Vermont Artists & Authors

In this episode, I’m joined by Vermont author and professional cellist Melissa Perley, creator of the award-winning picture book The Violin Family. This musical story introduces young readers to Basil the Bass, Celia the Violoncello, “Bizzy” the Viola, and Val and Violet the Violins—a loving family of string instruments who play together and then share pancake breakfasts with real Vermont maple syrup.
When Violet takes a tumble and must visit the luthier, kids learn not only about how instruments are built and repaired, but also about care, patience, and the importance of every “voice” in the family ensemble. The Violin Family blends fun fiction with gentle factual details about string anatomy, sound, and musical roles, making it a great read-aloud for families, music teachers, and school libraries.
We talk about Melissa’s life in Vermont as a performing and teaching cellist, farmer, and author; the inspiration behind Violet’s accident and trip to the luthier; and how her follow-up book, The Violin Family Plays New Music, expands the world with themes of inclusion and friendship through Clarence the Clarinet.
#MelissaPerley #TheViolinFamily #ChildrensBooks #MusicForKids #StringInstruments #PictureBook #ReadAloud #KidsAndMusic #VermontAuthor #CellistAuthor #MusicEducation #ViolinFamilyPlaysNewMusic #ClarenceClarinet #StorycomicPresents #RootstockPublishing
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For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

In this episode, I’m joined by Lyn Bixby, a Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist and Vermont author whose debut novel The Pacifist drops readers into the most violent year of the Vietnam War.
Set in the fall of 1968, The Pacifist follows Lisa Thompson, a back-to-the-land Vermonter whose anti-war activist brother Chris dies under suspicious circumstances at an Army base after refusing induction. When the Army calls it an accident, Lisa doesn’t buy it. She heads to Boston and ends up taking on two of the most powerful institutions in the country: the U.S. Army and the FBI.
Drawing on his own experiences—drafted soon after graduating from Colby College, serving in the Army, then spending decades exposing corruption as a reporter at papers like The Hartford Courant—Bixby turns that history into a historical suspense thriller about government power, protest, and moral courage.
We talk about the real stories behind the novel, how journalism shaped his fiction, and why the questions raised in The Pacifist feel especially sharp today. Learn more at LynBixby.com and find the book wherever you buy your reads.
#LynBixby #ThePacifist #RootstockPublishing #VietnamWarFiction #HistoricalThriller #AntiWarNovel #WomenInFiction #VermontAuthor #PulitzerPrizeJournalist #PoliticalSuspense #1968History #CivilRightsEra #BookInterview #StorycomicPresents #readingcommunity 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
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Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
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www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!
 

In this episode, I’m joined by James Kochalka—Eisner, Ignatz, and Harvey Award–winning cartoonist, rock musician, and the very first Cartoonist Laureate of Vermont. James’ work ranges from his long-running daily diary strip American Elf to beloved kids’ series like Johnny Boo and Dragon Puncher, to wildly catchy punk-pop as James Kochalka Superstar, and even video games like Glorkian Warrior. 
We’re not here to promote one new thing—we’re here to have a real conversation. We talk about drawing your life every day, why he once declared that “craft is the enemy,” how simplicity and sincerity can carry more power than polish, and what he’s learned from a lifetime of making songs, comics, games, and art out of whatever is in front of him. 
If you care about creativity itself—how to stay playful, stay honest, and keep going over decades—this is one you’ll want to hear.
#JamesKochalka #AmericanElf #JohnnyBoo #DragonPuncher #CartoonistLaureate #VermontComics #IndieComics #DiaryComics #JamesKochalkaSuperstar #GlorkianWarrior #KidsComics #GraphicNovels #CartoonistLife #ComicsProcess #StorycomicPresents
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
 
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

In this episode of Storycomic Presents, I’m joined by Vermont cartoonist Isabella Hall (she/they), the creator behind Bella Pink Pen. Isabella is a Center for Cartoon Studies graduate who loves fantastical storytelling—whether that’s a ghost on a cruise liner, a quiet reflective comic about collecting, or a full-on journey into a winter realm. 
We talk about how she builds stories that connect with readers of any age, the themes and influences that shape her work, and what it’s like making comics as both an artist and a storyteller. We’ll also dive into projects like The Ghost of the Stella Cadente and Pajama Rants: Life with Diabetes, plus where her comics are headed next.
#IsabellaHall #BellaPinkPen #VermontArtist #Cartoonist #IndieComics #Webcomics #CenterForCartoonStudies #GraphicStorytelling #FantasticalFiction #ComicCreators #TheGhostOfTheStellaCadente #Pawdust #PajamaRants #LifeWithDiabetes #storycomicpresents 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
 
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

In this episode, we’re joined by debut children’s author Christine Devane, whose picture book Elephant Beach tells the playful and poignant tale of a young girl whose quiet beach day is upended—in the best way—by a herd of joyous elephants. Christine brings her experience as a teacher and quiet child into the story, and joins us to talk about why she wrote a book for shy kids, how elephants became her unexpected co‑stars, and what happens when solitude turns into friendship. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or comic/children’s‑book fan, this episode celebrates play, connection, and stepping out of comfort zones.
#ChristineDevane #ElephantBeach #ChildrensBooks #PictureBookDebut #KidsLit #ReadAloud #ShyKidsMatter #SteppingOutOfComfortZone #ElephantsAtTheBeach #StorycomicPresents #TeachersTurnedAuthors
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons,
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devline, Benjamin Hunting, Samantha Kolber, Frank Walk, Mark Bell, and Matt & Therese.
Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
https://plaguedoctorpress.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#ThaddeusRobinson #TalesFromParadise #PerfectTheBook #IndieAuthor #VermontAuthors #StorycomicPresents #HealingThroughStory #SouthernFiction #PhotographyAndFiction #CoastalStories
In this episode of Storycomic Presents, we sit down with Thaddeus Robinson, a Vermont-based author and photographer whose storytelling bridges the coastlines of South Carolina and the quiet landscapes of New England. Thaddeus shares the inspiration behind his book Perfect—Book One in the Tales from Paradise Saga—a moving story rooted in coastal communities, healing, and redemption. We explore how his Southern roots influence his fiction, his transition to storytelling through prose, and the creative process that fuels his writing.
As a multi-talented artist, Thaddeus also discusses his work in visual storytelling through photography and how both mediums help him make sense of the world. Tune in for an intimate conversation about writing, resilience, and building art from life’s challenges.
📚 Learn more about Thaddeus and his creative work: https://thaddeusrobinson.com
📸 Photography & creative visuals: https://thaddeus-robinson.com
🎧 Subscribe for more interviews with indie authors, comic creators, and storytellers of all kinds.
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devlin, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

In this episode, I’m honored to welcome Nadine Budbill, daughter and steward of the literary legacy of the late David Budbill. We’ll explore how she carries the torch for her father’s work—poetry, plays, prose, and the beloved Judevine. Nadine will share stories from David’s life in Vermont, his deep connection to place, how she preserves and introduces his work to new audiences, and the challenges and joys of being a literary executor. Whether you’re a fan of poetry, rural literature, or the story behind a writer’s legacy, this conversation sheds light on how words outlive us and why memory matters.
#DavidBudbill #NadineBudbill #VermontPoet #StorycomicPresents #VermontAuthors #PoetryLegacy #LiteraryInterview #AmericanPoetry #AuthorSpotlight #VermontArts #RootstockPublishing #PoetryOfPlace #MemoirAndMemory #PoetryLivesOn #TheJudevineCycle
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devlin, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with Nancy Levine and her daughter Rachel Levine-Spates to discuss their powerful co-authored memoir, Light. Blending Nancy’s reflective narration with excerpts from Rachel’s raw and personal journal entries, Light traces a mother and daughter’s journey through the dark spiral of disordered eating and the long road to healing.
Rachel shares what it was like to see her teenage self through her mom’s lens, while Nancy opens up about the guilt, fear, and fierce love that fueled her desire to tell their story honestly. Together, they explore the process of turning pain into purpose—and the courage it took to put their truth on the page.
This interview is a must-watch for parents, mental health advocates, survivors, and anyone looking for proof that love and language can light a way out.
 Learn more and get the book: https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/rootstock-books/p/light
If you or someone you know is struggling with anorexia or disordered eating, help is available — for example, the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders (ANAD) offers free peer support, treatment referrals, and a helpline.https://anad.org/get-help/
#NancyLevine #LightMemoir #MotherDaughter #AnorexiaRecovery #EatingDisorderMemoir #StorycomicPresents #MentalHealth #OCD #Compulsion #SurvivalThroughWriting
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devlin, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

In this episode I’m joined by Randall Drew (RK DIA Comics), creator of the high‑fantasy comic Citadel Volume One, now successfully funded via Kickstarter. When events from 200 years ago shattered the world, now those cracks have become the battleground. Randell takes us behind the scenes of building a fantasy epic—designing the world, raising crowdfunding, and tackling the “epic” genre in a bold, independent way. We’ll talk about how he developed the story, what makes Citadel different, and what he learned from crowdfunding success (his campaign reached its goal in just days). Whether you’re a fantasy fan, indie comic creator, or just love seeing big stories built from the ground up, this chat is for you.
Check his channel: Twitch – RK DIA Comics
#RandallDrew #RKDIAComics #CitadelVolumeOne #HighFantasyComic #ComicKickstarter #IndieComics #FantasyCreators #StorycomicPresents #Worldbuilding #CrowdfundedComics
Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano
See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devlin, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

In this episode, we’re joined by returning guests Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson, the creative duo behind the hit middle-grade series Barb the Last Berzerker. Book 4 is here, and we go deep into what makes a great villain, how emotional threads (like Barb’s dad!) shape the story, and what happens when the dust settles after a big fantasy war. It’s a conversation about humor, heartbreak, and heroism that’ll resonate with readers young and old.
#BarbTheLastBerzerker #DanAbdo #JasonPatterson #MiddleGradeComics #GraphicNovelCreators #ComicBookInterview #StorycomicPresents #BarbBook4 #BerzerkerSeries #KidLitComics
Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano
See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/
 
Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:https://www.podbean.com/storycomic
 
Follow us:
Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com
www.patreon.com/storycomic
www.facebook.com/storycomic1
https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/
For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com
 
Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devlin, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:
https://marekbennett.com/
https://www.hexapus-ink.com/
https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/
https://www.vonallan.com/
https://higgins802.com/
https://shewstone.com/
https://www.simkikuznick.com/
https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/
https://benjaminhunting.com/
https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/
https://www.pigmacast.com/
Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!