Pen Pals

Pen Pals with Rachel Ang, Stacy Gougoulis, Steven Christie and Aśka

State Library of WA - Theatre (Ground Floor)
4:00 - 5:00pm

With limited publishing opportunities here in Australia, many creators have turned their focus abroad. Join three creators who have done just that and have worked with a range of different publishing houses overseas to share their stories. Join Aśka in conversation with Rachel Ang, Stacy Gougoulis and Steven Christie as they talk about how these projects found their homes as well as the challenges and opportunities that come with working with international publishers.

Featuring: Rachel Ang

Rachel Ang is an artist and writer who makes comics. Their work has previously been published in international outlets such as The New Yorker, The Washington Post and kuš!, and local journals such as The Lifted Brow (RIP), Meanjin (RIP), Island and Overland. Their new book, a collection of short stories in comics form titled I Ate The Whole World to Find You, is out now through Drawn and Quarterly and Scribe, and was shortlisted for an Ignatz Award.

Featuring: Stacy Gougoulis

Stacy is an illustrator, radio presenter and Eisner Award–nominated cartoonist whose work has appeared in publications like The Washington Post, Fantagraphics NOW and VICE. They are currently working on their debut graphic novel, Bivouac, which will be published by Fantagraphics.

Featuring: Steven Christie

Steven Christie (he/him) is an Australian artist based in Naarm. Through comics, he explores the intersection of conceptual art, science-fiction, and (increasingly) freshwater fishkeeping. He is most known for the graphic novels Turtlenecks (Adhouse Books, 2021), the story of an artist who accidentally turns his flower necklace into a ready-made art work, and then must pull off a conceptual art heist performance piece to get it back. The story continues in Good Praxis, currently being published serially by Melbourne-based comics publisher Glom Press.

Featuring: Aśka

Aśka (pronounced ‘Ash-ka’), she/they, is an award-winning cartoonist, energetic visual storyteller, and ex-quantum physicist. A hugely engaging and popular presenter, Aśka is passionate about visual literacy education. Her latest physics-meets-road-trip YA graphic novel, The Friendship Paradox (Allen & Unwin), explores what it’s like to navigate the world and find your place in it when you’re … different. Alongside a catalogue of self-published comics, Aśka has traditionally published more than a dozen books and graphic novels, including the Stonewall Award Notable YA graphic novel Stars in Their Eyes, which was also a CBCA Notable Book and nominated for the Comics Arts Awards of Australia. They are the recipient of multiple government arts grants, prizes, and fellowships. Whenever she can, Aśka travels across Australia, teaching students of all ages how to write with pictures.

Please note that this event is an educational talk and may not be suitable for young audiences. This event is part of the annual Perth Comic Arts Festival, a completely free to attend, volunteer run celebration of comics, their creators and readers.