Fear of Fighting

How do you accurately capture the inner life of a thoughtful, sensitive young woman within the pages of a graphic novel? To celebrate the release of Fear of Fighting, acclaimed writer Stacey May Fowles and celebrated illustrator Marlena Zuber will compare notes about their creative process with those of the writer and co-creator of Skim, Mariko Tamaki. Also on the bill is a live set by the band Tomboyfriend. – A This Is Not A Reading Series event presented by Pages Books & Magazines, Invisible Publishing and EYE WEEKLY.

Through Marlena Zuber's whimsical and raw drawings and Stacey May Fowles’ humorous and biting prose, Fear of Fighting explores the conflict between the mundane details of daily life and a desperate need to find meaning. Set in the lonely, urban landscape of downtown Toronto, the story revolves around Marnie, a broken-hearted young woman fighting to find something more. Examining issues of loneliness, mental health, and the importance of human and community connection, Fear of Fighting reveals the stark contrast between the Marnie's inner dialogue and the invisibility and madness she feels daily.

Stacey May Fowles is an author, journalist and editor. Her written work has been published in various online and print magazines, including Kiss Machine, Girlistic, The Absinthe Literary Review, Torontoist.com, and subTERRAIN. Her first novel, Be Good, was published with Tightrope Books. She is the publisher of Shameless magazine. Fowles lives in Toronto.

Marlena Zuber is a freelance illustrator and artist. She graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design. Her illustrations have appeared in various publications including The Washington Post and Print Magazine. She lives in Toronto.

Mariko Tamaki is a writer and performer. She is the author of 
Cover Me, True Lies: A Book of Bad Advice, Fake ID, and Emiko Superstar. With her cousin, illustrator Jillian Tamaki, she created last year’s critically acclaimed graphic novel, Skim. Tamaki lives in Toronto.