![]() I also do just love that pen though! I’ve tried using other things for thumbnailing, and 1.5 Faber-castell pen is what I feel most comfortable with it keeps me from getting too hung up on detail when it comes to the planning stage, and I just love how it feels when you draw with it!! Veronica: Okay, to be really honest, our editor told me to list the specific supplies that I used when making it, so I did. MFR: Veronica, why was it important to tell your audience you used a 1.5 Faber-castell pen? But I think that worked in our favor because it let me finesse a lot… and let him keep me from finessing too much. I think our creative partnership is a little unique because we’re life partners as well, so I was constantly bugging him about changes I wanted to make, and if he thought they worked-more often than I might bug a professional partner, haha. Veronica: As Lee mentioned, it was a lot of communication! Sometimes I would be drawing a page out, and I would have to consult Lee about changing a line to fit the expression of a character or the flow of a panel better, or reordering something or adding a scene. We also realized early on that it would basically be impossible to fit every variation and example of OCD and anxiety onto the page so we had to narrow it down to make narrative sense for Maggie. ![]() There was also a lot of ‘off the page’ conversation between each version (from the original mini, to the outline, etc., etc.) where we discussed what we thought was important and needed to be on the page. If something on the page-be it a line in the script, the direction of a thumbnail, etc.-didn’t sit right with us, then we would bring it up to the other. Lee: I think a lot of it just boils down to being honest and open. MFR: Can you talk about your creative partnership? You’re dealing with several subjects that can get emotionally charged how did you ensure that each others’ visions came to life on the page? I think my mind will deflect a lot and be like, “well okay, it’s out, doesn’t mean anyone bought it,” or “they bought it, doesn’t mean they read it,” or “they read it, doesn’t mean they liked it”… but Lee will do what he does best and remind me that the question “what if everything goes wrong” can be easily changed to “what if everything goes right?” I plan to hold onto all the positivity coming our way and hug the Maggie doll that my best friend, Alex Graudins ( made me a whole bunch. Veronica: It won’t feel real for a while, I don’t think. For people to connect to and relate to Maggie and her story is kind of mind-blowing that it’s finally here. We’ve worked really hard, a LOT of people have worked really hard, to get this book here finally, and it means a lot. Lee: I’m going to be very honest-I’m going to lose my mind. MFR: What will your emotions be like when the book gets into the hands of readers? For me, it was really an emotional fulfillment- of being able to say ‘I can write this story,’ of fulfilling my childhood dream of being an author, and a kind of lighthouse-like beacon when I was in a job I didn’t like-and meeting all those landmarks, with Maggie? A scared kid going through a lot of hard emotional days? It was just perfect. Lee: JUST ROLL WITH IT was very much a need. Did you need to publish JUST ROLL WITH IT, or did you want to publish the book? MFR: Lee Durfey-Lavoie and Veronica Agarwal, thank you for taking the time to chat with me. But what happens if Maggie rolls the wrong number? Perfect for fans of Guts and Real Friends, JUST ROLL WITH IT is the debut graphic novel from writer Lee Durfey-Lavoie and the second graphic novel from artist Veronica Agarwal.Īfter reading JUST ROLL WITH IT, I had to speak to the creators about their motivations and perspective. As long as Maggie rolls the right number, nothing can go wrong… or so she thinks. JUST ROLL WITH IT is about Maggie, an anxious girl who turns to her twenty-sided die whenever she feels unsure. JUST ROLL WITH IT is fun, timely, and absolutely charming. Also, the universe that Lee Durfey-Lavoie and Veronica Agarwal created is one that we should all aspire to work towards. ![]() I wish this graphic novel was around when I went through sixth grade it would have been a great comfort. JUST ROLL WITH IT from Random House Graphic hits your local book shop today.
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