Hello and welcome to my Substack!
I'm Emma, creator of Kitty and Corgi and Friends, the Brave Little Warrior Mouse, the Kimono Mousies, Space Chicken (and soon, Space Pigeon), Pet Lemon, and many more characters. My world is overflowing with stories and characters, and I can scarcely contain it! I'm thrilled to have you here, whether you're a familiar face from my Instagram (great to see you again!) or discovering my creations for the first time (lovely to meet you!).
I believe a short introduction is in order: I am a writer and illustrator, crafting cute characters in expansive worlds. My creations are more than just the cute images and stickers you see on Instagram or the merchandise they decorate. They're more than the coloring books I've created. However, as I'm currently in the process of querying my children’s books (and want to make sure that they remain publishable!), I have kept those stories private, sharing only web comics on Instagram so far.
But countless other tales, comics, weekly mini-stories, and serials are waiting to be shared! I launched this Substack exactly for these reasons: to share the adventures of Kitty and Corgi or the Mousies (ones that might not find their way into a book) with my followers; to explore all my characters’ worlds together; to make new friends (both online and in the imaginary realm); and to share things that are going on behind the scenes with you. Maybe you peek behind the curtain, seeking sneak peeks or actively participating in shaping a story. Well, here you get to be part of it all!
All that said, I am passionate about all forms of Story, whether visual or written. I've had millions of adventures through reading, writing, drawing, painting, and immersing myself in the works of others. This inspiration has only grown stronger and my writing/creating has become more prolific over the years. It’s true that all you have to do is prime the pump by setting pen to paper. If you practice writing regularly, stories will gush forth from your pen like a fountain.
I have a deep love and passion for more traditional stories: the hero's journey, morality tales that teach right from wrong, fairy tales that transport you to other realms, and folk tales that illuminate bravery and courage. I'm particularly fond of children's stories that teach gratitude and kindness.
Another thing I love is third person perspective (both limited and omniscient) in writing. These days, it seems bookstores are cluttered with 1st person perspectives, and traditional stories seem to be more difficult to find all the time.
If I were only a reader, I would fear running out of those classic stories I crave. (Among my favorite and most re-read books? The Harry Potter series!) But as a storyteller, one of my favorite things is to write the stories that I want to read. No one else is going to tell the stories I want to read, hear, or watch. So, of course, I happily invent my own stories.
Maybe it’s an odd thing, but I like to believe that when I write, I am just peering into another dimension and documenting the story I see unfolding before me. I’m not trying to make these stories up, but rather, I see the whole world—the universe!— in my mind’s eye, and I can’t seem to write fast enough. I hope Substack will be a nice way for me to share these stories and give some of them life they might not otherwise find through a major publisher.
So, welcome! I'm Emma, and I'll be sharing my writing with you weekly on this platform. In the beginning, you can expect a mix of things until I find what my readers and I enjoy most: serials, web comics, short stories, silly stories, behind the scenes, glimpses into my writing process, sharing my inspiration, sharing my ideas – and even taking story requests if you would like me to write about a certain topic.
Thanks for being part of this adventure! I know this may have been a bit of a rambly introduction, but I’m excited and decided to let it all out :) Let's keep the creativity flowing. Subscribe to get more stories straight to your inbox, follow me on Instagram @emma_juneau_art for lots of cute art and timelapse videos, and check out my website at KittyandCorgi.com!
Until next time, happy reading, and keep dreaming!
Love,
Emma