Can a cartoonist be a novelist? Charles Johnson thinks so.
Johnson is a College of Washington emeritus literature professor, a thinker, an essayist, a short-story author and a novelist of great renown, having received the Nationwide E-book Award for his guide, “Center Passage.” He’s additionally, proudly, a cartoonist.
In youthful days, Johnson drew cartoons for pupil newspapers and publications that served African American audiences, similar to Ebony and Black World. Then, he discovered his literary voice and a prestigious writing profession started.
I met Johnson about 5 years in the past. He was happy to satisfy me as a result of he seldom will get an opportunity to speak about cartoons. In passing and nearly apologetically, I discussed to him that I had a novel I’d been engaged on. Johnson rapidly instructed me that I ought to get critical about it; {that a} novel is the uncommon probability to inform a narrative and get each phrase proper.
Nicely, I did get critical, and now I’ve revealed my debut novel, “Seashore of Stars.” Johnson has referred to as it “amazingly good.” One other native writer and Nationwide E-book Award winner, Timothy Egan, (after displaying some skepticism {that a} cartoonist might additionally write) learn my guide and dubbed it “a masterful little bit of storytelling … a beautiful novel, with wealthy, compelling characters, masking a fantastic tableau of time and terrain.”
As you may think about, I’m relieved that neither man patted me on the pinnacle and mentioned “return to the drafting board.”
As a substitute, I’m going to a few book-release occasions and I’d be happy if Seattle Occasions readers who’ve adopted my work would be a part of me. The primary can be at Elliott Bay E-book Firm on Capitol Hill on Friday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m., the place I’ll be interviewed by writer and journalist Monica Guzman. The second can be at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. There, I’ll be interviewed by Nancy Guppy, a former member of the Nearly Dwell comedy group and at the moment the host of Artwork Zone on the Seattle Channel.
I’ll even be doing an occasion on the College E-book Retailer in early March, date and time to be decided quickly.
“Seashore of Stars” is on sale in any respect the same old locations, however it could be nice to satisfy some Occasions readers in particular person, so come on down.
See extra of David Horsey’s cartoons at: st.news/davidhorsey
View different syndicated cartoonists at: st.news/cartoons
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