JohnChalmers+SandraMarrs=Metaphrog
@metaphrog.bsky.social
John Chalmers+Sandra Marrs=Metaphrog
We make graphic novels & comics. Rep’d by United Agents. Scottish + French. Glasgow.
Wilomina out Sept 2026 from Scholastic UK
#KidsGN📚💬
https://metaphrog.com
We make graphic novels & comics. Rep’d by United Agents. Scottish + French. Glasgow.
Wilomina out Sept 2026 from Scholastic UK
#KidsGN📚💬
https://metaphrog.com
Pinned
BIG NEWS! We’re utterly thrilled to announce that we’ve signed a two book deal with Scholastic UK for a MG fantasy graphic novel series! Part of the new imprint Graphix, Wilomina – The Land of Dreams and Nightmares will publish in Sept 2026 with 2nd volume in 2027... #Booksky #Authorsky #KidLitUK
Reposted by JohnChalmers+SandraMarrs=Metaphrog
Our feature artist/guide for today is this BACK FLIP animation break-down, by the talented @roman_henshin! Love seeing the INDIVIDUAL FRAMES here, with all the ANTICIPATION, SMEAR, etc, BEAUTIFUL! #anime #manga #animation2d #animationdev #animation #gamedev #gameart
November 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Our feature artist/guide for today is this BACK FLIP animation break-down, by the talented @roman_henshin! Love seeing the INDIVIDUAL FRAMES here, with all the ANTICIPATION, SMEAR, etc, BEAUTIFUL! #anime #manga #animation2d #animationdev #animation #gamedev #gameart
Reposted by JohnChalmers+SandraMarrs=Metaphrog
Our feature tutorial/artist for today is by the talented @miyuliart! Drawing FOLDED ARMS is an exercise in THINKING about how the forms STACK, this explains it well! #characterdesign #manga #illustration
November 28, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Our feature tutorial/artist for today is by the talented @miyuliart! Drawing FOLDED ARMS is an exercise in THINKING about how the forms STACK, this explains it well! #characterdesign #manga #illustration
Reposted by JohnChalmers+SandraMarrs=Metaphrog
Our Winter Reading Festival starts on Monday! From 1st – 15th December, we're excited to bring you an inspiring line-up of author and illustrator events you won't want to miss.
Sign up here: shop.scholastic.co.uk/scholastic-s...
Sign up here: shop.scholastic.co.uk/scholastic-s...
November 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Our Winter Reading Festival starts on Monday! From 1st – 15th December, we're excited to bring you an inspiring line-up of author and illustrator events you won't want to miss.
Sign up here: shop.scholastic.co.uk/scholastic-s...
Sign up here: shop.scholastic.co.uk/scholastic-s...
Utterly shocked, after a school visit today, to learn they’re doing away with all school librarians in Glasgow. By the end of this year there will be zero left. They actually don’t want educated people. The teacher said to us this morning they’re just taking the money for their ‘trips to New York’.
November 28, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Utterly shocked, after a school visit today, to learn they’re doing away with all school librarians in Glasgow. By the end of this year there will be zero left. They actually don’t want educated people. The teacher said to us this morning they’re just taking the money for their ‘trips to New York’.
A double post this week! Really enjoyed the Dungeon Club graphic novels by @leeknoxostertag.bsky.social & @xanthe.bsky.social . D&D intermingles with real life and teen relationships. Loving the colouring! #KidsGN📚💬 #KidLitUK
November 27, 2025 at 9:08 AM
A double post this week! Really enjoyed the Dungeon Club graphic novels by @leeknoxostertag.bsky.social & @xanthe.bsky.social . D&D intermingles with real life and teen relationships. Loving the colouring! #KidsGN📚💬 #KidLitUK
Del Toro’s Frankenstein is an absolute masterpiece. Everything about it is perfect: direction, photography, colors, costumes, settings, acting… It’s in the tradition of old Hollywood horror movies, and is sure to last. And there’s no CGI!
November 11, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Del Toro’s Frankenstein is an absolute masterpiece. Everything about it is perfect: direction, photography, colors, costumes, settings, acting… It’s in the tradition of old Hollywood horror movies, and is sure to last. And there’s no CGI!
Reposted by JohnChalmers+SandraMarrs=Metaphrog
Sad to hear of the passing of Jim Hamilton at 67. Jim and his business partner Kenny Penman [starting with the Science Fiction Bookshop and later Forbidden Planet] were a huge part of the Scottish comic community and industry along with AKA Book & Comics.
bleedingcool.com/comics/jim-h...
bleedingcool.com/comics/jim-h...
Jim Hamilton Of Forbidden Planet Has Died, Aged 67
Jim Hamilton of Forbidden Planet International and Forbidden Planet Glasgow died yesterday, at the age of 67
bleedingcool.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Sad to hear of the passing of Jim Hamilton at 67. Jim and his business partner Kenny Penman [starting with the Science Fiction Bookshop and later Forbidden Planet] were a huge part of the Scottish comic community and industry along with AKA Book & Comics.
bleedingcool.com/comics/jim-h...
bleedingcool.com/comics/jim-h...
Sad to hear this.
Jim Hamilton of Forbidden Planet International and Forbidden Planet Glasgow died yesterday, at the age of 67
Jim Hamilton Of Forbidden Planet Has Died, Aged 67
Jim Hamilton of Forbidden Planet International and Forbidden Planet Glasgow died yesterday, at the age of 67
dlvr.it
November 11, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Sad to hear this.
We’ve been in a frenzy of deadlines for the art for Wilomina Book 1 but are also already writing the synopsis for Book 2. Which gave us the idea for this newsletter: A strong synopsis is essential for pitching a graphic novel, but also part of writing comics. metaphrog.substack.com/p/10-ways-to...
10 ways to make your synopsis un-boring
plus bonus 2 reasons why synopses are essential
metaphrog.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:04 PM
We’ve been in a frenzy of deadlines for the art for Wilomina Book 1 but are also already writing the synopsis for Book 2. Which gave us the idea for this newsletter: A strong synopsis is essential for pitching a graphic novel, but also part of writing comics. metaphrog.substack.com/p/10-ways-to...
Warning! These AI scams are getting more elaborate.
There’s a scam going round with someone pretending to be Wigtown book fest contacting writers to obtain money for fictional events.
November 6, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Warning! These AI scams are getting more elaborate.
That’s why comics are a medium, not a genre.
Text and art are inseparable in comics. Looking at the art in a comic is completely different from reading the text/art, as the combo creates a completely new level/ experience.
I will die on the hill of it makes no sense to consider them separately at all! Ditto for comics. (Silent comics/silent picture books being the exeception, or atless picture books eg the book with no pictures)
November 5, 2025 at 8:52 AM
That’s why comics are a medium, not a genre.
Text and art are inseparable in comics. Looking at the art in a comic is completely different from reading the text/art, as the combo creates a completely new level/ experience.
I will die on the hill of it makes no sense to consider them separately at all! Ditto for comics. (Silent comics/silent picture books being the exeception, or atless picture books eg the book with no pictures)
November 4, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Text and art are inseparable in comics. Looking at the art in a comic is completely different from reading the text/art, as the combo creates a completely new level/ experience.
Reposted by JohnChalmers+SandraMarrs=Metaphrog
With it being Halloween I guess we need a spooky #KidsBooksFriday. But I am also a total scaredy cat so I’ll be sticking to cosy spooky books thanks. The kids do seem to love a bit of horror though, so do recommend - just don’t expect me to read any! 🙈 👻 #UKKidLit #KidLitUK #KidLit
October 31, 2025 at 7:33 AM
With it being Halloween I guess we need a spooky #KidsBooksFriday. But I am also a total scaredy cat so I’ll be sticking to cosy spooky books thanks. The kids do seem to love a bit of horror though, so do recommend - just don’t expect me to read any! 🙈 👻 #UKKidLit #KidLitUK #KidLit
Reposted by JohnChalmers+SandraMarrs=Metaphrog
Here it is! It's #bookbirthday for CREATIVE WRITING WITH MISS MARY MAC, a graphic novel designed to help and inspire YOUNG and NEW writers at the beginning of their creative journey from @01firstsecond.bsky.social with narration by Mary McInerney and visuals/art by
@rivkahlafille.bsky.social 😄💖
@rivkahlafille.bsky.social 😄💖
CREATIVE WRITING WITH MISS MARY MAC - RIVKAH LAFILLE
CREATIVE WRITING WITH MISS MARY MAC CREATIVE WRITING WITH MISS MARY MAC is a graphic novel designed to help and inspire YOUNG and NEW writers at the beginning of their creative journey. What it is NOT...
www.rivkah.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Here it is! It's #bookbirthday for CREATIVE WRITING WITH MISS MARY MAC, a graphic novel designed to help and inspire YOUNG and NEW writers at the beginning of their creative journey from @01firstsecond.bsky.social with narration by Mary McInerney and visuals/art by
@rivkahlafille.bsky.social 😄💖
@rivkahlafille.bsky.social 😄💖
Watched Wayward this week after seeing @okaychloegreen.bsky.social 's post. A brilliant mini-series. Mae Martin is really charismatic in a slightly troubled/vulnerable way, the rest of the cast really stands out, and the evil cult leader is really creepy. Hope there will be more to come!
Wayward on Netflix was great. A fun, twisty cultish thriller with deep characters. Real life Queer representation. Mae Martin is excellent, looking forward to seeing more from them!
8 episodes is the perfect amount for a one off series, right? Plz go and watch!
8 episodes is the perfect amount for a one off series, right? Plz go and watch!
October 24, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Watched Wayward this week after seeing @okaychloegreen.bsky.social 's post. A brilliant mini-series. Mae Martin is really charismatic in a slightly troubled/vulnerable way, the rest of the cast really stands out, and the evil cult leader is really creepy. Hope there will be more to come!
We love reading the Hilo series by @juddwinick.bsky.social ! It’s full of fun, it’s got the spark, it’s outstanding! And now there’s a box set! #KidsGN📚😎💬 #KidLitUK
October 24, 2025 at 7:43 AM
We love reading the Hilo series by @juddwinick.bsky.social ! It’s full of fun, it’s got the spark, it’s outstanding! And now there’s a box set! #KidsGN📚😎💬 #KidLitUK
Reposted by JohnChalmers+SandraMarrs=Metaphrog
And people wondeer why I bothered getting dual citizenship after happily living and working (and paying taxes and never claiming a benefit) with ILR in the UK for 35 years...
The draft legislation is crackers. It would fail immediately if we stayed in the ECHR but it disappears the human rights act. if passed after that it would involve mandatory loss of ILR for up to 400,000 people + refusal of 2-3 million others, though without no credible means to identify or remove
Here Lam explicitly sets out her proposal - which is official Conservative Party policy - to deport long-standing legal permanent residents who have *ever* claimed any benefit, including the state pension or child benefit (even if the child is British), or who earn less than £39K.
October 22, 2025 at 7:57 AM
And people wondeer why I bothered getting dual citizenship after happily living and working (and paying taxes and never claiming a benefit) with ILR in the UK for 35 years...
This week we’re reading the Supa Nova graphic novel by @heychante.bsky.social We love the environmental message. It’s about a young girl who creates a plastic eating monster but things get out of hand. @nosycrow.bsky.social #KidsGN📚💬 #KidLitUK
October 17, 2025 at 7:55 AM
This week we’re reading the Supa Nova graphic novel by @heychante.bsky.social We love the environmental message. It’s about a young girl who creates a plastic eating monster but things get out of hand. @nosycrow.bsky.social #KidsGN📚💬 #KidLitUK
It's official then: X sinks as Insta and Bluesky spike.
www.thebookseller.com/news/x-sinks...
www.thebookseller.com/news/x-sinks...
X sinks as Instagram and Bluesky spike in IPG social media survey
Independent Publishers Guild members have fled X and are turning to Instagram, Bluesky and TikTok to engage with their readers.
www.thebookseller.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:10 PM
It's official then: X sinks as Insta and Bluesky spike.
www.thebookseller.com/news/x-sinks...
www.thebookseller.com/news/x-sinks...
Reposted by JohnChalmers+SandraMarrs=Metaphrog
Announcing the title and presenting the cover of mine and Angela Watson’s forthcoming book, #MyBelovedOther
#comics #graphicnovels #BookSky #book #books #book2026 #antiracism #BlackSky
More info and links:
www.nickabadzis.com/blog/2025/10...
#comics #graphicnovels #BookSky #book #books #book2026 #antiracism #BlackSky
More info and links:
www.nickabadzis.com/blog/2025/10...
October 13, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Announcing the title and presenting the cover of mine and Angela Watson’s forthcoming book, #MyBelovedOther
#comics #graphicnovels #BookSky #book #books #book2026 #antiracism #BlackSky
More info and links:
www.nickabadzis.com/blog/2025/10...
#comics #graphicnovels #BookSky #book #books #book2026 #antiracism #BlackSky
More info and links:
www.nickabadzis.com/blog/2025/10...
Reposted by JohnChalmers+SandraMarrs=Metaphrog
JOSEF is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany.
ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994.
MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015.
All three children must endure harrowing journeys. All face unimaginable dangers. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. Refugee: The Graphic Novel is out now.
ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994.
MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015.
All three children must endure harrowing journeys. All face unimaginable dangers. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. Refugee: The Graphic Novel is out now.
October 9, 2025 at 9:06 AM
JOSEF is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany.
ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994.
MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015.
All three children must endure harrowing journeys. All face unimaginable dangers. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. Refugee: The Graphic Novel is out now.
ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994.
MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015.
All three children must endure harrowing journeys. All face unimaginable dangers. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. Refugee: The Graphic Novel is out now.
A new Baby-sitters Club graphic novel! Hurray!
The Mancusis don't have any kids... but they sure do have a lot of pets! So when they're desperate for a sitter, who do they call? The Baby-sitters Club!
Read Jessi Ramsey, Pet Sitter - The 18th Graphic Novel in the Baby-sitters Club series - out now!
#TheBabySittersClub
Read Jessi Ramsey, Pet Sitter - The 18th Graphic Novel in the Baby-sitters Club series - out now!
#TheBabySittersClub
October 10, 2025 at 5:29 PM
A new Baby-sitters Club graphic novel! Hurray!
Reposted by JohnChalmers+SandraMarrs=Metaphrog
With the IBC Excluded Voices report making for sober reading this week, let’s use #KidsBooksFriday to celebrate brilliant books from global majority writers.
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org/excluded-voi...
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org/excluded-voi...
October 10, 2025 at 6:47 AM
With the IBC Excluded Voices report making for sober reading this week, let’s use #KidsBooksFriday to celebrate brilliant books from global majority writers.
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org/excluded-voi...
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit
www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org/excluded-voi...