TIES: Graphic Novel by Emily McGuiness
Ties Graphic Novel Press Release
"The final mystery is oneself" - Oscar Wilde
Ira and Ad Anderson grew up knowing their parents only through their letters. The sibling's lives were catalogued from afar, advice and commands dispensed through the mail. Theft childhood was shaped by a terrible loneliness no piece of paper could fill. As they grew, Ira became more angry and aimless until he finally makes it to the City of Light, where his life will change forever.
After settling in Paris, Ira receives word his parents have died. Not knowing how to cope with the loss of people he hates, Ira quickly heads down the path of self destruction.
But he can't outrun his despair and eventually, Ira must choose between the life of debauchery that separates him from the pain, and returning home to face his grief.
About Author Emily McGuiness and Latchkey Studios
From the Press Kit and letter about Comikaze:
"My name is Emily McGuiness. I am a comic book creator and all around art maven. I am the writer, penciller and inker of my slice-of-life comic book Ties. I also founded the art group Latchkey Studios with my long time artist-in-crime Megan Levens. I am incredibly excited to hear about Comikaze coming to LA. It’s been too long since we’ve had a great entertainment expo that not only brings together Hollywood and comics, but also focuses so fully on the artist and supporting the industry.
As an artist, I know how hard it is to be heard in today’s market. Artists need more great events like this one to help us shine and to personally meet the great fans who enjoy our work. I can’t wait to see how this show transforms conventions in general and brings Hollywood even closer to the genre closest to my heart: comics.
My book Ties has been a pet project for quite some time. The idea started back in college and the premise boils down to “What would happen to you if you had parents by mail?” From this premise grew the idea that this story deserved a completely different art style. If I ever uncover my first pages, you would see how far I wanted to push it; sharp-angled linework and characters without mouths. I was going to try and rely solely on using their eyes for expression. That idea quickly went out the window after doing the first 8 pages, and I still get critiqued for the fact my characters have no noses.
I crafted a story that was very personal to me at the time, something I believe all good stories are. It was a short 42 page packet that told how Ira Anderson and his sister Adele Anderson survived a private school and learned about life and love. That story really let me learn about the characters. It was much easier to picture their whole world after that effort and I was able to keep expanding and changing their story.
As I have gotten better and more knowledgeable at my craft, this project has served as a marker of my progress. I have seen my work become more detailed, I have gotten better at anatomy and backgrounds. I have a better sense of spot blacks and my inking has progressed. I have created many incarnations of Ira Anderson and his progress through life and I am pleased to report I will finally have a complete story down on paper. He has been a channel for a lot of issues I have wanted to explore in my writing and I’m glad he will be heard with a spiffy, full-length book.
My other project, Latchkey Studios, also brings me to Comikaze. The comics industry is especially tough to compete in. While it’s more accessible than probably any other medium (which is what drew me to it in the first place) it’s still hard to compete, stand out, find work and market yourself. That is why shows like Comikaze are so important. They are impactful venues for what is the future of art and entertainment.
Being an individual artist is hard. Every marketing effort you put together rests solely on you and is at your expense and on your time if it doesn’t go well. I wanted to change that and bring together some great like-minded people who could work together, share expenses, ideas, jobs and techniques with their fellow artists and entertainers. It has come off better than I ever hoped. I have found a wide array of people who not only do comics, but who also create fashion, knit, design plushies and paint. In no time, I was able to muster a great bunch of people and we sold like crazy at what most would consider a small convention. That’s why I know an event like Comikaze will be such a great platform to continue our growth. The people behind it are really thinking it through and taking care of groups like ours. I can’t wait to be a part of this awesome LA show in November!
For more about my book Ties you can go to www.tiescomic.com and for more on all the great people of Latchkey Studios, you can check out the blog at www.latchkeystudios.com"
Emily McGuiness Bio
Emily McGuiness is a comic book artist born in Southbridge, Massachusetts in 1984, the only daughter of Ann Marie McGuiness. Her love of reading and story was discovered at an early age and would influence her art later in life. From Emily – “It’s important to read more than just comics. It can become an insular world when all you do is take from other creators. I read everything I got my hands on, so I hope there are shades of Hemmingway, Shakespeare and Christopher Moore in my stories.” Emily soon turned into a world traveler. After wandering to the four corners of the country she settled in Los Angeles to pursue her art career.
While studying at Savannah College of Art and Design she embarked on a life journey to be come a committed generalist. Comic books were only one aspect of her multifaceted career that has spanned film, storyboarding, online games, production design, graphic design and even impromptu tv star. She has worked on everything from the short film War is a Bitch in 2008 to Bob Pendarvis’ Sugar Ninjas Project. Her first efforts on a full length feature film, Side Sho, garnered the work a Best Picture win at the Philly Terror Festival. She was even a secret guest on The Ellen Show in early 2011 and interviewed with Jennifer Lopez to be her new assistant. Little did she know the hidden cameras were covering every moment and they were actually taping her for the show. From Emily - “Even if I didn’t get a job it was still a great experience. I was pretty sure J-Lo wasn’t that crazy but I just improvised and made it one big joke.”
Now she has turned her attention to her first full-length graphic novel, Ties, and has worked tirelessly to bring the story of Ira Anderson and his “parents by mail” to life. The slice of life story, an anti-romance graphic novel, is poised to be an underground hit. Her unique art style and fresh story telling skills put light on a genre that is often forgotten in comic books. With a fast growing career, Emily remains focused on the prize of making comics her career and passion. From Emily – “Ties is the first step in making my comic dreams a reality. I love my characters. I have grown with them. I have faith that they will tell their own story well.”
When not working on new stories, she lives out her life in Los Angeles, creating illustrations, storyboarding and fostering her art collective, Latchkey Studios. You can find her blogging on her Ties blog, or the Latchkey Studios blog. Her other hobbies include jet setting to comic conventions to meet her burgeoning fan base and organizing the next great gallery show for her other art. From Emily – “I will never stop creating comics. Each story and each experience in the industry brings forth a new facet that draws me in deeper. I am eternally grateful I fell into this medium and can play in the comics sandbox.”
Related Links:
Comikaze Expo - Los Angeles California, November 5 and 6, 2011
Original page July 19, 2011 | Updated Dec 2011