introducing Odi

Hi, my name is Odessa Coldwell, but everyone calls me Odi, so you should, too!

Writing this first volume has been a long journey and it’s exciting to be approaching the finish line.

Even if friends and family surround you, when you and your child are going through a tough time, it’s incredibly difficult and lonely. It’s hard for your friends to grasp the trepidation you have of just walking into your own home and closing the door behind you.

One thing that brought Ryker some happiness during this time was reading graphic novels. The images filled his body in a way typed words did not. He enjoyed El Deafo, Guts, Smile, They Called Us Enemy, Hey, Kiddo and March to name just a few. Indeed, often a well-placed graphic novel could delay or ward off a tantrum as they had this magical power of transporting Ryker to a happier place, surprising even if the novel was sad.

I told myself that when we got through the dark days, I would transpose our experience as a graphic novel in the hopes that another parent or child could find companionship or at least a very brief reprieve.

One of my many challenges though, is that I can’t draw. Like, seriously, nothing. 3 year olds can beat me at Pictionary. So I enlisted the help of my incredible illustrator, Pavel Arsenyev. We have worked closely for years now to bring the emotions, intensity, and humor we experienced to life in this first volume.

I look forward to sharing more with you about the journey and hope you will share your story, too.