Okay, so Lucy the Octopus has been a big part of my life for many years now. She popped into my head while doodling around twelve years ago and her personality took shape in a mini-comic Tempo Lush brought out in 2007.
Eventually Lucy became a constant companion as I wrote and drew 212 of her weekly strips starting in 2012 (just noticed the serendipity of that), appearing online and collected in five comic-books over four years. I’ve had an amazing response from readers around the world, relating to Lucy’s struggles and enjoying her story. I’ve also had the pleasure of talking about Lucy at many events for adults, as well as to thousands of children and teenagers in dozens of schools, libraries and hospitals around the U.K.
So, of course, the idea of a printed collection of the whole Lucy story is something I’ve been dreaming of for a long time. Jessica Kingsley Publishers had published my children’s picture book You Make Your Parents Super Happy! and, through it’s imprint Singing Dragon, also released my graphic novel When Are You Going to Get a Proper Job?! I was thrilled when they agreed to publish a beautifully produced hardback collection of the strip, complete with new material.
Giving extra value to the collection are special online activity sheets for PSHE and creativity focusing on some of the themes of Lucy’s story: bullying and prejudice, available through a special code found in the book.
Here’s what Jessica Kingsley Publishers say about Lucy the Octopus…
Lucy is an incurably uncool teen, and an octopus. For no reason at all (other than that she isn’t very “girly”), she is very unpopular, and even her parents don’t like her! The only friend who will hang out with her in public is Puffy, her pet puffer fish. But Lucy’s haters don’t know that she is secretly an awesome guitarist, and she has been picked to join everyone’s favourite local band, Lamington Fuzz. While Lucy rocks at doing her own thing, her classmates realise that spending time with the “cool kids” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…
Richy K. Chandler’s latest graphic novel is a celebration of being who you are, and a story about why it pays to be kind. Bubbling with fun and wit, it will buoy up the self-esteem of children aged 9+, and is a delight to read for big kids of any age.
The book is available to buy now, through the coolest book shops, as well as online at these lovely sites…
