🎙 Negative Space Comics Podcast — Season 3, Episode 2
Guest: Sarah Cooke (@sarahccomics)

We’re back with comics writer Sarah Cooke, winner of the 2023 Mad Cave Talent Search and the 2023 Negative Space Women’s Comic Book Writing Competition. Sarah has built an exciting career in comics, from winning competitions and editing anthologies to running successful crowdfunding campaigns.

In this episode, we cover:

• Breaking into comics through competitions and mentorship

• Lessons learned from editing and contributing to anthologies

• Tips for building and running a Kickstarter campaign

• The differences between anthologies and creator‑owned series

• Her latest project, Faster Than Light Vol. 2, and what’s next for her

Whether you’re writing your first short comic or launching a full series, Sarah shares honest, actionable insights on how to grow as a comics creator.

👉 Follow Sarah: Instagram | Substack

Negative Space Comics Podcast — Season 3, Episode 1
Guest: Omar Morales (@omorales81)

We’re kicking off Season 3 with comic book writer Omar Morales, the creator behind the sci-fi graphic novel Major Thomás, published through Comixology Originals. Omar joins us to share his publishing journey, his convention-tested advice, and how he built a portfolio that opened doors.

In this episode, we cover:

• The inspiration and process behind Major Thomás

• What it took to bring the book to Comixology Originals

• Pro tips for making the most out of comic conventions

• How to build a strong, professional portfolio as a comics creator

Whether you're writing your first script or pitching your tenth, Omar brings honest, actionable insights that will help you level up.

📚 Read Marjor Thomás on Comixology

👉 Learn more at theforcemedia.com

📱 Follow Omar on social: @omorales81

Laura Gao and Tiffany Yap in conversation with host Josh Sippie about the challenges of writing towards specific real world subject matter, whether in fiction or nonfiction.Laura Gao (she/they) is a queer artist, author, bread lover, and everything in between. Originally from Wuhan, China, Gao immigrated to Texas where their art career began by doodling on Pokémon cards and has since blossomed to be featured on NPR, the Museum of Chinese in America, and most notably, their parents’ fridge. Their works include the viral webcomic, “The Wuhan I Know”, and the bestselling graphic memoir that was inspired by it, Messy Roots.Tiffany Yap is a conservation scientist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a doctorate in environmental science and engineering and has published studies in Science, EcoHealth, and other scientific journals. Her work has been featured in major news outlets including the New York Times, LA Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and NPR.

Important links!

• Laura's website: https://www.lauragao.com/
• Tiffany's website: https://tiffanyyap.com/
• Messy Roots: https://www.lauragao.com/messyroots
• Tales of the Urban Wild: https://tiffanyyap.com/tales-of-the-urban-wild/
• Negative Space events: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://negativespacecomics.com/events/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect on social media!

• Tiffany's Twitter: https://twitter.com/yap_ta
• Tiffany's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tipyap/
• Laura's Twitter: https://twitter.com/heylauragao?s=20
• Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heylauragao/
• Negative Space on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NegSpaceComics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Negative Space on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/negativespacecomics/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Nahuel on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Nahui_FA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Josh on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/sippenator101

Deb JJ Lee in conversation with host Josh Sippie about the challenges of writing graphic memoirs, telling stories that really happened, and all the obstacles nonfiction presents. 
Deb JJ Lee is a Korean American artist currently living in Brooklyn, NY. They have appeared in the New Yorker, Washington Post, NPR, Google, Radiolab, PBS, and more. Books they have illustrated include The Invisible Boy by Alyssa Hollingsworth (Roaring Brook Press, 2020) and The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina Cho (HarperCollins, 2024). They enjoy reality tv, sparkling water, and pretending to be an extrovert.

Important links!

• Deb's website: https://debleeart.com/
• Deb's comics/books: https://debleeart.com/254980163978
• Negative Space events: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://negativespacecomics.com/events/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect on social media!

• Deb's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jdebbiel/
• Deb's Twitter: https://twitter.com/jdebbiel
• Negative Space on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NegSpaceComics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Negative Space on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/negativespacecomics/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Nahuel on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Nahui_FA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Josh on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/sippenator101

Jeremy Holt and Ayize Jama-Everett in conversation with Josh Sippie about the challenges, both creative and otherwise, of reinventing classic stories for modern audiences.

Jeremy Holt is a non-binary author whose works include Gatsby, Made in Korea, Virtually Yours, Before Houdini, After Houdini, and Skip to the End.

Ayize Jama-Everett is a writer of speculative fiction, as well as the graphic novels Box of Bones and The Last Count of Monte Cristo. 

Important links!

• Ayize's website: https://ayizejamaeverett.com/
• Jeremy's website: https://www.jeremyholtbooks.com/
• Gatsby: https://www.jeremyholtbooks.com/gatsby
• The Last Count of Monte Cristo: https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/last-count-of-monte-cristo_9781419745508/
• Negative Space events: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://negativespacecomics.com/events/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect on social media!

• Ayize's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AyizeJamaEveret
• Jeremy's Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyholtbooks
• Jeremy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyholtbooks/
• Negative Space on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NegSpaceComics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Negative Space on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/negativespacecomics/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Nahuel on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Nahui_FA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Josh on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/sippenator101

Deena Mohamed in conversation with host Josh Sippie about the path into traditional publishing, breaking in with a full-length graphic novel, and more. 

Deena Mohamed is an Egyptian comics artist, writer and designer. Her debut full-length, bilingual graphic novel trilogy Shubeik Lubeik is available now from Pantheon. When not working on comics, she does freelance illustrations for local and international clients such as Insider, Viacom, Google, UN Women, Harrassmap and Mada Masr.

Important links!

• Deena's website: https://www.deenadraws.art/
• Shubeik Lubeik: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/606934/shubeik-lubeik-by-deena-mohamed/
• Negative Space events: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://negativespacecomics.com/events/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect on social media!

• Deena's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsdeenasaur/?hl=en
• Deena's Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsdeenasaur
• Negative Space on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NegSpaceComics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Negative Space on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/negativespacecomics/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Nahuel on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Nahui_FA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Josh on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/sippenator101

Scott Chantler in conversation with Josh Sippie about writing comics and cartoons in historical settings, adapting those stories for various audiences, and the creative process.

Scott Chantler is the cartoonist of the critically-acclaimed graphic novels Squire & Knight, Bix, and Two Generals, which was nominated for two Eisner Awards, selected for Best American Comics 2012, and voted by CBC's Canada Reads as one of the 40 best Canadian non-fiction books of all time. His other work includes Northwest Passage (nominated for Eisner and Harvey Awards) and the Three Thieves series (winner of the Joe Shuster Award for Best Comic for Kids and listed by YALSA as a Great Graphic Novel for Teens). In 2015, he served as Writer-in-Residence at the University of Windsor, the first cartoonist to be appointed so by a Canadian university.

Important links!

• Scott's website: https://www.scottchantler.com/
• Scott's books: ⁠https://www.scottchantler.com/books
• Negative Space events: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://negativespacecomics.com/events/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect on social media!

• Scott's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/scottchantler/
• Negative Space on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NegSpaceComics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Negative Space on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/negativespacecomics/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Nahuel on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Nahui_FA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Josh on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/sippenator101

Matt Emmons in conversation with Josh Sippie about creating your own opportunities, crowdfunding, and turning your creativity into a business.

Matt Emmons is a comics artist and illustrator living in Philadelphia. Born in the Greater Boston Area and raised on a healthy diet of 80’s monster movies and fantasy novels, he now spends his time drawing monsters and robots for his own books.

Important links!

• Matt's website: ⁠https://www.secondatbestpress.com/
• Matt's shop: https://www.secondatbestpress.com/shop
• Negative Space events: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://negativespacecomics.com/events/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect on social media!

• Matt's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/second.at.best/?hl=en
• Matt's Twitter: https://twitter.com/secondatbest_
• Negative Space on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NegSpaceComics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Negative Space on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/negativespacecomics/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Nahuel on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Nahui_FA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Josh on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/sippenator101

Kiara Valdez in conversation with Josh Sippie about what an editor at a traditional publishing house does, how to break in that route as a creator, the traditional publishing scene, and more. 

Kiara Valdez is an Afro-Dominican writer and graphic novel editor from New York City (shout out to Washington Heights). She graduated from Williams College with a double major in English Literature and Japanese, and spends her free time reading, writing, and enjoying a long list of other hobbies she can't keep up with. She is currently an editor with First Second, where she has edited several award-winning and best-selling graphic novels.

Important links!

• Kiara's website: https://kiaravaldez.com/
• First Second Books: https://firstsecondbooks.com/
• Negative Space events: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://negativespacecomics.com/events/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect on social media!

• Kiara's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dezinpub/
• Negative Space on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NegSpaceComics⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Negative Space on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/negativespacecomics/⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Nahuel on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Nahui_FA⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Josh on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/sippenator101

Ryan Inzana in conversation with Josh Sippie about creating the Eisner-nominated Ichiro, as well as placing short comics, developing an artistic style, and more. 

Ryan is an illustrator/concept designer/animator whose work has appeared in various media all over the world. Ryan's comics have been inducted into the Library of Congress's permanent collection of art and have earned an Eisner nomination as well as an Asian American/Pacific Islander Honor Award for YA literature.

Important links!

• Ryan's website:  https://www.ryaninzana.com/
• Negative Space events: ⁠⁠⁠https://negativespacecomics.com/events/⁠⁠⁠

Connect on social media!

• Negative Space on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NegSpaceComics⁠⁠⁠
• Negative Space on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/negativespacecomics/⁠⁠⁠
• Nahuel on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Nahui_FA⁠⁠⁠
• Josh on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/sippenator101