Tor Freeman's guest appearances

Tor Freeman

Make It Then Tell Everybody

In Writing with Hattie Crisell

On Reading

Studiomate Steve

Ryan North

Charlie Adlard

Declan Shalvey

Lucy Knisley

Vera Brosgol

Scott McCloud

Becca Tobin

Jonathan Edwards

Danielle Corsetto

Kyle T. Webster

Claudia Winkleman

Christopher Hastings

Jeffrey Brown

John Allison

Chris Schweizer

OwlTail

This week's guest is my friend Tor Freeman, who writes and illustrates comics and children's picture books. Tor is a hugely imaginative person, a smart observer of human nature, and a very funny writer. Her comics include Sister Clawdetta: Murder at the Monastery and Welcome to Oddleigh, while her children's books include The Toucan Brothers and Olive and the Bad Mood. In November 2017 she was the winner of the Observer/Cape/Comica graphic short story prize (you can read her entry here).   We sat down at her home in Shepherd's Bush, London, in October 2022 to talk about the mysteries of creative inspiration, how she brings together images and words, and the perils of working alone at home (including a profound question all freelancers will recognise: are you distressed or do you just need a banana?).  One of my favourites of Tor's personal comics, Dad's Improvement Schemes: https://www.instagram.com/p/CglvcldIiuO/  Her newsletter, The ReposiTORy: https://torfreeman.substack.com/  Wrapping paper and prints for sale, illustrated by Tor: https://torfreeman.bigcartel.com/  The Book that No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade, with very funny illustrations by Tor: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5954/9781529500301   Browse some of Tor's books and others by guests of the podcast in the In Writing bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/in-writing  This season of In Writing is sponsored by Curtis Brown Creative. Use code INWRITING20 for £20 off one of their four, five, six, or ten-week online writing courses. Visit curtisbrowncreative.co.uk to find out more.

This week's guest is my friend Tor Freeman, who writes and illustrates comics and children's picture books. Tor is a hugely imaginative person, a smart observer of human nature, and a very funny writer. Her comics include <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5954/9781916311817" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sister Clawdetta: Murder at the Monastery</a> and <a href="https://bog-eyed-books.com/books/welcome-to-oddleigh/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Welcome to Oddleigh</a>, while her children's books include <a href="https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30917403812&amp;ref_=ps_ggl_2039220669&amp;cm_mmc=ggl-_-UK_Shopp_Tradestandard-_-product_id=UK9781447218630USED-_-keyword=&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwla-hBhD7ARIsAM9tQKsQbkgjE2vENslLhgW4e4H8vM3LMEzIYEJ4oX6cGmZpA6CGoTMFhRkaAkXtEALw_wcB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Toucan Brothers</a> and <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5954/9781848773509" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Olive and the Bad Mood</a>. In November 2017 she was the winner of the Observer/Cape/Comica graphic short story prize (you can <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/ng-interactive/2017/nov/05/graphic-short-story-if-youre-so-wise-how-come-youre-dead" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">read her entry here</a>). We sat down at her home in Shepherd's Bush, London, in October 2022 to talk about the mysteries of creative inspiration, how she brings together images and words, and the perils of working alone at home (including a profound question all freelancers will recognise: are you distressed or do you just need a banana?). One of my favourites of Tor's personal comics, Dad's Improvement Schemes: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CglvcldIiuO/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/p/CglvcldIiuO/</a> Her newsletter, The ReposiTORy: <a href="https://torfreeman.substack.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://torfreeman.substack.com/</a> Wrapping paper and prints for sale, illustrated by Tor: <a href="https://torfreeman.bigcartel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://torfreeman.bigcartel.com/</a> The Book that No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade, with very funny illustrations by Tor: <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5954/9781529500301" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5954/9781529500301</a> Browse some of Tor's books and others by guests of the podcast in the In Writing bookshop: <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/in-writing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/in-writing</a> This season of In Writing is sponsored by Curtis Brown Creative. Use code INWRITING20 for £20 off one of their four, five, six, or ten-week online writing courses. Visit <a href="http://curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">curtisbrowncreative.co.uk</a> to find out more.

S5 Ep49: Tor Freeman, comic book writer and illustrator

In the first episode I chat to genius author and illustrator Tor Freeman who tells us about her life and experiences of being in the children's book industry and her latest book with Richard Ayoade.

Episode 1: Tor Freeman

Tor Freeman and Dan Berry chat about developing a work ethic, improvising stories and the hierarchy of art tools. Be sure to read Tor's story The Temptation of Mr Rose on Instagram. Consider supporting the show on Patreon for as little as a dollar per episode! Also check out Dan's Creative Mentoring program.

<a href="https://www.torfreeman.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tor Freeman</a> and Dan Berry chat about developing a work ethic, improvising stories and the hierarchy of art tools. Be sure to read Tor's story <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tormalore/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Temptation of Mr Rose</a> on Instagram. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/makethentell" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Consider supporting the show on Patreon for as little as a dollar per episode!</a> <a href="http://makethentell.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Also check out Dan's Creative Mentoring program.</a>

Tor was born and educated in London, lived for a while in California and graduated from Kingston University with a BA in Illustration. She has been working as a freelance illustrator, author and comic maker ever since. Her work has been hailed by readers and critics alike as “bursting with imagination and good-natured humour” (Andy Oliver). In 2012 she was awarded a Sendak Fellowship. In November 2017 she won the Observer/Cape/Comica graphic short story prize. Fat Ten Sausages won Best Laugh Out Loud Picture Book in the 2020 LOLLIES Awards. Get the books from Bookshop.org (and help to support independent bookshops) here.

Tor was born and educated in London, lived for a while in California and graduated from Kingston University with a BA in Illustration. She has been working as a freelance illustrator, author and comic maker ever since. Her work has been hailed by readers and critics alike as “bursting with imagination and good-natured humour” (Andy Oliver). In 2012 she was awarded a Sendak Fellowship. In November 2017 she won the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/nov/05/happy-10th-birthday-to-observer-cape-comica-graphic-short-story-prize-interview-winners-tor-freeman" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Observer/Cape/Comica graphic short story prize</a>. Fat Ten Sausages won Best Laugh Out Loud Picture Book in the 2020 LOLLIES Awards. Get the books from <a href="http://Bookshop.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a> (and help to support independent bookshops) <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/tor-freeman" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.