The following is an interview with Agnes Lee regarding the upcoming release of her debut graphic novel, 49 Days, with Levine Querido. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Lee about her creative process in bringing the story and characters to life on the page, how her own journey with grief influenced the narrative, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of 49 Days! For those who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the story’s premise?
Agnes Lee: Thank you! 49 Days is the story of Kit, a young Korean American woman, who has passed away. Taking the Buddhist concept of Bardo, we follow her story in the in-between, where she comes to terms with her own death, while her friends and family grieve for her in the real world.
BD: What can you tell us about your creative process in bringing this story and characters to life on the page, and how much of your own experiences influenced your narrative?
AL: I had been wanting to create a story about death and grief after the passing of my high school best friend for a long time, but I had a very difficult time creating a story around it. As the story of 49 Days came together, I pulled a lot from my personal life into it. Obviously, the core exploration of grief is based on my own past, but there are other aspects of my life that are represented in the book. I don’t consider myself a very creative person, so I find drawing from personal experiences a very powerful aid in storytelling.
BD: What makes Levine Querido the perfect home for 49 Days?
AL: Levine Querido gives authors of underrepresented backgrounds a space to tell their unique stories which is very empowering. With the LQ team behind me, I feel confident that 49 Days will reach a large audience.
BD: Graphic Medicine is an emerging genre that combines the field of medicine with the medium of comics. How do you feel that Graphic Medicine stories like yours can help to better depict the stages of grief that one may experience?
AL: The process of grief is not a clear or easy one, and often not talked about. It’s difficult to sort through pain and vulnerability while trying to move forward. Telling these stories helps open the door to conversation and show that people are not alone in their experience. I found it personally helpful to read other stories about death to see how others have navigated their way through grief.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Kit’s story may connect with and impact readers?
AL: I hope that readers find Kit’s story meaningful and comforting. While there can be a lot of feelings of anger and frustration with an unexpected death of a loved one, I hope that readers can ultimately feel comforted knowing how much they loved us.
BD: Are there any upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
AL: I’m not working on any big projects at the moment. I’m just taking some time to make more comics and continue to work on my art practice.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about 49 Days?
AL: Please check out Levine Querido’s book page for 49 Days. It includes links to a variety of sellers.
