Author-illustrator Scott Chantler

You know the drill. Every Friday, an author, an illustrator, or an educator drops by Watch. Connect. Read. to finish my sentences. This week's special guest is Scott Chantler. We chatted about his graphic novel series, school libraries, and reading. I wrote the words in red, and he wrote the words in black. Thank you, Scott! 

The Three Thieves series is a rambunctious series of all-ages fantasy adventure graphic novels, which I began writing for my own children in 2006.

The King’s Dragon is a change of pace for the series. It doesn’t follow the title characters, like the first three books did. Rather, it puts us in the point of view of the antagonist, Captain Drake, while also giving us his backstory.

I think graphic novels are harder to create than a lot of people think. Comics aren’t just heavily illustrated stories, but a unique storytelling language all their own. The cartoonists who understand that produce great work. The rest? Well, let’s just say that the popularity of the book-length format in the past decade has created a lot of bandwagon-jumpers, who have produced a lot of mediocre books.

When I was in elementary school bringing comics to school was a sure way to get them confiscated.

School libraries are now, a few short decades later, among the biggest champions of comics and cartoonists.

Reading is the only way people are going to know how I finished these sentences. 

I am giving away one copy of The King's Dragon.

Rules for the Giveaway 

1. It will run from 7/18 to 11:59 p.m. on 7/20. 

2. You must be at least 13. 

3. If you win, please pay it forward.