How to Make a Graphic Novel *and* a Sustainable Career

Want more practical ideas for building a sustainable career as a graphic novelist? Find resources, courses, and community at Kids Comics Unite: https://kidscomicsunite.com/ In this video, I’m speaking with Mike Dawson, the award-winning author of The Fifth Quarter series and The Hidden Dominion of Geordie James, a middle grade graphic novel published by Union Square Kids in 2026. Mike takes us behind the scenes of creating THE HIDDEN DOMINION OF GEORDIE JAMES, an ambitious, layered story that brings together gaming, childhood anxiety, friendship, environmental concerns, and an escaped pig. He explains how years of rewriting—and some early publishing disappointments—ultimately helped him make the book much stronger. In the second half of the interview, we dig into the business of school visits. Mike shares how he developed an interactive cartooning workbook, found opportunities with schools and libraries, and turned author visits into an important part of his income. We talk about: How Mike combined several seemingly unrelated ideas into one layered graphic novel Why he had to rethink and rewrite his pitch multiple times, and why he’s now grateful the process took so long How he writes and draws simultaneously, beginning with very loose comic thumbnails How he used Photoshop, Procreate, and InDesign to create two distinctive visual worlds Why his school presentations focus on helping kids make comics, rather than simply promoting his books How he developed a 12-page cartooning workbook through trial and error How he finds school visits through PTAs, librarians, conferences, arts organizations, cold outreach, and word of mouth The practical details of printing workbooks, booking visits, and selling signed books to families CONNECT WITH MIKE Website: https://mikedawsoncomics.com/ School visits and cartooning workshops: https://www.cartooninglessonswithmike... Newsletter: https://mikedawson.substack.com/ Instagram:   / mikedawwwson   Patreon and Zine Club:   / mikedawwwson   Buy The Hidden Dominion of Geordie James: https://bookshop.org/a/14585/97814549... CONNECT WITH KIDS COMICS UNITE Website: https://kidscomicsunite.com/ The Bookshop link is an affiliate link, which means KCU may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through it at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!