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About Invisible Ink

This comic is based on ten interviews with ten amazing people working in children's literature to make a positive difference. I am a PhD researcher and this comic book forms a part of my research on how comics practice can help to address erasure of stories for marginalised goups.

One thing that struck me during these interviews was a shared belief in the power of creativity, community and positivity, in spite of the challenges people face. Another is a belief in the transformative power of being able to see yourself in the stories you read, especially as a child.

This comic wouldn't have been possible without Dylan Calder's symposium on equality in children's literature which I attended and ran a comics workshop at. Dylan was instrumental in putting me in contact with speakers afterwards and even set up and attended some early interviews.

Thanks again to these ten brilliant people for their time, care and vision. I only hope the inspiration I felt speaking with them comes across in the comics that follow.

About the author

Emma jackson is a comics author and researcher. Her PhD research at Manchester metropolitan University explores the use of comics
practice to reimagine erased stories from marginalised groups.

SHE previously set up Story Drawing Club which took illustrated story workshops into schools with disadvantaged students. Her Story Drawing Club Art Book funded by Arts Council England was distributed to 1,000 UK children.

Interviewees for Invisible Ink I

Erika Meza, author and illustrator
Robin Stevenson, author
Farrah Serroukh, Research and Development Director, Centre for Literacy in Primary Education
Dylan Calder, Lecturer in Publishing at Manchester Metropolitan University
Namrata Tripathi, Founder and Publisher of Kolkila Books
Elorine Grant, Director of Illustrated fiction, HarperCollins
David Roberts, author and illustrator
Amy McKay, school librarian, former School Librarian of the Year
Az Dassu, author of “Boy, Everywhere”
Jasmine Richards, Founder of Storymix

Presentations and press for Invisible Ink I

Frankfurt Book Fair presentation article, in The Bookseller, September 2026

Last Updated 24.10.37

Invisible Ink I: Changemakers in Children’s Literature