Feature Chance for Women’s History Month

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Quote
"Blue roses have a special meaning, they represent eternal and unattainable love. The strong feelings and words that could not be spoken remained hidden because of fear, yet they were kept forever in the hearts of both of them, creating an almost magical bond that would unite their destinies again".

Tell us what creating series means to you as a woman in the webcomic/webnovel industry
Hello, I'm a comic author from Ecuador, I'm 19 years old and this is my first time publishing a comic and I'm happy with the reception it has had, because in my country there are few women comic authors and the industry is just growing. I know that the road can be difficult but even so I feel that this is an opportunity for many more people to tell their stories.

Even though the main characters of my series are boys, I know that anyone can identify with them, after all they are young people being young and having their first romance 🥰.

1. Day to day shenanigans and misadventures in my life filtered through my memories. Mostly the truth.

2. Episode 20 about learning to be comfortable in my own skin and accepting my body as it is: "Challenge accepted".

3. I began drawing and publishing comics during the October of the pandemic, and so, it's true that I have not been doing this for long. I started, not as a part of a grand scheme to be a shining beacon to other women, but as a way to connect with other human beings while isolating. I needed an outlet and a way to relate to others. What I have found is a community of artists, mostly women, who have jobs, who have hardships, who have real world social and economic issues, and yet who have come together to share their art and stories. It's been inspiring to get to know and to befriend these fantastic people. Being able to say, hey, I am a creator and I am part of this community, has been a wonderful experience. What can I say? Being a woman and now being a part of this industry means I have a space to voice my ideas as well as a community that extends far beyond my apartment walls.

Logline: A young, forgotten intern working in a magical museum finds her purpose in life and most importantly, the family she never had.

Quote: Jamie: Thank you for coming after me.
Nick: Of course. You are my family and family always comes first.

Growing up, I always considered myself a storyteller and my interest fell into the realm of sci-fi. I noticed that a lot of sci-fi series only show women as "warrior princesses" and if she was soft or "atypical" in anyway, she wasn't featured. Writing gave me a way to create the female characters that I longed to see come to life as a kid.

Wanted to share some stories made by female creators and fit the format.

Here comes my first recommendation. Obviously i can't answer point 4 because that's their work and their experience. Hope you enjoy.

Perfidia. By @arleedraws

1-. https://tapas.io/episode/17365442

2-Life after college isn't smooth sailing, career opportunities come once in a blue moon, but Yvette is determined to find her dream job.

3- "And i get it...... You probably see me as the same self centered student who walked out of your classroom.... All the time i spent daydreaming.......was time i could have used to actually pursue my dreams........but i'm not making excuses. I'm done feeling sorry for myself, and i am done daydreaming."

Edit: there's more!
Demon's house by @joannekwan Her protagonist.....is just awesome by being herself.

1-https://tapas.io/episode/123127

2-[Complete] Tula is a student just trying to get through her senior year of college. Little does she know that her new rental is inhabited by demons. Juggling her social life and these new roommates should be no problem.

3-

Quote; (This comes from a future episode)
"You think I should be afraid? I've faced hundreds of your kind, and so far, every one of them has fallen to my silver. In the end, you'll be the same."

I think its a unique opportunity being both female and asexual in an industry that is overwhelmingly male and hetero dominated. I believe it allows me to create a unique and intriguing story that is entirely character driven and has no qualms about holding back on issues that plague society all while wrapped up tight in a supernatural/horror story. I love that i get to create a female lead that is both strong in body and mind that can fight and talk with the best of the other male leads without it feeling like a shoe in. I love being able to create in the fashion I do and hope to be able to inspire other young women and nonbinary individuals to draw and create as they please.

Series logline: 'Through Hell or High Water' is a fantasy-based graphic novel series focused around a small group of unlikely companions who, through unseen outside forces, come together in order to try and stop the chaos of the Void from escaping its bindings and swallowing the Waking Realm into darkness for eternity.

This story also focuses on the best and worst elements of the mortal race as a whole, and the grey areas that hold us all together through the beginning of the end.

An inspiring quote (or two... or three!): "Dying would be giving satisfaction to the gods, and they are on my sh*t list at the moment." -Alexiandra Maclellan

“I swear to the gods if you don’t shut your mouth your trousers will be on fire.” -Fianna Talavir

"Ye’ can only smash ya’ thumb und’ra hammer so many times before it loses its’ appeal; once is usually enough." -Matilda Stonespark

What creating this series means to me: Growing up I was an only child with a VERY active imagination. My parents used to say I was born with a pencil in my hand, and I've been drawing ever since I had the ability to do so. It took many many years for me to realize that comics were in fact what I wanted to do with my creative freedom, but once I did, I loved the feeling it gave me and how it let my ideas flow. While its really hard to bond with people in my life about (as there are just not many people into comics and such in general, let alone other women), as are a lot of other creative hobbies I find myself dabbling in, the ones I have I will treasure for life. Because of this, they've helped shape me as a writer and an artist as well.

Many stories flutter around in my head, but one day they all began to coalesce into a larger and larger plot and world, and thus 'Through Hell or High Water' was born. It's a story that is very dear to me as it helps me through some of the more important issues in my life and in the world as a whole, and in a way, is an opportunity for me to get those feelings out through a good means. The characters mean a lot to me, and have various aspects of my own personality and those around me to influence them, and I love seeing them grow through this series, and I do hope others will as well!

Logline:
A short story about an old promise between two friends-turned-lovers. When trouble arises fighting monsters out in the field, Georgia will do anything to protect Jade. Although, she forgets that Jade wants to do the same for her...

Quote:
"Anywayyy...just don't worry while I'm around, alright?"

What it means to me:
Not only am I a woman in a male-dominated field, but I'm a butch lesbian with a complicated relationship with my womanhood in a...male-dominated field. I grew up absolutely obsessed with cartoons and movies, and while I did always prefer the female characters, it was difficult to truly see myself in them. The fact that they're often created to cater to the male gaze put a wall between me and them. This still happens today.

My current comic features lesbians who aren't traditionally feminine in design or personality. They're the type of characters I've ALWAYS wanted to see in media before I realized I was even allowed to present that way. I also find it deeply important that their relationship is fleshed out, and that their interactions feel real and organic...I'm sure it goes without saying that a gay couple being front and center in anything is a rarity as well.

It's clear that my work is EXTREMELY self-indulgent, but if men can be self-indulgent, then why can't I? But seriously, I aim to make my works diverse enough where all sorts of women can see themselves in it like I can.

1

https://tapas.io/series/roseforshurinai1

Henlo! Thank you for this opportunity!

Gale Shurinai has been through hell since the death of their friend and the resurrection of Corruption. Even worse, Corruption wants them back... Alive.
Will Gale finally awaken as the Azure Oracle, or will Corruption consume them once again?

It hasn't been revealed as of yet, but Gale is actually a woman who's glamoured herself to be male. As time progresses and she undergoes a period of growth, she becomes comfortable with her identity, while also awakening as a powerful figure in the War Against Corruption.

"I stopped the virus from commanding you once. I CAN DO IT AGAIN."
-Gale Shurinai

It's a scary world out there. The industry's dominated by males and ladies are mocked or ignored unless they change their pen name. But I mean...come on, ladies can (and HAVE) create stunning works, too! I've always wanted to tell a story through webcomics since I was a young lassie. Imagine my surprise when my art teacher told me I could create whatever story I wanted. I could have a voice! I could share my vision with the world! But most importantly, I could show other women that their work is valid, unique, and amazing, and that's a great message to send.

Creating a webcomic, writing a story, all that good stuff...it helps me cope with many things that upset my mental illnesses. I can cope with death, I can set abusers straight, and I can comfort those in need and help them discover the strength that was within them the entire time.

So in short, being a woman and being a webcomic creator is one of the most important steps I took in my life.
Thank you again for this opportunity, and ladies, you are AWESOME!

https://tapas.io/episode/1559020https://tapas.io/episode/15590202

1. The Island of March is divided in half by a chalk line and many controversies.
   But Morsel has a plan to make the chaos stop, stipulate a peace treaty between the opposite parties, constantly at war. It all seems to work until the owner of the island comes back.

2. "Look a girl has better things to do than wait for prince charming! I want a break from this mindset, I want to read, study, think, I want to grow as a human!"

3. All of my series talk about the condition of women, I am a historian by trade and specialized in this topic and like to showcase all forms of freedom and strength along different historical periods. Even when showcasing them in regular roles of wives and mother it is important to show what they went through an dhow they pull their lives together: some of them have the foresight in the marriage and adapt, other take care of everything and everybody, others feels no need for redemption and go on with their live embracing the "villain role" assigned to them, some wish to have a few minutes to be able to sit on the toilet in peace or go through painful miscarriages.
   My theme has always been "women conditions in history" even when I establish a tycoon in The Flower and the Nose, there is always the subtext on how people perceive Lani's being distant and feeling superior while coping with the loss of her own roots. Whether it's The Pirate Balthasar or The Mark of Cain, women are often judged, not care for, not listened to (like Cassandra), kidnapped, raped, forced into marriage and when they hold power and knowledge they are witched like Circe in The Pirate Balthasar. But it is their health, mental and emotional, that get the romance engine running, that gets the pragmatic lifestyle going, hold things together or not, because sometimes they break down too and it takes them a while to figure things out.

2: A strong-willed girl in a world of magic is chosen by the god darkness. Afraid of what the dark magic is doing to her body, she sets out on a journey with her companions to be chosen by the goddess of light instead. However, things are not as they seem, and many comedic adventures await them.
3. The main character has a tendency to remain quiet and take action immediately instead, whether that be walking away or punching her way through. Therefore, it is hard to find a defining direct quote from her, but I think this one will do: “My, my, Magnus. One would think you don’t know me at all! Have you ever seen me do something that wasn’t profitable or that wasted time? Creating a beautiful masterpiece that can search for money – well, actually anything, but preferably money – I have successfully concluded that this palace and its Lord are dirt poor, as well as the location of the map!”
4. For me, creating this or any other series is an outlet for my imagination. If I had to include how being a woman factors in, it might be related to the kind of characters I like to create as main characters. Fearless, strong, and can do anything. Women that go after what they want and stay true to their desires. It means sharing my created worlds with others, hoping they enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, and that I might bring a smile to their faces. If it inspires others, women or not, to be stronger as well, that is a plus. To be honest, I never thought too deeply about it, as I write simply because it brings me joy.

I have rarely see this done, especially in the webcomics industry, where genres like action, sci-fi/fantasy, and romance are king, but knowing I have a different message -- the reality of being a woman -- is really empowering. I've heard feedback from trans, gender non-conforming, and cis folks alike that either this story deeply resonates with them or helped them really understand the struggle in exploring one's gender identity. I've also gotten a lot of negative comments that this character's identity is "disgusting" which, as a woman artist is even more empowering to keep disrupting the status quo. I love the fact Square Hole is providing a platform to voice what many women identify with but have never read in a webcomic. I've heard my comic feels like a breath of fresh air to so many of my readers in having their voices and true experiences heard.

Quick question, does our story have to have a lady as the main character, or is it okay to have a guy as the main character, but there's still a leading lady IN the story? Thank you.