New How-To Cartooning Videos!

I am very excited to announce a new venture!

We are creating a collection of “how-to” videos for the Professor Garfield website: www.professorgarfield.org.

Professor Garfield is an awesome, interactive site for kids that teaches all about comics, literacy, and creativity.

The videos are being produced in conjunction with Media Boomtown, a documentary production house that focuses on art-themed projects. Each instructional piece will be fun, energetic, and most of all, informative.

We'll be making three videos. They will cover the topics: What Is A Comic, Where Do Cartoonists Get Their Ideas, and How To Draw A Comic Book Page.

I love traveling around the country talking to students about comics and creativity. These videos are a great way for me to reach even more kids and share even more information.

They will be featured on the “Comics Lab Extreme” section of professorgarfield.org.

The Professor Garfield Foundation learning portal is a fun interactive online environment where children can safely explore, learn and creatively express themselves.
The web site receives about ½ million users a month and gets about 8-10 million page views.

For more information on Professor Garfield: professorgarfield.org
For more information on Media Boomtown: mediaboomtown.com

Booking Appearances For 2010

I hope everyone had a great holiday! I'm really excited about 2010 - we have a lot of projects in the works, including the long-awaited release of Amelia Rules! Vol5: The Tweenage Guide To Not Being Unpopular.

I'll be traveling a lot this coming year and am currently putting together a personal appearance schedule for 2010. If you're interested in hosting one of my presentations at your school, library, or other event, send me a message and we'll try to make that happen!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year,
Jimmy

Countdown Clock by Zoodu.com

Get Your Daily Dose of Amelia

Starting immediately, I will be sending out a direct link to "The Daily Rules" via Twitter. We thought it would be a fun way to bring Amelia directly to you.

The Tweets will go out 3:30EST. You can follow me at: jimmygownley

Of course I will also Twitter about other comic-related things, like my progress on the latest books, release dates, appearances & book tours, and random thoughts about life in general.

And of course you can feel free to ask me any questions as well.

-Jimmy

Gearing Up For SDCC

Hard to believe that SDCC 2009 is only a week away. I'll be at booth 2207, be sure to stop by. In addition to all the Amelia Rules! graphic novels, I'll also have a brand new limited edition print and new t-shirts for sale, which are a SDCC exclusive.

As a guest of SDCC this year, I get to have my own "Spotlight On" panel (totally cool). It will take place on Thursday from 1-2 in room 10. My wife Karen & I will discuss the journey of Amelia Rules! - how I went from drawing a comic in my basement to landing an 8-book deal with Simon & Schuster, and how you can do it too. I always like talking about the process of creating comics and self-publishing. It will be an informal discussion with lots of Q&A, so I hope to see you there!
Afterwards will be my autograph session in AA3 from 2-3.

Other panels I'll be a part of are:
Comics In The Classroom. Saturday 2:30-3:30 Room 4
Comics For All Ages. Sunday 1:30-2:30 Room 3
The Cultural Shift. Sunday 2:30-3:30 Room 3

Additionally, I'll be signing books at the Mysterious Galaxy booth (1119) on Sunday at 10am

It will be a busy convention, but I'm sure great as always. Can't wait to see everyone!

Signed Bookplates Now Available!

Available for a limited time – I’m offering personalized autographed bookplates with an original Amelia sketch to those who purchase the new Simon & Schuster edition of Amelia Rules! Vol 1: The Whole World’s Crazy.

What you need to do:
-Email proof of purchase to karen@ameliarules.com. Proof of purchase can be copy of store receipt or internet receipt from online purchase

-Include your name & address, along with the name of the person you would like the bookplate signed to.
If no name is specified, bookplate will simply be autographed.

All bookplates are professionally made on archival quality, acid-free paper and will feature an original sketch of Amelia McBride.
They will be sent in a secured envelope, standard USPS.

Because of demand, I can only provide bookplates for the new Simon & Schuster edition of Vol 1.

Thanks for your support!

Hot Hot Hot!

Hi Guys,

Graphic Novel Reporter has named Amelia Rules! "The Whole World's Crazy" one of the "Hottest Graphic Novels for Summer." You can read about that here. Plus, John Hogan conducted a nice new interview with me here. The interview covers self-publishing, the move to Simon and Schuster, as well as the exclusive revelation of the title for Volume 6!