R. LaFille
@rivkahlafille.bsky.social
Graphic Novelist, Educator, and Kidlit GN Creator Advocate. Repped by Janna Morishima. Hartford, CT -- Austin, TX -- NYC
FIVE WISHES, Candlewick (2027) -- CREATIVE WRITING WITH MISS MARY MAC, First Second (2025)
https://linktr.ee/rlafille
FIVE WISHES, Candlewick (2027) -- CREATIVE WRITING WITH MISS MARY MAC, First Second (2025)
https://linktr.ee/rlafille
Pinned
R. LaFille
@rivkahlafille.bsky.social
· Jan 10
Finally got poked and prodded enough by friends to join Bluesky. For those who are interested: I am a midgrade and YA graphic novelist (illustrator/writer) as well as an educator, teaching adults how to make better, awesomer comics over at Kids Comics Unite.
Math is knowledge. Knowledge is power.
30k is also way WAYYYY too low. IMHO, anything less than 50k for a 200 page full color book is highway robbery.
So if you have to get robbed to get published (and self pub isn't an option)...at least make something you love, okay?
30k is also way WAYYYY too low. IMHO, anything less than 50k for a 200 page full color book is highway robbery.
So if you have to get robbed to get published (and self pub isn't an option)...at least make something you love, okay?
Here’s some math courtesy of Nate Powell to keep in mind when signing that graphic novel deal. #comics
November 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Math is knowledge. Knowledge is power.
30k is also way WAYYYY too low. IMHO, anything less than 50k for a 200 page full color book is highway robbery.
So if you have to get robbed to get published (and self pub isn't an option)...at least make something you love, okay?
30k is also way WAYYYY too low. IMHO, anything less than 50k for a 200 page full color book is highway robbery.
So if you have to get robbed to get published (and self pub isn't an option)...at least make something you love, okay?
This looks so freakin' adorable. Can't wait to read it! 😭💖
Hold on a second...there's a brand new graphic novel coming from little ol' me and @jimmygaspero.bsky.social next year?! Set for publication in April 2026? No way!! goodcomicsforkids.slj.com/2025/11/25/a...
Announcing ‘Penny and the Yeti’ | News
A girl and a friendly yeti find a way to negotiate family problems in a new graphic novel for early readers.
goodcomicsforkids.slj.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
This looks so freakin' adorable. Can't wait to read it! 😭💖
I have found that if you trace the same kind of object over and over again, our hands tend to learn the shape of what we've traced. Long long ago, *I learned how to draw perspective this way. Now...learning to draw complex foliage this way.
The hand remembers what the head forgets. 🫡
The hand remembers what the head forgets. 🫡
November 25, 2025 at 4:13 AM
I have found that if you trace the same kind of object over and over again, our hands tend to learn the shape of what we've traced. Long long ago, *I learned how to draw perspective this way. Now...learning to draw complex foliage this way.
The hand remembers what the head forgets. 🫡
The hand remembers what the head forgets. 🫡
I emailed Terry Moore (of Strangers in Paradise) asking if he thought my art was good enough or if I should just give up now. Naively, I didn't realize that most professionals aren't going to go around telling young artists they suck. But his kind words gave me the courage to take that first step.
November 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I emailed Terry Moore (of Strangers in Paradise) asking if he thought my art was good enough or if I should just give up now. Naively, I didn't realize that most professionals aren't going to go around telling young artists they suck. But his kind words gave me the courage to take that first step.
This may honestly be one of my favorite pages I've drawn, ever. It was very soul-satisfying getting to go in and finally tighten up the pencils for this before I send it to my to-be-inked folder. I have no doubt I'll make it into a riso print one day (though probably sans the right panels).
November 21, 2025 at 9:40 PM
This may honestly be one of my favorite pages I've drawn, ever. It was very soul-satisfying getting to go in and finally tighten up the pencils for this before I send it to my to-be-inked folder. I have no doubt I'll make it into a riso print one day (though probably sans the right panels).
Is it weird that I find organizing and decorating and making my space cozy infinitely more exciting than any trip anywhere ever? I can spend hours deliberating paint colors and not get enough of it, but ask me to go somewhere FOR FUN, and I feel immediately overwhelmed. 😭
November 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Is it weird that I find organizing and decorating and making my space cozy infinitely more exciting than any trip anywhere ever? I can spend hours deliberating paint colors and not get enough of it, but ask me to go somewhere FOR FUN, and I feel immediately overwhelmed. 😭
Apparently been resisting drawing the background for the last panel of this chapter with every ounce of my being today.
Will. Not. Sleep. Until this is done!
TBF, it's an old-lady cluttered kitchen, and it's been a messy pain-in-the-butt to draw from far too many angles. 😖
Will. Not. Sleep. Until this is done!
TBF, it's an old-lady cluttered kitchen, and it's been a messy pain-in-the-butt to draw from far too many angles. 😖
November 20, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Apparently been resisting drawing the background for the last panel of this chapter with every ounce of my being today.
Will. Not. Sleep. Until this is done!
TBF, it's an old-lady cluttered kitchen, and it's been a messy pain-in-the-butt to draw from far too many angles. 😖
Will. Not. Sleep. Until this is done!
TBF, it's an old-lady cluttered kitchen, and it's been a messy pain-in-the-butt to draw from far too many angles. 😖
Today is now Too Many Backgrounds Monday. I have been drawing foliage for HOURS.
This would be so much easier of I were painting it instead of inking it. 😭
This would be so much easier of I were painting it instead of inking it. 😭
a hand holding a brush with the words happy trees written below it
ALT: a hand holding a brush with the words happy trees written below it
media.tenor.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Today is now Too Many Backgrounds Monday. I have been drawing foliage for HOURS.
This would be so much easier of I were painting it instead of inking it. 😭
This would be so much easier of I were painting it instead of inking it. 😭
It takes me three hours to drink a 6oz cup of coffee, and only now am I discovering cup warmers? Where have I been?!
Oh yes, I was in poor land and didn't realize how crucial my joe being hot is to my productivity. Reheated coffee brings sadness not joy.
Screw fancy cars. This is true luxury. 😭❤️🔥
Oh yes, I was in poor land and didn't realize how crucial my joe being hot is to my productivity. Reheated coffee brings sadness not joy.
Screw fancy cars. This is true luxury. 😭❤️🔥
November 17, 2025 at 6:45 PM
It takes me three hours to drink a 6oz cup of coffee, and only now am I discovering cup warmers? Where have I been?!
Oh yes, I was in poor land and didn't realize how crucial my joe being hot is to my productivity. Reheated coffee brings sadness not joy.
Screw fancy cars. This is true luxury. 😭❤️🔥
Oh yes, I was in poor land and didn't realize how crucial my joe being hot is to my productivity. Reheated coffee brings sadness not joy.
Screw fancy cars. This is true luxury. 😭❤️🔥
Maybe I'm a masochist for this, but I actually really really really love this time of year so. damn. much. I like the dark and the cold because it makes the indoors so much warmer and brighter in contrast. It means I get to hunker down for four months and create without any major interruptions.
November 14, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Maybe I'm a masochist for this, but I actually really really really love this time of year so. damn. much. I like the dark and the cold because it makes the indoors so much warmer and brighter in contrast. It means I get to hunker down for four months and create without any major interruptions.
Been listening to The Maze Runner series while making FIVE WISHES corrections, and there are so many plot holes, I could sail a dreadnought straight through 'em all.
I wish somebody would make Red Rising into a television series already. These teen dystopia knockoff stories are making me sad.
I wish somebody would make Red Rising into a television series already. These teen dystopia knockoff stories are making me sad.
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Been listening to The Maze Runner series while making FIVE WISHES corrections, and there are so many plot holes, I could sail a dreadnought straight through 'em all.
I wish somebody would make Red Rising into a television series already. These teen dystopia knockoff stories are making me sad.
I wish somebody would make Red Rising into a television series already. These teen dystopia knockoff stories are making me sad.
I swear to fr**cking *&(& that the cusp between adolescence is the hardest damn age to draw: it's that awkward stage where there are still clear signs of youth mixed with signs of the early onset of adulthood.
November 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I swear to fr**cking *&(& that the cusp between adolescence is the hardest damn age to draw: it's that awkward stage where there are still clear signs of youth mixed with signs of the early onset of adulthood.
Adults ask teens to tell them what they feel and think then shut them up when they say things they don't personally like or approve of:
Teen artists portrayed their lives — some adults didn't want to see the full picture
"What is it like to be a teen right now?" Young artists explored that question for two different exhibitions of their work this summer. But on the National Mall, their work was deemed too political.
www.npr.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Adults ask teens to tell them what they feel and think then shut them up when they say things they don't personally like or approve of:
I have a pretty serious love/hate relationship with some of these spreads. Grumble and sigh a lot while making them but know how the tedium and perseverance is worth it in the end. This is a moody backgrounds book with tons of weather. There are no shortcuts. 😑
November 6, 2025 at 4:32 AM
I have a pretty serious love/hate relationship with some of these spreads. Grumble and sigh a lot while making them but know how the tedium and perseverance is worth it in the end. This is a moody backgrounds book with tons of weather. There are no shortcuts. 😑
Looking forward to working on that high school romantic comedy I wrote one day mostly because I just found the best 3d model high school set, and shortcuts are so damn nice. 😭
The backgrounds in FIVE WISHES are kinda kicking my butt. And I LIKE drawing backgrounds! But they are...so labor intense.
The backgrounds in FIVE WISHES are kinda kicking my butt. And I LIKE drawing backgrounds! But they are...so labor intense.
November 5, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Looking forward to working on that high school romantic comedy I wrote one day mostly because I just found the best 3d model high school set, and shortcuts are so damn nice. 😭
The backgrounds in FIVE WISHES are kinda kicking my butt. And I LIKE drawing backgrounds! But they are...so labor intense.
The backgrounds in FIVE WISHES are kinda kicking my butt. And I LIKE drawing backgrounds! But they are...so labor intense.
Reposted by R. LaFille
It feels good to be hope-scrolling for once.
November 5, 2025 at 6:02 AM
It feels good to be hope-scrolling for once.
If you live in CT, you can follow your local election results here, just enter in your town. These are actual tabulated results, not exit poll numbers, so it may take longer to see the final tally than some races are being called, but it's good for the small, but important, races nobody is covering.
CT 2025 municipal election results
CT Mirror is publishing results from local races across CT as the Secretary of the State's office reports them. Keep up with the tallies here.
ctmirror.org
November 5, 2025 at 3:01 AM
If you live in CT, you can follow your local election results here, just enter in your town. These are actual tabulated results, not exit poll numbers, so it may take longer to see the final tally than some races are being called, but it's good for the small, but important, races nobody is covering.
NYC!!! 💖🎉💖🎉💖🎉
Mamdani wins New York City mayoral race, in a historic victory for progressives
Mamdani, a democratic socialist and state assemblymember, will make history as the first Muslim and South Asian person — as well as the youngest in over a century — to serve as New York City mayor.
www.npr.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:47 AM
NYC!!! 💖🎉💖🎉💖🎉
I've always tried to be very honest and transparent with my $ and safety situation. My partner pays our monthly bills EXCEPT for my business purchases. I also pay for kiddo's necessaries, household items, AND pay down our mortgage on principal with whatever I have left after taxes each year.
If you’re a working artist talking to other creatives I’m begging you to not hide this. I have a parter who makes more and I don’t hide that and try to be as open as I can especially one on one. It’s cruel to not be honest with your fellow artist and give them any kind of false hope or fear
Many full time creatives have “invisible safety nets” like bread-winning partners, trust funds, external support, etc. No shame on anyone, but it creates a false vision of success. The cost of going to cons alone on top of hoping to eat as a freelancer are untenable, IMO.
November 3, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I've always tried to be very honest and transparent with my $ and safety situation. My partner pays our monthly bills EXCEPT for my business purchases. I also pay for kiddo's necessaries, household items, AND pay down our mortgage on principal with whatever I have left after taxes each year.
//screams inside// 😍😍😍
I got some fabulous books by my talented friends yesterday! 😍 @reneemlatulippe.bsky.social’s LIMELIGHT and @rivkahlafille.bsky.social’s CREATIVE WRITING #Kidlit
November 1, 2025 at 8:09 PM
//screams inside// 😍😍😍
When I ink, I leave my balloons/text still visible at 10%...juuuuuust in case. 😅
They're like little ghosts, hanging out, reminding me which corner of the room they are haunting. 👻
They're like little ghosts, hanging out, reminding me which corner of the room they are haunting. 👻
October 30, 2025 at 5:52 PM
When I ink, I leave my balloons/text still visible at 10%...juuuuuust in case. 😅
They're like little ghosts, hanging out, reminding me which corner of the room they are haunting. 👻
They're like little ghosts, hanging out, reminding me which corner of the room they are haunting. 👻
🤬🤬🤬
This is what has been happening in our country RIGHT NOW by a Congress that is enabling this and too many constituents who voted for this utter insanity. This is inhumane and it SHOULD be UnAmerican. Make this wrong again! Compassion should be our banner not cruelty!
This is what has been happening in our country RIGHT NOW by a Congress that is enabling this and too many constituents who voted for this utter insanity. This is inhumane and it SHOULD be UnAmerican. Make this wrong again! Compassion should be our banner not cruelty!
I'm shaking almost too hard to type. I entered SLC airport and heard screams and cries for help. I could see people gathered around, watching. I sped over to discover this woman face down on the floor, four grown men pushing her down, while she cried "HELP ME" and pled for her child.
October 30, 2025 at 2:47 PM
🤬🤬🤬
This is what has been happening in our country RIGHT NOW by a Congress that is enabling this and too many constituents who voted for this utter insanity. This is inhumane and it SHOULD be UnAmerican. Make this wrong again! Compassion should be our banner not cruelty!
This is what has been happening in our country RIGHT NOW by a Congress that is enabling this and too many constituents who voted for this utter insanity. This is inhumane and it SHOULD be UnAmerican. Make this wrong again! Compassion should be our banner not cruelty!
Aww! This was a super sweet review of CREATIVE WRITING! 😄
Honestly, just hearing praise for my art is like...I dunno. I've lived in an artistic hole for the most part since STEADY BEAT v2 came out (2007!), and I've kinda spent a lot of that time making my art BETTER because I thought I sucked.
Honestly, just hearing praise for my art is like...I dunno. I've lived in an artistic hole for the most part since STEADY BEAT v2 came out (2007!), and I've kinda spent a lot of that time making my art BETTER because I thought I sucked.
Creative Writing with Miss Mary Mac is a great graphic novel to get younger kids into writing
YouTube video by Graphic Policy
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Aww! This was a super sweet review of CREATIVE WRITING! 😄
Honestly, just hearing praise for my art is like...I dunno. I've lived in an artistic hole for the most part since STEADY BEAT v2 came out (2007!), and I've kinda spent a lot of that time making my art BETTER because I thought I sucked.
Honestly, just hearing praise for my art is like...I dunno. I've lived in an artistic hole for the most part since STEADY BEAT v2 came out (2007!), and I've kinda spent a lot of that time making my art BETTER because I thought I sucked.
My response to local Republicans canvassing for votes this morning via text.
You're welcome.
You're welcome.
October 29, 2025 at 1:05 PM
My response to local Republicans canvassing for votes this morning via text.
You're welcome.
You're welcome.
Words to Kiddo as they were leaving for school this morning: "When you come from a position of privilege, it's our duty to assist and protect those who are more vulnerable than us."
Should be basic common sense, honestly. When we all look after each other, the world is such a better place for it.
Should be basic common sense, honestly. When we all look after each other, the world is such a better place for it.
October 29, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Words to Kiddo as they were leaving for school this morning: "When you come from a position of privilege, it's our duty to assist and protect those who are more vulnerable than us."
Should be basic common sense, honestly. When we all look after each other, the world is such a better place for it.
Should be basic common sense, honestly. When we all look after each other, the world is such a better place for it.