Hello, everyone!
Thank you to everyone for being here for my Spring 2024 newsletter. For new subscribers, welcome! Here’s a short list of what’s in this edition:
Table of Contents:
Here I Am, I Am Me is here!
In the news
Schedule of Book Events in April and May
The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park art residency conclusion
Want to help with Here I Am’s promotion? Here’s a quick-and-easy how-to guide.
1. Here I Am, I Am Me is here!
Here I Am, I Am Me: An Illustrated Guide to Mental Health is finally here!
From September 2018 to April 2024, five and a half long years, I’ve been working on Here I Am, I Am Me. The world shut down, and the world reopened. I traveled to Finland, Ireland, and across the USA. For so long, I was always thinking about, researching, writing, and drawing this book. And now it’s here!
If you haven’t already done so, you can pick up a copy from my amazing publisher Workman Publishing at this link or wherever you get books.
Here I Am was recently given a 5-star review from its first child reviewer. I am honored Here I Am connects with this young reader!
I was also astonished to discover that the Multnomah County Library system in Oregon has FOURTEEN COPIES of Here I Am, I Am Me on order. I’m floored by this response but am also happy about this book getting into the hands of kids.
***If you’re a librarian and have one or more copies on order, please reach out so we can start a conversation about how to highlight Here I Am for your patrons.***
2. In the news
I have been featured on a few different kinds of platforms.
For the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, I wrote a piece about my dad and the feelings behind writing this book called “I Loved My Dad So Much.” You can read it here.
I’m on Graphic Medicine’s podcast with MK Czerwiec who I love. We talk about Here I Am, the upcoming graphic medicine conference in Athlone, Ireland, and all things comics and mental health. You can watch or listen here.
The very kind Jason DeHart interviewed me for his podcast Words, Images & Worlds. We talk about graphic medicine and the evolution of my work leading up to Here I Am, I Am Me. You can listen to it here.
I was interviewed by the Wareham Week’s lovely new editor Liam Mayo. You can read the article here.
Photo by Josh Souza, @souzaphotos
3. Schedule of Book Events in April and May
I have been very busy scheduling events, connecting with schools and bookstores, and signing up for comic arts festivals. Find an event near you! I’d love to see you!
BOOK LAUNCH PARTY!
Author Event and Book Signing
Thursday, April 11th, 6:30 pm
Unlikely Story Bookstore ($) 111 South Street, Plainville, MA https://www.anunlikelystory.com/bean
CARA BEAN PRESENTATION (w/ Lu Brito!) Author Event and Book Signing
Monday, April 15th, 12:00 pm Gleason Family YMCA 33 Charge Pond Road, Wareham, MA (Davolls Bookstore will be selling books.) https://ymcasouthcoast.org/locations/wareham/gleason-family-ymca-events/
A CONVERSATION WITH CARTOONIST CARA BEAN Author Event and Book Signing
Tuesday, April 16th, 7:00 pm Hub Comics ($) 19 Bow Street, Somerville, MA https://hubcomics.com/category/news/
AN EVENING WITH CARA BEAN
Author Event and Book Signing
Thursday, April 18th, 6:00 pm Book Love ($) 7 Village Green, South Plymouth, MA https://www.book-love.com/events/book-lovers-guide-to-womens-history-month-f27ga-n9yx3-3mcax-yrz7m
CARA BEAN IN CONVERSATION WITH KATERIE MORIN
Author Event and Book Signing Monday, April 22nd, 7:00 pm
Brookline Booksmith 279 Harvard Street, Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cara-bean-with-katerie-morin-here-i-am-i-am-me-tickets-857442873717
CARA BEAN PRESENTS HERE I AM, I AM ME
Author Event and Book Signing
Thursday, April 25th, 6:00 pm Maxima Bookstore 1717 Mass Ave, Lexington, MA 02420 https://www.maximacenter.com/events/
CARA BEAN PRESENTS
Author Event and Book Signing
Thursday, May 2nd, 6:30 pm Lauralton Hall 200 High Street, Milford, CT https://www.rjjulia.com/event/cara-bean-here-i-am-i-am-here
PICTURE + PANEL, A COMICS CONVERSATION Author Event and Book Signing
Monday, May 6th, 7:00 pm Aeronaut Brewing Co. 14 Tyler Street, Somerville, MA https://www.bostoncomicarts.org/events
TORONTO COMIC ARTS FESTIVAL Indie Comics Creator Event (I’ll be on the second floor!) Saturday, May 11th, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday, May 12th, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Toronto Reference Library (part of Toronto Public Library) 789 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2G8, Canada https://www.torontocomics.com/
CARA BEAN PRESENTS Author Event and Book Signing Wednesday, May 15th, 5:30 pm Independent Day School 115 Laurel Brook Road, Middlefield, CT https://wesleyan.emscloudservice.com/calendar/EventDetails.aspx?data=hHr80o3M7J5g%2bXn5Yfn1WWKKivIE4ZVj5qQ8KBAvEzEPhqG8IFaSbTdoDAi0KTzf
And many more to come hopefully! I am applying to A2CAF, Cartoon Crossroads, SPX, and MICE, so stay tuned for more announcements!
Photo by Josh Souza, @souzaphotos
4. The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park art residency conclusion
I can’t speak highly enough of this wonderful residency. Through my casual “Sip-n-Chat”s, I had the chance to connect with so many people from New Bedford, hear their stories, and learn about their resilience and strength. Every conversation left me feeling energized, hopeful, sad and happy together.
After such a long time of being in my writer mode (ie just me and the drawing pad or computer screen), I was given this opportunity to connect with my community. I interviewed just under 20 people and drew interpretative comics based on our conversations for just about half of them. While I intend to continue working on this project, it will be some time before I reach its natural conclusion. I have daydreamed about continuing this project beyond the scope of this residency, but with the book coming out, this idea will have to be put on hold.
Here are a few details taken from my residency comics, below:
5. Want to help with Here I Am’s promotion? Here’s a quick-and-easy how-to guide.
a) Check your local library to see if they have a copy of Here I Am, I Am Me in their online catalog. If it’s not there, request it!
b) If you have a copy of Here I Am, I Am Me, please consider leaving a review in the following places: Amazon and Goodreads. Reviews don’t affect the algorithm, but they have the power to persuade people in the last moments when they’re deciding on a purchase. My goal is to try to reach 50 each by the end of April. Honest reviews only!
c) If you are really feeling the message of the book, please share a post to social media. Mental Health Awareness Month is in May, and you can help break down mental health stigma by posting a photo of you or a loved one reading Here I Am, I Am Me.
Some helpful hashtags: #mentalhealth #reducingstigma #mentalhealthcomics #hereiamiamme #carabean
d) I’ll be doing events and workshops throughout the year, so please do reach out with either interest or leads. My calendar has never been so packed, but there’s always room for more.
Friends, this book is finally out in the world today! I’m so grateful for all of the wonderful people who helped me along this journey of creating. So many people embraced the message and took my hand to help guide me to this moment. I am sending out hope for love for all of us and good conversations about mental health with people we trust.
This is happening!!! Thanks for being here with me!
💚 Cara
Happy book birthday!! 🥳 so excited for you, can’t wait to bring the book home to my kiddos!