Mariko Tamaki curating a new graphic novel imprint for LGBTQIA writers
Governor General's Literary Award-winning author Mariko Tamaki is launching a new imprint, Surely Books, which will focus on publishing comics by LGBTQIA creators.
Slated to launch in 2021, Surely Books has a lineup of three comics so far — two biographies and one work of fiction — by artists Grace Ellis, Josh Trujillo, Levi Hastings, Terry Blas and Claudia Aguirre.
Tamaki is the writer behind the acclaimed graphic novels Skim and This One Summer, both created with her cousin Jillian Tamaki.
Most recently she won the 2019 Harvey Award for best young adult book for Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me with collaborator Rosemary Valero O'Connell.
Tamaki's also worked on comic series for Marvel and DC like She-Hulk and Supergirl.
"My partner came up with the idea of doing this line that at first was so intimidating to me. It's still intimidating, but I also think it's an amazing challenge," said Tamaki in a press release.
"I am so excited to have this opportunity to take on a new role in the creative process, to learn more with the writers and artists I'm working with, to find new ways to support queer creators and queer stories, new voices in our community."
Originally from Toronto, Tamaki now lives in California.
The mission of Surely Books will be to "highlight the activism, achievements and struggles of the LGBTQIA community," said publisher ABRAMS in a press release. They plan to release two or three titles a season.
Some of the imprint's inaugural line-up includes Ellis's biography of suspense author Patricia High Smith and Trujillo and Hastings's comic about the life of war hero and openly gay general Baron von Steuben.