And just like that, we’ve reached our final interview with the Summer of Manga 2024 class from Saturday AM Issue 166. Last, but not least, we’re thrilled to introduce an impressive creator and our very first romance submission of the year—Lauren Taylor, aka Goldieloxbox. We can’t wait to dive into her heartfelt one-shot. Let’s hear what Lauren had to say!
“My name is Lauren Taylor, I’m from Atlanta, GA, and My story is called “I Can Hear Your Heart”!”
How’d you get into manga/comic making and storytelling?
How’d you get into manga/comic making and storytelling?“I’ve always had an interest in comics and manga, but while I was in college for animation, there was a Sequential Art club that I joined. From there, I began studying and learning what I could about the comic making process, and put what I learned to good use with personal comics.”
What advice would you give aspiring artists who want to create a manga one-shot or enter events like Summer of Manga? What should they be prepared for in terms of challenges and opportunities?
“If you want to enter a competition, definitely plan everything out accordingly. Have a story that keeps you inspired, so you have the drive to finish it. If it’s something your take delight in, it’ll be all the sweeter to see it fully fleshed out. Deadlines at important in the comic book world, and you have to be sure you can meet them.”
What do you want people to take away from your story?
“What I would love for people to take away from my story is that it’s worth taking the time and putting in the effort to understand someone, even if it’s hard. When someone struggles to be understood, that effort you put in to know them usually means the world to them. I know it does to me.”
I am a sucker for romance manga and you’ve crafted a beautiful love story here. When Aleyjah is revealed to be deaf, it adds a unique depth to her character. Did you draw from any real-life experiences or influences when deciding to include this aspect in the story?
“Aleyjah being mute has been a part of her character since her creation years ago, but inspiration for the story itself came from stories like A Silent Voice, which features a disabled character, and my own struggles with being understood.”
So glad we had the chance to speak with Lauren to hear more about her story and inspiration! Thank you, thank you for sharing! You can now read this incredibly touching one-shot I CAN HEAR YOUR HEART, RIGHT HERE
That’s a wrap folks! The talent coming out of this years Summer of Manga has been noting but inspiring. We are excited to see what’s next for these creators. Want more time with the creators of this years SOM? Founder and Publisher Frederick L. Jones sits down with them for an in-depth chat about their one-shots, thoughts, and inspirations. Watch the full interview on YouTube here! VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES! You can help decide which one of these amazing creators will be walking home with that $1000 grand prize!
