Read part 1 here or keep reading to learn how I found and reached out to beta readers, and shared my all-ages graphic novel before it was published. Finding Beta Readers It might be somewhat easy to find people online who want to read a book for free, but I figured I would need to…
Read on to learn more about: Creating my 224-page rough draft in 3 weeks while stuck in bed Finding beta readers to proofread my graphic novel Setting up surveys and forms to gather feedback from beta readers Using reader feedback to revise my graphic novel Hi! My name is Jess Smart Smiley. I’m an author/illustrator…
Over the last 4 or 5 years, PEOW has quickly become one of my favorite indie comics publishers. Founded by Elliot Alfredius, Olle Forsslöf and Patrick Crotty, in Stockholm, Sweden, PEOW publishes a unique brand of beautifully-produced risograph comics from around the world. While the heavy shipping costs to the US have been cost-prohibitive for…
Happy holidays! I drew 12 special elves for you to color–get them all in a single PDF for just $1 here. Get all 12 elf coloring pages for $1 here. Be sure to share with friends, teachers, family, and neighbors. Jess Smart Smiley
Check out these stunning photos of Cormorant fisherman Lao Huang by photographer Peter Yan. His last name is Huang, and he is 86 years old. The locals call him Lao Huang (meaning old Huang in Chinese). He told me he’s been a fisherman ever since he was a kid, and both he and his brother…
Be the first to read my newest graphic novel–FREE!
“The City Library’s seventh annual Alt Press Fest celebrates zines, all forms of alternative press, and the awesome people who create it in Salt Lake City. Visit with dozens of local artists and writers as they exhibit their wares, take part in our Sumi Ink workshop, and see steamroller printmaking in action. An exhibition featuring…
My first graphic novel, Upside Down: A Vampire Tale, was released two years ago from Top Shelf Productions, and now I’m happy to announce that BOOK 2 IS COMING OCTOBER 2015! Woot! Here’s our cover for book 2! Keep watching this blog for more teasers to get you excited for Upside Down: A Hatful of Spells, coming October 2015!