Grammar Girl here. I'm In Jan Fogarty, and today we're talking with illustrator and cartoonist Kay Woodman Maynard about her new graphic novel adaptation of Tuck Everlasting. If you haven't read the original, don't worry, I hadn't either. And if this is your first graphic novel, well, it was mine too. But the book was gorgeous and so compelling. I loved the way she handles tone and pacing, combined with visual storytelling through watercolor and panel design. We talk about her creative process, what it means to adapt

such an iconic piece of literature, and how she brings emotion and meaning into every page. So,

even if comics aren't normally your thing, I think you'll find this conversation interesting,

especially if you're curious about what happens when words and pictures

have to share the same space. Kay Woodman Maynard, welcome to the Grammar Girl podcast.

Thank you so much for having me. Yeah. No, we're so excited to have you here. So Tuck Everlasting is

such a beloved children's book. I know a lot of people like just, just adore it. So how did it come about that you got to create the graphic novel for this book?

Yeah, I'm so lucky. It is such a beautiful book. And I had adapted the Great Gatsby into a graphic novel. And so they had seen that

and felt like I might be a good fit. So they approached me. I should add, too, that I had read it as a

kid. And I remembered that I loved it, but also felt angry and betrayed by it. And so when they

asked me, I was like, do I want to adapt this? And so I ran out

to the bookstore, reread the book, and was like, oh, yes, this is such a beautiful book. And I do

want to adapt this. And I feel like my artistic voice could really add a lot to this story.

Yeah, it is. We won't do any spoilers. But the end is surprising. So yeah, I can see why you may have felt that way. But I did not feel that way after reading your beautiful adaptation. I thought it seemed warm and right. Yeah, I loved it. But it was kind of, it's kind of deep, especially given that it's, it's primarily for kids,

right? Yeah, it's for ages 10 to 14, but I really kind of see it as for adults, too, because it's dealing a lot with mortality and the cycle of life. And that's why I was so excited to adapt it, because I was selfishly like, oh, maybe this will also help me deal with these things. and I think it has helped.

Yeah.

Yeah.

No, I enjoyed it.

I read the whole thing.

So... like, oh, maybe this will also help me deal with these things. And I think it has helped.

Yeah. Yeah. No, I enjoyed it. I read the whole thing. So can you talk about the process for actually,

I want to hold up some pictures so people who are watching on YouTube can see for just a second.

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