Gale Galligan’s energy is infectious! Galligan’s visit to EJR was fun and inspirational to the students and staff!

 

 

Galligan is the author of several graphic novels, including a reboot of the Babysitter’s Club, in graphic novel style. They have also written several original graphic novels, including Fresh Start, an autobiographical novel, and Freestyle, a book about friendship, family and the last hurrahs of middle school.

 

 

Galligan talked about moving as a kid and feeling like an outsider at times. What was consistent was their drawing and writing. Galligan talked about cutting out the comics from their dad’s newspaper and creating their own books. Their love of writing and drawing goes way, way back. When given an assignment for school, Galligan said they would draw things instead of writing them. They wrote their first book at age 7!

 

Galligan also talked about the process of drawing and writing books. They get ideas from YouTube, from friends and also from things they did as a kid. Galligan encouraged the kids to use their own memories to create!

The process of producing a graphic novel is pretty complicated, Galligan added. There is no set time for a project to be completed because sometimes others have a hand in it. For example, Galligan uses a colorist for some books, giving them one less thing to do in the process. They created something together that neither would have done alone and Galligan is proud of that.

 

 

Galligan sat and signed books for students, took their questions and just brought an incredibly positive mood to the room! The author/artist encouraged the students to keep being themselves, to put themselves out there and be creative!