The Center for Cartoon Studies grad Natalie Norris’ ’20 thesis project has been picked up by Fantagraphics. The graphic memoir will be printed in two volumes (keep an eye out in 2023). Dear Mini, her debut graphic memoir, is a bittersweet coming of age story chronicling Natalie’s teenage experiences with sexual violence, PTSD, and resiliency told in the form of a letter to an old friend. Until it’s published, you can keep up with Natalie’s work on her Patreon!
Dear Mini is an admirably—and sometimes painfully—candid memoir, told with a fearlessness and graphic sophistication far beyond Natalie’s years. We are very proud to be publishing it.
Eric Reynold, Fantagraphics
Rather than a cautionary tale, Dear Mini is an exploration of adolescent agency in the face of trauma, tracing her journey from wayward wild-child to harnessing her adult voice after almost a decade of silence. The complete story is over 400 pages long, which will be printed in two 200-page volumes.
Natalie says, “This also works well from a story perspective because I had unintentionally created two main story arcs, so I think dividing it in half strengthens the narrative. “
I first connected with Eric back in 2019 when I sent him some minicomics for The Center for Cartoon Studies industry day. He liked my early work so when I finished my thesis I sent him a physical copy to see if it would be something he’d be interested in. And luckily he was!
Tags: CCS Alum, Dear Mini, Fantagraphics, Graphic Memoir, Graphic Novel, Natalie Norris, Patreon, Thesis Project
