Inked and Other Things

Inked's release, graphic novel behind the scenes and a transcendent read

Jun 03, 2025

As promised, this newsletter I have a little update on Inked. The book was released on the 1st of April 2025 and a whirlwind of activity followed! While Jake and I did not have a launch, we did spend an awesome day signing books at bookstores around Melbourne with the assistance of our brilliant publisher at Figment.

Unfortunately, but also excitingly, a lot of these signed books sold out very quickly!
You may still be able to hunt one down in Melbourne through Avenue Bookstores or Dymocks Collins Street. Dymocks bookstores also have a promotion running in June on their kids graphic novels, a great chance to stock up on your favs!

Being chosen as QBD kids book of the month for April was an absolute thrill and an honour. I visited a number of QBD bookstores, met with the amazing booksellers and signed a lot of books. If you’re quick, you might still be able to nab a signed copy by me from one of these QBD stores;

Belconnon ACT
Canberra Centre ACT
Woden ACT

Albury NSW

Doncaster VIC
Eastland VIC
Emporium (Melbourne) VIC
Forest Hill VIC
Knox VIC
Southland VIC

It’s been a tremendous experience and the most wonderful thing of all has been hearing from the readers and feeling their love for Sid and Otto’s adventures!

Link: Always wanted to know how graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier puts her books together? Raina has a treasure trove of behind the scenes bits and pieces on her website! You can hang out there for days… I have!

“All good stories have to start somewhere.” - Raina Telgemeier

Read: While visiting bookshops, I stumbled across the most amazing graphic novel at the Leaf Bookshop.

Not for children; Ballad for Sophie is a masterclass of how words and pictures can come together to create something truly spectacular.

The story has feels of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Where a young journalist prompts a reclusive piano superstar to open up, resulting in this stunning graphic sonata exploring a lifetime of rivalry, regret, and redemption. Crafted by Portuguese creatives; musician, film director and author Filipe Melo and art director and illustrator Juan Cavia. Translated to English by Gabriela Soares.

I could write an entire Substack about this book, and I might! For now though, I highly recommend diving into this absolute masterpiece.