Might draw something

Might get dressed up

Hello, happy autumn! How is your September going? It’s been glorious to have the kids back in school. Mine are now in 4th and 7th grade—so old! Last weekend I took George, my 12yo, to Boston with me for my friend’s son’s bar mitzvah, and the whole time he trolled me by saying, “Weekend Mom might go to Boston, Weekend Mom might get dressed up, Weekend Mom might go through security” etc. We lived in Boston for 8 years (residency and then the first 5 years of my hospitalist career), and both kids were born in Boston, so it always brings back a mix of bittersweet emotions. We spent one night in Cambridge with my friend Sara, and her daughter wanted to draw unicorns and mermaids 24-7. My dream! On the flight two and from Boston I read The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce and watched the final installment of Emily in Paris, which takes her to Rome. What a delight. The Ex Vows may have been my favorite romance novel I’ve read this year.

Here’s a little diary comic I made about stuff I want to remember from the past month:

Since getting back I have been finessing (hopefully?) the graphic memoir (called See One Do One Teach One) I have been working on for the past two years or so. Below is a scene that I removed for space and storytelling reasons. Next to that is the stack of graphic novels, memoirs and a book of essays that I have referenced while working on this project. Not pictured are the very excellent graphic memoirs (and bildungsroman or kunstleromans???) Maybe an Artist by Liz Montague and The Keeper by Kelcey Ervick (I think I have loaned them out). These are both about how the authors made the jump from their sportier selves to artists. I love reading about artists journeys, especially when they take the artist by surprise.

Here are two more fun graphic works that I read this month, and will take you on a lovely trip around the world. My editor Melanie recommended Juliette, which was translated from French. It’s a very beautiful graphic novel about a young woman who returns to her small-ish hometown from her artist life in Paris and is confronted with her parents’ and sister’s own psychodramas. It’s also been adapted into a movie. Ruth Chan’s smart new graphic memoir Uprooted is set in Hong Kong, and is very moving.

Okay, now for the absolutely crucial section of this newsletter, the romance novel report! As I said above, I loved The Ex Vows. I also really enjoyed Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff and I am so into the whole 831 Stories concept. There are a lot of juicy details in this podcast episode, thanks

Gina Banks

for the rec. Here is a Romancelandia boardgames illustration that I made a while ago, when I was very keen to make a book of comics about romance novels.

Finally, in the spirit of back to school and September, here is a link to Mom’s Family Calendar! And here is a link to a cute book called Mom Milestones. I feel very lucky to move between the world of internal medicine and comics, drawing and illustration, so a milllion thanks for your support of these creative activities and projects! I do not think I’m using any links with affiliate commissions in this post, but if I am I appreciate your support.

Talk to you soon! Happy fall!