speaker Biography: Jeffrey Brown Ignatz Award winner Jeffrey Brown began his career with the self-published “Clumsy.” He earned an MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago School as a painter, but he soon found his niche in drawing comics. He is the author-illustrator of “Star Wars: Jedi Academy No. 2: Return of the Padawan” (Scholastic), the much-anticipated sequel to the New York Times best-seller “Star Wars: Jedi Academy.” Brown also wrote and illustrated “Darth Vader and Son” in 2012, and its sequel “Vader’s Little Princess” in 2013, among many other titles.

For transcript, captions, and more information.

National Book Festival 2014: Gene Luen Yang

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Gene Luen Yang appeared in the Graphic Novels Super Session at the 2014 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Speaker Biography: Gene Luen Yang is a writer of both graphic novels and comics. His work “American Born Chinese” is a creative text that chronicles the Asian-American experience in a way that resonates with teen readers. It was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association’s Printz Award; it was also a winner of the 2007 Eisner Award. “Boxers & Saints” (First Second) is a two-volume project that set during the Boxer Rebellion, a war that took place on Chinese soil over 100 years ago between the Boxers (anti-Christians) and their Chinese Christian enemies during a time of national turmoil. This historically based fiction offers two perspectives, as “Boxers” focuses on the story of Little Bao, a boy who becomes a leader of the Boxer Rebellion, and “Saints” follows the story of Vibiana, a girl from the same village who becomes a Christian. “Boxers & Saints” was a National Book Award finalist, noted on Booklist’s Top 10 Religious Books for Youth, awarded Library Journal’s Best Book of the Year and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Yang believes both graphic novels and comics can be used effectively as educational tools in the classroom. He teaches at Hamline University as part of the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults.

For transcript, captions, and more information.

National Book Festival 2014: Vivek Tiwary & Kyle Baker

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Vivek Tiwary and Kyle Baker appeared at the 2014 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Speaker Biography: Vivek Tiwary is an author, Broadway theater producer and founder of Tiwary Entertainment Group. Tiwary’s debut graphic novel, “The Fifth Beatle” (Dark Horse), tells the true story of Brian Epstein, the visionary manager behind the spotlight who led the Beatles to stardom. Despite his ambitious drive and pivotal role in mobilizing what would later become the most influential rock/pop band of all time, “The Fifth Beatle” reveals the brief life of Epstein, a tale of both triumph and tragedy. Tiwary portrays the story of a flawed and imperfect hero troubled by personal obstacles. “The Fifth Beatle” is written by Tiwary, with art illustrations by Andrew Robinson and Kyle Baker and lettering by Steve Dutro. It is a No. 1 New York Times best-seller and will be adapted into a feature film this year.

Speaker Biography: Cartoonist, writer and animator Kyle Baker has few peers in the field. He has won eight Eisner awards, five Harvey awards and five Glyph Comics awards. Baker’s breakthrough work, “Why I Hate Saturn,” won him his first Eisner in 1991. Baker was responsible for the revival of the Plastic Man comic series, and he has done the animation for several Looney Tunes projects. He is the illustrator of “The Fifth Beatle” (Dark Horse), a graphic novel about the Beatles manager, Brian Epstein, written by Vivek Tiwary.

For transcript, captions, and more information.

The National Book Festival 2014 in Pictures

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On August 30 at the Washington Convention Center, the Library of Congress held the 2014 National Book Festival. The convention featured panels on graphic novels and such speakers as Raina Telgemeier, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Vivek Tiwary, Kyle Baker, Liza Donnelly, and Jeff Smith. Gene Luen Yang also spoke earlier in the day.

Here’s photos from the festival.

Gene Luen Yang’s 2014 National Book Festival Gala Speech on Diversity in Comics

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This past Saturday was the 2014 National Book Festival held by the Library of Congress. This year’s gathering was held in the Washington, DC Convention Center and part of it was a graphic novel session featuring numerous comic writers. Writer Gene Luen Yang had the honor of speaking during the gala, where he talking about diversity in comics.

I got to see him speak on the topic, particularly Asians in comics, during Saturday, and if you haven’t seen him speak I highly recommend it.

You can read a transcript here.

National Book Festival 2014: Small Press Expo Sponsors Gene Luen Yang, Liza Donnelly and Bryan Lee O’Malley

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national book festival 2014For the second year in a row, the Small Press Expo (SPX) is a sponsor of the National Book Festival, presented by the Library of Congress. As a part of this sponsorship, SPX is bringing Gene Luen Yang, Liza Donnelly and Bryan Lee O’Malley to the National Book Festival.

The primary goal of this sponsorship is to bring creators from the indie comics community to the National Book Festival to provide greater exposure for them and their works to the diverse audience that attends this prestigious festival. As a partner with the Library’s Center for the Book, Small Press Expo looks forward to help promoting their various literacy initiatives and events.

Gene Luen Yang is a writer of both graphic novels and comics. His book, “American Born Chinese,” was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association’s Printz Award; it also won an Eisner Award in 2007. “Boxers & Saints”, a two-volume project set during the Boxer Rebellion, was a National Book Award finalist, noted on Booklist’s Top 10 Religious Books for Youth, awarded Library Journal’s Best Book of the Year and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His latest work, The Shadow Hero, “explores the immigrant experience through the genre of superheroes.”

Gene was selected to be the first graphic novelist to be one of four authors to give a presentation at the gala event for the National Book Festival, whose attendees include National Book Festival authors, members of Congress, the Librarian of Congress Dr.James Billington, as well as other Library of Congress senior staff.

Author and cartoonist Liza Donnelly is best known for her cartoons in The New Yorker, but her work has been featured in several notable publications, such as The New York Times, The Harvard Business Review and The Nation, Forbes.com and Women’s Enews. In her newest book, “Women on Men,” a collection of cartoons and writing, she uses wit and sly humor to depict the changing relations of women and men in these modern times.

Award-winning cartoonist, writer and artist Bryan Lee O’Malley is best known for his best-selling, six-book Scott Pilgrim series which was adapted into the major motion picture “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” in 2010. O’Malley has received many accolades including the Doug Wright, Harvey, Joe Shuster and Eisner awards. In his latest graphic novel, “Seconds,” O’Malley tells the story of Katie and her magical mushrooms, a tale of existential angst, everyday obstacles, young love and ancient spirits.

The National Book Festival takes place Saturday, August 30, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

Gene Luen Yang will be at the Teen pavilion, signing books from 3:30- 4:30PM and presenting from 4:40-5:10PM.

Bryan Lee O’Malley will be presenting at the Graphic Novel, Science Fiction and Fantasy pavilion from 6:45-7:20 PM and signing books from 8:00-9:00PM.

Liza Donnelly will be presenting at the Graphic Novel, Science Fiction and Fantasy pavilion from 8:15-8:50 PM and signing books from 9:00-10:00PM.

National Book Festival – Today is “SciFi Fantasy & Graphic Novels”

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The National Book Festival is this weekend in Washington, DC. The show is put on by the Library of Congress and really does have something for everyone. With 200,000 people expected for the two day event (dwarfing the major comic conventions, take notice publishers!). Today is “SciFi Fantasy & Graphic Novels” day with numerous writers and creators.

When it comes to comic books two are on tap to attend.

Raina Telgemeier
Presents – 2:45 pm – 3:30 pm
Signing – 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Critically acclaimed comics artist Raina Telgemeier grew up in San Francisco, then moved to New York City, where she earned an illustration degree at the School of Visual Arts. She is the creator of “Smile,” a graphic memoir based on her childhood, which was a New York Times best-seller and winner of the Will Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens. Telgemeier also adapted and illustrated the graphic novel versions of Ann M. Martin’s “The Baby-Sitters Club” books, which were selected for Booklist’s Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth list. Telgemeier co-wrote “X-Men: Misfits,” which was a New York Times best-seller, and her latest graphic novel is “Drama” (Scholastic).

Craig Thompson
Presents – 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Signing – 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Craig Thompson’s first graphic novel, 1999’s “Good-bye, Chunky Rice,” debuted when he was just 23. His sophomore effort, “Blankets,” won numerous industry awards and has been published in nearly 20 languages. His latest graphic novel, “Habibi,” was praised in a starred review in Library Journal, which said, “The exquisite beauty and deep magic of this Arabian Nights-style love story cannot be overstated.” Thompson has received four Harvey Awards, two Eisner Awards and two Ignatz Awards – all given in recognition of outstanding work in the graphic arts.

SPX Announces Original Art Donations for the Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress

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Falling the recent donation of numerous small press and indie comic books, today the Small Press Expo announced the acquisition and subsequent donation to the Library of Congress of original art by various Small Press Expo alumni and exhibitors. Sara Duke, curator of Applied and Graphic Material in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress had this to say about the donation:

We are excited that our partnership with SPX is leading to a greater understanding of the  patrimony of comics; the wealth of original cartoon art here at the Library of Congress now includes independent and small press cartoonists. We are looking forward to the Expo in September, and hope that more talented artists will join the ranks of Raina Telgemeier, Jim Rugg, Jen Sorensen, Matthew Thurber, Keith Knight, Jim Woodring, and Matt Bors in the SPX Collection at the Library of Congress.

The originals include examples of Kurtzman and Glyph Award winner Keith Knight’s daily comic strip, The Knight Life as well as examples from his other strips K Chronicles and (Th)ink. 2012 Herblock Award winner Matt Bors donated a number of originals, as did Jen Sorensen, whose Slowpoke syndicated strip  won the 2012 AltWeekly Award for Cartoons.  Creators such as Jim Woodring, Matthew Thurber and Jim Rugg donated originals to be alongside their already donated printed versions.

Plans are for this to become a yearly donation.

The Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress is a first of its kind partnership to preserve the legacy of the indie comics community by focusing on original art by SPX exhibitors, as well as limited edition mini-comics and other publications that are created by the SPX community.

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