Publishing Queer Comics & Graphic Novels

Join us at Hive Mind Books in Bushwick for the latest installment in a brand new monthly-ish series Publishing Queer, in which experienced authors and publishing professionals demystify different aspects of the business and answer your questions.

This month, graphic novel and comics luminaries Mattie Lubchansky, E.T. Russian, and Rani Som, will talk with Margot Atwell about the many ways queer creators publish their work and approach visual storytelling. Free to attend. Bring your questions!

The coffee and tea counter at Hive Mind Books will be open for the duration of the event.

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MORE ABOUT THE EVENT

Book publishing can be a baffling field, with arcane language (ARCs? Blads? Elevator pitch?) and antique, insidery traditions that seem designed to keep everyone who isn't already on its inside (white, straight, cis, abled, rich) out. But never fear! We’re here, we’re queer, and we’re bringing some of the most interesting, talented, knowledgeable people involved in publishing trans and queer writing and art to Hive Mind Books to share their wisdom and answer your questions in the new monthly(ish) Publishing Queer series, hosted by Margot Atwell.

Comics and graphic arts are some of the most ancient, powerful, and versatile art forms—from cave paintings to political cartoons, ashcans to Marvel comics. The field of comics publishing hasn’t always been welcoming to queer and trans stories or creators, but nevertheless, we persist and find a way. Join comics luminaries Mattie Lubchansky, E.T. Russian, and Rani Som, who will talk with Margot Atwell about the many ways queer creators publish their work and, share their own stories. There will be time for audience Q&A afterward, and a social hour nearby afterward, details TBA.

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ABOUT THE PANELISTS

Mattie Lubchansky is the author of the national bestseller Simplicity, Boys Weekend, and The Antifa Super-Soldier Cookbook. She was a contributor and Associate Editor of the Ignatz and Eisner-Winning magazine and website The Nib, and the Herblock prize finalist in 2020. She lives in beautiful Queens, New York.

E.T. Russian is a multi-sensory artist, cartoonist, disability justice advocate and healer. They are curious about kink, death, plants, resistance, culture and science. Their work is in the permanent collections of the Library of Congress, Wellcome Collection in London, City of Seattle and Washington State Convention Center. ETRUSSIAN.COM

Rani Som is a trans femme visual artist, author and teacher. Her work has appeared in many publications including The New Yorker, and at MoMA.org. Her graphic novel Apsara Engine won the 2020 L.A. Times Book Prize for Best Graphic Novel and a 2021 Lambda Literary Award for Best LGBTQ Comics. Her graphic memoir Spellbound was also a 2021 Lambda Literary Award finalist. Her latest graphic novel, Amavaria, is due to be published by Abrams in 2028.

​​Margot Atwell is a writer and editor, once called “Book Biz Cassandra.” She writes On the Books, a newsletter about creativity and money. Her most recent book was the anthology, Absolute Pleasure: Queer Perspectives on Rocky Horror. She was the Executive Director and Publisher of Feminist Press and Head of Publishing at Kickstarter. Currently, she is a freelance editor, writing coach, and fundraiser for literature and the arts. She lives in Brooklyn.

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Hive Mind Books is a queer and trans bookstore and coffee shop in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The store and coffee counter will be open all night for attendees who want to make purchases. Seating is first come, first served. We have standing room available after seating fills up.

Subways:

(L) Dekalb
(M/L) Myrtle-Wyckoff
(M) Knickerbocker

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