Welcome to another edition of BEYOND THE SYNOPSIS!
Episode sixteen features writer, lawyer, and co-host of the Cryptid Creator Corner podcast Jimmy Gaspero and cartoonist, educator & illustrator Amber Akin where we discuss their all-ages graphic novel PENNY AND THE YETI – a 32-page tale of electrified alt-rock alt-history steeped in gritty VHS-era horror! The all-ages graphic novel from Mad Cave Studios’ Papercutz imprint is available for pre-order NOW through March 30th and will be released on April 21st to reserve a copy from your LCS and bookstores.
PENNY AND THE YETI OGN
Written by Jimmy Gaspero
Illustrations by Amber Akin
Flats Assists by Charlie Akin
Letters by Buddy Beaudoin
Genres: Fairy Tales, Folklore, Legends & Mythology
Age Range: Kids
Final Order Cutoff (FOC): March 30th
Release Date: April 21st
YETI OR NOT, HERE WE COME!
Penny and Yeti are pretty typical best friends: they go to school together, play together, and have fun adventures. The twist? Yeti’s a living breathing myth!
Before Yeti, Penny had a super normal life with her big sister Peri and their parents, Fenton and Maxine. Penny thinks life is pretty great, especially when Peri draws and colors with her—Peri draws the best monsters called “cryptids!” The only real problem is Penny’s parents argue…a LOT. Penny wishes her parents would stop, but what can she do? That’s when Yeti shows up, right out of one of Peri’s drawings and smack into Penny’s life! With Yeti’s help, Penny comes up with a plan to get her parents to stop fighting. Penny, however, soon finds out that her parents may need more help than even a magical Yeti can provide…
And now, from high up in the Sierra Nevada mountains, is my interview showcasing the orginal graphic novel PENNY AND THE YETI! And my guests – hailing from Delaware is writer Jimmy Gaspero and coming to you direct from Massachusetts is illustrator Amber Akin!
I’d like to send a very big thank you to both Jimmy and Amber for reaching out & taking the time to speak with me to discuss their debut original graphic novel, PENNY AND THE YETI.
Monday, March 30th is the final order cutoff (FOC), which is the last day for local comic shops (LCS) to obtain pre-orders from customers and place their orders with publishers. It’s such an integral part of the ordering process; it brings business to the comic book retailers, lifeblood of the industry, and secures you a copy so it’s ready for pickup on release day – Tuesday, April 21st.
Be sure to head over to Papercutz’s website where you can pre-order a copy of the graphic novel in a variety of formats – digital pdf, trade paperback, or hardcover edition. PLUS! When you visit their website, you can sign up for their mailing list and receive a coupon code for 25% off! What what?!
Another great way to pre-order PENNY AND THE YETI, as well as other comic books and graphic novels, is with Comic Shop Locator. You can enter your location (address or zip code) and see a complete list of comic shops in your area. You can also download their app, preview future releases from comic book publishers, get info on upcoming LCS events like Free Comic Book Day and Halloween ComicFest, and more!
Do yourself a favor and add this beautiful story to your collection or library. PENNY AND THE YETI truly is a book for all ages that will stand the test of time.
About Jimmy Gaspero:
Jimmy Gaspero is a father, husband, lawyer, writer, and podcaster from Delaware County (“Delco”), PA. Along with Comic Book Yeti Editor-in-Chief, Byron O’Neal, Jimmy is one of the hosts of the Cryptid Creator Corner podcast. Jimmy has written short comics that have been published in Bi Visibility #1, Tales of the Bizarre, Band of Bards’ From the Static, and Comics from the Kitchen. Jimmy recently successfully crowdfunded Made in Delco, a comic anthology of stories he’s written. When he isn’t lawyering, podcasting, or writing, Jimmy spends his time with his (supportive and patient) wife Sarah, their two amazing daughters, and an extraordinarily rambunctious and mischievous Golden Retriever named Barry. He enjoys stories about time travel and his favorite food is sandwiches.
About Amber Akin:
Amber Akin is a cartoonist, illustrator, and educator from Massachusetts. Her sequential art debut featured a talking penguin and was self-published in the first grade via library photocopy machine. The rest is history! Among her favorite subjects to draw are all things magical, adorable, and hopeful. When not busy making art or teaching, Amber can be found bookselling, devouring vegan pastries, and spotting the native bird species of the Pioneer Valley.
About Papercutz:
Papercutz is dedicated to publishing great graphic novels for all ages. Popular with reluctant readers and gifted readers alike, Papercutz graphic novels for kids, tweens, and teens include a wide range of genres, including humor, action adventure, mystery, horror, and favorite characters. We work every day to introduce young readers to the imaginative wonders waiting to be discovered in comics.
About Mad Cave Studios:
Driven by madness and committed to quality. Mad Cave Studios provides quality entertainment with a fresh take on an array of genres. From fantasy and action to sci-fi and horror, Mad Cave publishes stories that resonate with unapologetic and authentic audiences.