2026/10/23: Debbie Fong - "It’s a Hoot" Owl Experience with Sweetbriar Nature Center
WHAT: It’s a Hoot Owl Experience with Sweetbriar Nature Center - Debbie Fong author visit
WHEN: 4:30 pm , Friday, Oct. 23, 2026
WHERE: Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown, NY 11787
Author Debbie Fong will read from her cozy new book The Faraway Forest: Hester’s Big Dream, starring Hester the costume making owl. Discover Hester’s journey to make new friends and get acquainted with several different kinds of owls from the Sweetbriar Nature Center. Books will be available for purchase, personalization and signing. Come in costume or cozy pajamas.
2026/11/21: Debbie Fong NCTE Book Signing
WHAT: Debbie Fong NCTE Book Signing panel
WHEN: 4 pm ET, Saturday, November 21, 2026
WHERE: Chronicle Books Booth #304
NCTE Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Debbie Fong will be signing The Faraway Forest: Hester’s Big Dream, along with Grant Snider, at the Chronicle Books booth!
2026.06.20: How to Launch Your Graphic Novel – Free Masterclass
WHAT: How to Launch Your Graphic Novel free online masterclass
WHEN: 1 pm ET, Saturday, June 20, 2026
WHERE: On Zoom -- click here to RSVP
On Saturday June 20th, I’m teaching a free masterclass for creators launching graphic novels and illustrated books for kids and teens. The framework I'll be teaching applies to all types of books and comics, whether you’re working with a traditional publisher, self-publishing, or crowdfunding on a platform like Kickstarter.
We'll talk about how to:
- make a plan that works with your strengths
- avoid burnout when you have a lot to do and little time
- be resourceful when you have very little money to spend
- stay authentic (even if you’re an introvert!)
This masterclass is the kickoff to my six-week live bootcamp, How to Launch Your Graphic Novel, which begins July 7.
The masterclass is free to attend—sign up through Kids Comics Unite. Email me if you have any questions, and I hope to see you there!
2026/04/12-16: Janna Co. at the Bologna Book Fair
Janna Co. at the Bologna Book Fair
WHAT: The Bologna Book Fair 2026
WHEN: Sunday, April 12-Thursday, April 16, 2026
WHERE: Hall 30, Stand D30/E29/F27 (the Comics Corner)
Click here to RSVP or learn more.
I’m going to be exhibiting at the Bologna Book Fair for the first time, with a booth in the Comics Corner. I’ll be accompanied by two wonderful Janna Co. clients, Claudia Rueda and Jade Vaughan. Claudia will be speaking on several panels at the event about her new series The Smushkins, and I’ll be moderating a panel on “The Artist as Entrepreneur” for Bologna Books Plus. I’ll also be offering portfolio reviews at the Mimaster Illustrators Survival Corner. Finally, Jade and I will be spreading the word about Kids Comics Unite and will organize a Bologna meetup for comics creators.
More details about all these sessions coming soon.
Please email me if you’d like to set up a meeting at the show, or just stop by to say hi!
2026-02-22: Meet the Smushkins Storytime by Claudia Rueda at the Eric Carle Museum
This past Saturday, Claudia Rueda gave a "Meet the Smushkins" presentation at the Eric Carle Museum in Massachusetts.
Her timing was perfect; the talk happened the day before the Noreaster hit New England!
Claudia introduced each of the main characters...
... talked about their individual personalities ...
... and explained a bit about her creative process:
After the talk, Claudia spoke with young fans and signed copies of the book for them (with funny Smushkins drawings, of course!):
Notice the cute Smushkins stickers she has to give away, too!!
Meet the Smushkins had pride of place at the museum shop, along with some of Claudia's other books:
And I think this picture captures Claudia's infectious, playful spirit!
Learn More
- Info about Claudia's workshops and author visits
- Info about Meet the Smushkins
2026/06/28: The Growing Demand for Kid-Friendly Manga: A Guide for Librarians panel
The Growing Demand for Kid-Friendly Manga: A Guide for Librarians panel
HOSTED BY: The American Library Association
WHEN: Sunday, June 28, 2026
WHERE: ALA Annual 2026, Chicago
Click here to RSVP or learn more.
Kid-friendly manga is one of the fastest-growing and most requested areas in children’s and middle grade collections—but it can also be one of the hardest to curate. With so many titles aimed at teens or adults, librarians often struggle to identify age-appropriate manga that still excites young readers.
In this session, manga creator Misako Rocks! (Bounce Back, Macmillan and How to Draw Kawaii Manga, Quarto); Briana Lawrence (The Essential Manga Guide, Running Press); and Sara Smith, a District Librarian for a rural district in California and the creator of The Graphic Library (Manga Goes to School: Cultivating Engagement and Inclusion in the K-12 Settings, ALA Editions), will explore the growing demand for kid-friendly manga and why it matters for school and public libraries. Together, they’ll provide practical strategies for discovering, evaluating, and promoting manga that works for middle grade readers. Attendees will leave with a collection development tips, and programming ideas to connect kids with manga they’ll love—while building stronger and more diverse manga graphic novel collections.
2022/02/05: All About Graphic Novels Day, with Writer and Illustrator Master Classes
90 minute webinar panel with Megan Lloyd, Janna Morishima, and Kiara Valdez
Exploring writing or illustrating a graphic novel? Already have one in progress? Just want to learn more about a growing segment of children’s publishing? Learn more in the webinar offered by SCBWI.
In the morning panel middle-grade graphic novel author Megan Lloyd (Allergic, Scholastic, 2021), agent Janna Morishima (Janna Co.), and editor Kiara Valdez (First Second Books) will talk about craft, submissions, scheduling, the current market, and more, followed by Q&A.
RSVP Information
HOSTED BY: Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022
11:00 am ET
10:00 am CT
9:00 am MT
8:00 am PT
WHERE: Online
Registration to view webinar live and access recording for 30 days: SCBWI Members: $15; Non-members: $25
2 hour online masterclass for ILLUSTRATORS and writer-illustrators with Janna Morishima: Round Table Review of Finished Graphic Novel Spreads based on a Homework Prompt
Live participants will create a finished graphic novel page or spread based on the homework prompt. They also have the option of attending an online peer-to-peer roundtable on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at 7-8:30 PM EST to give each other feedback on work-n-progress, and will receive an in-webinar review of their work during the master class.
Homework Prompt: Tell the story of a moment from one of your strongest childhood memories that had a big impact on you.
Specifications: Prepare your assignment in a 6” x 9” format (single page) or 12″ x 9″ (spread), using as many panels as you like. It can be color or B&W, in your own style. Make sure it includes character development, panels, and treatment of text/dialogue.
RSVP Information
HOSTED BY: Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022
3:00 pm ET
2:00 pm CT
1:00 pm MT
12:00 pm PT
WHERE: Online
Registration with in-webinar homework review: SCBWI Members: $60; Non-members: $80
Registration to access recording only: SCBWI Members: $15; Non-members: $25
2022/01/15: Kathlyn J. Kirkwood, author of Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round, signing in Parnassus Books
Parnassus Books is pleased to welcome Kathlyn J. Kirkwood, author of Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round: My Story of the Making of Martin Luther King Day for a signing of her debut memoir for children. Drop in any time between 2-3 PM central to meet Dr. Kirkwood and purchase a signed copy of Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round: My Story of the Making of Martin Luther King Day.
RSVP Information
HOSTED BY: Parnassus Books
WHEN: 2:00 pm CST/ 3:00 pm EST, Saturday, Jan. 15
WHERE: 3900 Hillsboro Pike Suite 14, Nashville, TN 37215
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2021/12/07: The Power of Humor in Picture Books
Discover the power of silliness with a guy who knows how to get eye-level with kids and make them chuckle in this free webinar offered by Benchmark Education. New York Times best-selling author Ed Masessa will show educators ways to use picture books to spark joyful engagement. He'll focus on his two recent laugh-out-loud picture books, There Was an Old Dog Who Needed a Nap, and Snowman's Big Adventure.
RSVP Information
HOSTED BY: Benchmark Education
WHEN: 1:00 pm ET/10:00 am PT, Tuesday, Dec. 7
WHERE: Online