A Chat with Graphic Novelist Rees Finlay

The latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast leads with a chat with Rees Finlay, creator of Reaffirmation - a ground-breaking new book merging comic book and novella in a 200-page journey from diagnosis of his autism to epiphany, published thanks to a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign.

Co-hosts Ian Loxam and Nikki Bates chat with Rees, who was diagnosed with autism in his early twenties, about how this affected him and how it was the create the book. They also delve into how he's dealing with the Coronavirus Pandemic lockdown via Twitter, as well as his other work which got him into creating comics.

Ian and Nikki review Bluebeard by Metaphrog, due to be released by Papercutz on 5th May 2020, and Dunce: Brego - Early Dog Years by Jens K Styve, soon to be offered through Kickstarter. Tom Stewart also reviews Ellerbisms: A Sporadi Diary Comic by Marc Ellerby. (Ian and Nikki looked at this a few years back and loved it so they hope you enjoy Tom's thoughts on the book as well).

Also in this episode, Pete Taylor and Mike Williams share another extended length "Ramshackle Lockdown Mutterdowns", as they face off comic types with two topics, Horror vs Non Fiction comics and Post-Apocalyptic vs TV Adaptations. Get ready for a good old chat!

Mentioned in this Podcast are  Nick Prolix NHS Images,  #QuarantineComix, the Little Heroes charity, Richard Sheaf's Boys Adventure Comics  blog and  #Creators4Comics.

There’s an important message right at the end of the podcast if you're struggling at all as a result of the lockdown. The Podcast Team want creators to know they are available to chat to - or UK based listeners can check out national helplines here.

• Listen to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast Episode 74 here on the dedicated Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast web site

• Rees Finlay is online at reesfinlay.wixsite.com | Follow Rees Finlay on Twitter @reesytime

• Download the latest episode of the Podcast on Spreaker | iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify | iHeart Radio

• The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is back in Kendal in the Lake District 9th – 11th October 2020: www.comicartfestival.com

• Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast: www.comicartpodcast.uk | Twitter: @comicartfestpod| Facebook: @ComicArtPodcast | Instagram: @ComicArtPodcast

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Regular contributors to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast include Tom Stewart from That Comic Smell, Pete Taylor, and Mike Williams