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Tara O’Connor

@taraocomics.bsky.social

3.9K followers 340 following 1.9K posts

Comic Maker! Based in Belfast! 🤘 CRY OUT LOUD Random House Graphic 👻 FLY BY NIGHT Random House Graphic🌲 SIDE EFFECTS Aftershock Comics⚡️ Rep'd by Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio. https://ko-fi.com/taraocomics taraocomics.com

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · Jul 8

Hey, it's #PortfolioDay!

I'm Tara, I write & draw comics! My latest book CRY OUT LOUD from Random House Graphic is out in Sept! I have a handful of YA and MG pitches ready to go, so if you're an editor or publisher hit up my agent for the details: [email protected]
Taraocomics.com

Slj started review for cry out loud

SLJ
SchoolLibraryJournal
IN THIS FAMILY NO ONE WILL HEAR YOU SCREAM.

TARA O'CONNOR
"A beautifully written and compassionate story of healing set against the horror of a brutal generational ritual."
-School Library Journal,
Starred Review

ter getting suspended from school, Nell is forced to go live with estranged family on remote island. Her sense of unease quickly evolves into terror when Nell discovers that she's been chosen as the latest victim in a perilous family tradition that spans centuries and has left countless bodies in its wake.
Available for pre-order NOW, releasing in September of 2025l

Nell is waking up on the island checks her phone to see no signal

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Reposted by Tara O’Connor

Dublin Comic Arts Festival @dublincomicarts.bsky.social · 2d

Join DCAF at the Complex: Sunday 30th November, 11am-5pm.

Put the date in your calendar. And share this post to spread the word. 💖 See you there!

Poster by Maria Pareja

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 4d

Oof ICQ takes me back lol

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Reposted by Tara O’Connor

G. Willow Wilson @gwillow.me · 6d

In all seriousness, publishers are going to have to figure out how to market books in the post-social-media landscape. That should be an implicit part of their job. What authors/artists can do on their own is increasingly limited and siloed.

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 6d

It’s dawning on me that “ohhh, so this is *every* publisher, not just mine.” 😮‍💨

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 6d

Currently working on four different pitches. A MG, two YAs and a super person memoir comic. No idea if they’ll find homes anytime soon but I love each and every one of them. ❤️‍🔥

Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 6d

Happy birthday! 🎂

Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 7d

I don’t know if this makes that scene better or worse. 👀

John sent me a text: Cute couple costume ideas featuring denathor and the tomato
***
Me responding:
Omg lol

That really changes the vibes of that scene.

Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 7d

There’s definitely people participating so it is unfortunately a thing.

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 7d

Another reason you can give Inktober a miss.

More Than
Sketchy: Inktober
Creator Accused of Plagiarism
Artist Alphonso Dunn accuses Jake Parker of plagiarizing parts of his upcoming workbook,
"Inktober All Year Long."
i September 18, 2020
By Nestor Kok
Illustration by Meenal Rahatkar.

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 7d

Don’t feel guilty about missing out on “obligatory art challenge in October” cos we’re already working constantly, why feel pressured to add more free labour onto our plates.

“But what about FOMO?”

Fear of what exactly? Posting to sites that constantly hide or surpress our work? 🫠

Reposted by Tara O’Connor

Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 22d

Happy Book Birthday to Cry Out Loud! In addition to great reviews from Kirkus and Bulletin, Cry Out Loud got its first starred review from School Library Journal! It's out now from Random House Graphic, an imprint of @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social

Praise for Cry Out Loud, image shows Nell on a bike in the rain.

★ “A beautifully written and compassionate story of healing set against the horror of a brutal generational ritual.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“A heart-pounding thriller about a terrifying legacy with a lush, well-developed setting.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Readers will likely be swept along with this fast-moving, genre-blending, visually engrossing adventure.” —The Bulletin

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 8d

Hm. Isn’t this kind of “government turns on its people” the whole reason for the 2nd amendment? #politics

NPR @npr.org · 8d

JUST IN: President Trump has told top U.S. commanders that the military would be used against "enemy within."

Trump defends use of U.S. military against 'enemy within'

Earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the purpose of the department would exclusively be "war fighting."

n.pr

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 9d

Yep! It’s so exhausting and seems ever changing too. It’s hard to keep up.

Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 9d

I was starting to get all maudlin and dire but, fuck that—no—I'll be making comics no matter what. I have at least 4 pitches ready to go and a new book that's TBA with an amazing writer and I can't fucking wait. ✨

Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 9d

The state of publishing at the minute is pretty bleak, and seeing folks that I would assume would be safe echoing my own fears about the future is distressing to say the least. I just want us all to be able to write and draw our weird little comics, y'all. 🥲

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Reposted by Tara O’Connor

Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 16d

I have a limited number of hardcover copies of CRY OUT LOUD! Will be signed and personalised with a sketch of your choice on the inside cover. ❤️

ko-fi.com/s/6bbde422a2

Copies of Cry Out Loud on my kitchen table

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 10d

Awh you’re so sweet thank you!! 😭🥰

Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 10d

Sadly there was no fighting cos the delay was due to Covid shipping delays 😭 I’m looking forward to your book, I have to nab it somewhere in the UK!

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 10d

Good call on fighting back 🥲 Fly by night got pushed to end of November and it was immediately forgotten about.

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 10d

Oof, I feel like I could’ve written this about Cry Out Loud and Fly By Night. 🥲 As a writer of niche spooky YA comics I’ve been told my days are numbered but damn, I really hope they’re not!

Keezy Young🌼 @keezyyoung.bsky.social · 10d

okay yes big part of the reason I want hello sunshine to do well is bc I don't get to make my next book if it doesn't. but admittedly part of it is to also get back at my publisher's marketing team for saying they didn't expect it to sell well initially (presumably because of demographic) haha

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 12d

Some sketches for books that are headed out tomorrow! Sending out US based books next week! ✨ If you want a copy find them here! ko-fi.com/s/6bbde422a2

Sample sketches for Cry Out Loud orders text reads:

Some sketches from books before
sending them off! Free Palestine and trans rights!

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 11d

My debut with the biggest publisher I worked with wasn’t marketed because I believe the head marketing person resigned a month before publication and the person that was in charge of me getting the deal also left the company. Now I’m dealing with those consequences. 😔

Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 12d

Thank you so much!!

Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 12d

Some sketches for books that are headed out tomorrow! Sending out US based books next week! ✨ If you want a copy find them here! ko-fi.com/s/6bbde422a2

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Tara O’Connor @taraocomics.bsky.social · 13d

Woo!! Enjoy!! ☺️