mariko tamaki news

Summer is just flying by.  Feels like just weeks ago I was all up in Pride, now fall looks like it’s around the corner (a very hot corner but around the corner nonetheless).

So far it’s been a hectic season.  My big trip was a jaunt over to Moosejaw, Saskatchewan for their Festival of Words, which was amazingly fun and involved hanging out with lots of incredibly talented people.  I did two readings with Richard Scarsbrook, whose book The Monkeyface Chronicles I’m still reading.  I also had the good fortune to hear Jack Hodgins read from his new book The Master of Happy Endings, which is reminding me of Alice Munro and Margaret Laurence.  I keep calling it a kind of less angry/intense Stone Angel, although that’s not exactly right.

Upcoming I have a bit of a break from performing.  I’m planning to teach my comics course again in the fall at U of T, this time with the incredible Willow Dawson by my side full time.  You can find more information and sign up HERE.

In print, a chapter from a book I’m working on, tentatively titled either Freshman 15 or You Set Me On Fire, can be found in the latest edition of The New Quarterly, which you can order HERE.

Recreationally, I’m doing a lot of swimming, thanks to my lovely friends with lovely pools.  Not a lot of crafting although I am hard at work hitting the skins on my new Wii Rock Band.  There are plans in the works for a HOMO Beatle show.  I’ll keep you posted.

Hope you’re keeping cool!

mariko

Well, after a RIDICULOUS start, Pride is getting into gear in Toronto.  My pride, this year, kicked into party mode with Shane MacKinnon and Kaleb Robertson’s amazing BFF cabaret, starring GLYPH, Ina unt Ina, Unicorn Spit & Angel Hair, Faye Slift, and the amazing JAT girls (amongst other cool stuff).  Lindy and I performed as BFF’s Strawberry Shortcake and Blueberry Muffin, as evidenced in the amazing photo below taken by Wig Master/Photographer RIKKI ZUCKER.

Best costumes EVER.

This Saturday, July 3rd, I will be appearing as part of Proud Toronto’s PROUD VOICES - proudly - at the James Canning Garden - just off Yonge Street - 15 Gloucester Street.  I’m on at 7 PM.

Come say hello!

This summer I will be teaching a small course as part of the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies.  I’m pretty excited about it.  The goal is to create a class where students can learn a little bit about comics but mostly have a space to work comic book proposals and - ultimately - the beginnings of a first chapter.  Guests will include the fabulous Willow Dawson, who is a frequent co-conspirator of mine, and a lovely lady overall.

Here is the blurb.

Mariko Tamaki, author of the graphic books “Skim” and “Emiko Superstar,” presents a comic writing workshop for hopeful comic/graphic novel creators.  This “Comics 101″ is a combination of theory and practice, designed to provide students with an introduction to the amazingly diverse world of comics and a space to develop their ideas.  The goal of this workshop is for students to create their own comics, moving from character and plot concepts to finished pages.  Artistic genius is not a requirement but a passion for words and images is a must. Toronto illustrator and writer Willow Dawson will make a guest appearance.

Here is the LINK.

Hey folks,

My latest installment as a “culture reporter” for Xtra is online now.

The column is kind of an interesting collage of ideas and was inspired by: recent firings at a local radio station, a play by David Tomlinson, my recent trip to Bellair spa for a consult for hair removal.

I love when a combo of things comes together into one piece.

Tonight is the anniversary party for Barbie’s Basement Jewellery.

I will be appearing as a princess.

Bit of a stretch but I’ll make it work!

m

I’m going to try try try to stay more on top of things from this point on. I know I’m a horribly infrequent poster.  And, really, if you’re going to have a space like this, why not use it?

Recent events:

I’ve spent a lot of time traveling and doing public presentations recently.  This year, so far, I’ve been to Ottawa, Montreal, and (get this) San Antonio Texas!

I was in San Antonio for the Texas Library Association conference.  Both Skim and Emiko Superstar made it onto their “Texas Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List 2010,” amongst some cool books by peeps like Jessica Abel and Lynda Barry.  As part of my author duties I sat in on a panel with Ellen Schreiber, Kazy Kibuishi, and Chris Schweizer.  Amazing writers aside, my favourite part of the trip was San Antonio itself.  I stayed in the Menger Hotel, which is basically like staying in an American history museum.  The Alamo was like 12 steps away!

In case I got lost:

In other news, Willow Dawson and I have been hard at work on a variety of comic projects. We finished a comic on villains for Trinity Square Video’s program “Icon, Hero, Antihero.”  And we just finished another comic, along the same theme, which will be up online soon (I’ll let you know where to find it when I know).

TCAF is fast approaching (it’s this weekend in fact).  I will be there stalking my favs.

In the meantime, back to work everyone.

m

Hello!

Not sure if you’re following the news.  Skim has become a recent newswire feature because of a story published on a “conservative” site on the ALA’s.  In the interests of continuing the conversation slash debate on the subject of “literary merit” and “agendas” gay and otherwise, I’m posting it here.  Insert comments as you please.

I have been spending a lot of time writing and teaching as of late. I’ve done a couple wicked seminars at my old high school Havergal College.  You can read most of what I have to say about these here at Inside a Dog - where I was briefly a writer in residence.

Things I’ve got coming up.

I’ll be at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre on February 1st to launch OUTSPOKEN, a collection of lesbian theatre writing edited by Susan G. Cole.  I think it starts at 7 pm.  Many lesbians will be there, including Trey Anthony and Jess Dobkin.  Regular hummus fest!  I will be reading an earlier version of the PLAY Skim, which originally was produced by Nightwood Theatre as part of Groundswell.

In February I’ll be doing a mini-College tour of Montreal.  Dates TBA.

Happy new year everyone!

xo

mariko

Well it’s been a pretty BANNER week or so.

Number one, this past weekend Skim/Emiko Superstar got a Joe Shuster!  This is pretty fricking thriling, I have to say, and I’m totally bummed that a bad Ceasar Salad kept me from the ceremonies.  So many talented people in one room, and I was all passed out on the couch!   I’d like to thank the Academy, my co-creators Jillian Tamaki (Skim) and Steve Rolston (Emiko Superstar).  What is the right hand without the left, you know? I’d also like to thank Groundwood and the imprint formerly known as MINX.

And I’d like to thank Willow for grabbing my plaque for me.

Number two, I recently found out that Skim just hit 15,000 copies.  So at least 30,000 people have read the book (I’m assuming everyone is sharing).  Hoooo ray.

Number three, I had a butt kicking time at the Kingston Writers Fest.  KINGSTON RULES.

And LAST BUT NOT LEAST
WE’RE LULU-ed!
How exciting is this?!  Pretty darn exciting.  It’s even more amazing because I am such a huge fan of this group and of all the incredible women in comics who are and have been nominated in these categories.

Like, DUDE, seriously, I’m up against Kate Beaton.  KATE BEATON RULES (I really and truly hope that just because we are nommed together she doesn’t sick one of her crazy ponies on me.  Dude.  Seriously.)

Le sigh.

SO you can go here and check out all the insanely talented nominees.  Vote if the spirit moves you.

No biggie.

A little info about “Friends of Lulu” - from their webpage - linked above - which you should tots check out!

What is Friends of Lulu?

Friends of Lulu is a national organization whose main purpose is to promote and encourage female readership and participation in the comic book industry. Among the goals of the organization are:

1. To increase female readership of comics

2. To promote the work of women in comics

3. To offer networking opportunities and general support to women in comics

4. To facilitate communication among women and men who share the organization’s purpose

What does Friends of Lulu do?

Friends of Lulu:

1. Provides educational and research material about women in comics

2. Provides input to publishers, retailers, and the public on the kinds of comics that appeal to a female readership and on how to reach that readership

3. Facilitates networking opportunities for females in the comic book industry

4. Connects young women who wish to create comic books with female professionals for mentorship

5. Publishes a recommended reading list

6. Offers seminars on select topics

Who can join?

Membership is open to women and men of all ages who support the organization’s goals. You can join if you are a professional (a person who works or has worked in or on behalf of the comic book industry) or simply someone who reads and enjoys comics. If you are under 18 you are considered a “Jr. Lulu.”

Is there a local chapter near me?

Friends of Lulu has an active chapter in New York. Formerly active chapters are now dormant in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Chicago. If you would like to open up a chapter in your city, please contact us at info@friends-lulu.org.

How Do I Join?

PLEASE NOTE: NEW MEMBERSHIPS ARE ON HOLD, BUT WE WELCOME VOLUNTEERS, QUESTIONS, AND PARTICIPANTS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET INVOLVED WITH FRIENDS OF LULU, PLEASE CONTACT US AT INFO@FRIENDS-LULU.ORG

The latest version of Skim arrived today!

Skim in Japanese (published by Sanctuary — translated by Takashi Tanishita).

Actually, apparently, Skim in Japanese is GIRL.

The book design is a trip - no more blue and orange! So amazing.

I’m trying to think who I know who can read Japanese who would appreciate/could read a copy.

Kirsten Johnson is an incredible Toronto artist and performer I met through Buddies in Bad Times Theatre several years ago.  Last winter she sent me an email asking if I could pose for a new series she was doing.  She needed some crazy Asians to dress up as Geisha and fight it out in her studio.

Seriously.

How could I refuse?

It’s totally an amazing thing to be a part (a fairly small part) of this project and I’m so excited to see the final result.

If you’re in TO check out Kirsten’s amazing show:

CATFIGHT

September 24 to October 24, 2009

XEXE Gallery

624 Richmond St. West at Bathurst, Toronto.

The complete show can now be previewed in its entirety on her site…
http://www.kirstenjohnson.com/catfight.html 

Here’s a taste:

Holy cow I haven’t posted since TCAF?  That’s insane.

What’s NEWS?

It’s been an amazing summer.  Lots of reading and even a little travel.

I went to Barcelona with Jillian to do a little Skim promo for our fabulously amazing Spanish publisher Ediciones La Cupula. The trip was an amazing success with lots of publicity and an incredible tour around the city with Ediciones publicist (and comics lover) Montserrat.

Here is a pic that shows the intensive security measures taken by the comic con there.

And you thought New York was tough!

Since then I’ve done a little Pride action, reading at both Toronto’s Pride and London (Ontario’s) Pride Lit Night.

What else?  What else?

Upcoming I’ve got a bunch of different teaching gigs and I’m looking forward to performing at the Kingston WritersFest, which runs from September 23rd - 26th.  I’ll be doing some workshops and reading at a cabaret hosted by the amazing incredible Billeh Nickerson.  If you’re in the area, come visit!

Right after that I’ll be at the Joe Shuster Awards — hanging with my peeps Willow Dawson and Steve Rolston.

In the meantime, I’ve got quite a bit of online writing happening.

Check it out!

No More Potlucks - an amazing magazine out of Montreal - I’ve got a column in their (current) Fixate Issue.

Xtra.ca - where I attempt to write a monthly literary column

Happy Fall everyone.  Get out their and enjoy my favourite temperature!