The LGBTQIA+ Fantasy Graphic Novel Will Be Available Spring 2021
Portland, OR: The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group is pleased to announce an upcoming collaboration with Lilah Sturges, author of the New York Times bestselling series Lumberjanes, and Meaghan Carter, creator of the webcomics Take Off and Godslave, with the release of their middle-grade graphic novel Girl Haven in February 2021.
Three years ago, Ash’s mom left home and never returned, leaving behind a husband and child and a shed full of mystical curiosities related to the all-girl fantasy world she’d created as a child—Koretris. One day, Ash invites a new group of female friends from the school’s Pride Club over, and they try one of the spells to enter Koretris. To their amazement, they’re all transported to a magical realm filled with human-sized talking animals who are fiercely protective of their world and are ready to fight to defend it.
But if Koretris is real, why is Ash there? Everyone has always called Ash a boy—shouldn’t the spell have kept Ash out? And what does it mean if it let Ash in? With a diverse and queer cast of characters, Girl Haven takes place in that strange, special time of life when every young person is on the verge of discovering who they are—and what they want for themselves.
For Lilah Sturges, this was the book missing from her own childhood experience, and a perfect chance to offer it to the next generation. “Girl Haven is the book I wish I'd had when I was in middle school. The book is for anyone who loves a fantasy adventure, but it has a special message for young trans kids—that they are okay, that they are allowed to be who they are and also to be confused sometimes, and that they are worthy of love and friendship.” For Sturges, it was important for the readers to explore how their gender made sense for them as they develop the stories of their own lives.
“The Girl Haven team and story has been such a thrill to work with, and I’m so thankful Lilah let me help bring this story to life. Girl Haven has a world with so much life, heart, and sword fights! It’s a beautiful message for trans kids, wrapped up in a fantasy adventure,” added co-creator Meaghan Carter.
Girl Haven will be available in stores and online February 9, 2021.
About the Creators
Lilah Sturges is the author of many comic books. She lives in Austin, Texas, with two daughters and two cats.
Meaghan Carter is an illustrator with a love for shonen fighting spirit and aggressive female leads. Since graduating in 2010, she’s honed her work with anthologies and webcomics. She lives with her husband and three cats in Toronto.
Joamette Gil’s work has been published both online and off (IDW, EverydayFeminism.com, Margins Publishing). Her ongoing projects include self-publishing minicomics and curating educational content for Angry Latinxs United, the Comics Workshop, the Black-Led Webcomics List, and the Queer Lady Comics List. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her partner, two cats, and one big network of rabble-rousers, weirdos, and ne’er-do-wells. She previously worked as letterer for the Hugo Award-nominated Mooncakes.
The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group is a premier comic book and graphic novel publisher located in Portland, Oregon. Merged with Lion Forge Comics in 2019 but established in 1997, Oni Press publishes a thoughtfully curated line of award-winning original and licensed graphic novels and comic books for readers of all ages. Oni Press also publishes inclusive sex education, gender studies & erotica graphic novels under the Limerence Press imprint. Notable titles from the Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group include: The Tea Dragon Society, Sheets, Gender Queer, A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns, Scott Pilgrim, Stumptown, Achewood, Sanrio's Gudetama, and Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty™.
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