L’Euguélionne is VERY EXCITED to receive the rare visit of Maria Stoian, illustrator and graphic novelist from Scotland! Maria is the author of the graphic novel «Take It As a Compliment», now available in French under the title «Tu pourrais me remercier», a collection of anonymous stories that reflect real life experiences of sexual abuse, violence and harassment.

The evening will start with a relaxed discussion between Maria and the graphic novelist Val-Bleu, author of LES PÉNIS INATTENDUS (The Unexpected Penises) about the power of graphic novels and storytelling to create solidarity and denounce sexual harassment – connecting violent and traumatic experiences to the daunting accumulation of so-called “compliments”.

Following the discussion, Maria will be signing and adorning copies of the book with her beautiful drawings!

** Please note that the conversation will happen in English with a translation in French available upon request**

✦✦✧TU POURRAIS ME REMERCIER – LA BANDE DESSINÉE CONTRE LE HARCÈLEMENT SEXUEL✦✦✧
L’Euguélionne est TRÈS EXCITÉE de recevoir la rare visite de Maria Stoian, illustratrice et autrice de bande dessinée venue d’Écosse. Maria est l’autrice de la bande dessinée «Tu pourrais me remercier», un recueil d’histoires anonymes qui reflètent des expériences vécues d’abus sexuel, de violence et de harcèlement.

La soirée va commencer par une discussion décontractée avec Maria Stoian et Val-Bleu (autrice de la BD «Les pénis inattendus) sur le pouvoir de la bande dessinée pour dénoncer le harcèlement sexuel – allant des expériences violentes et traumatiques à l’épuisante accumulation de pseudo-“compliments”.

Les autrices vont ensuite dédicacer et orner vos bandes dessinées de jolis dessins 🙂

** Veuillez noter que l’échange aura lieu majoritairement en anglais, avec une traduction en français disponible sur demande!**

✦✦✧ABOUT TAKE IT AS A COMPLIMENT✦✦✧
Take it as a Compliment is an award-winning collection of anonymous stories, received online, through emails, and interviews.

“I was fifteen.”
“I never saw him again.”
“They chanted after me, ‘Oscar the Grouch, Oscar the Grouch.”

Bringing together the voices of males and females of all ages, the stories in this collective graphic memoir reflect real life experiences of sexual abuse, violence and harassment.

Each experience is brought to life by Maria Stoian’s exceptional artwork. Her unique and varied styles powerfully reflect the tone and mood of the different stories and in just a few pages express the complex emotions felt by victims of sexual abuse.

Covering acts such as sexual violence, public sexual harassment, domestic abuse and child abuse, this is a reminder for survivors that they are not alone and a call for all of us to take action. The stories clearly show that assault of any type is not an honour bestowed on anyone. It is not a compliment.

Awards
2016 British Book Design Awards: Best Graphic Novel
2016 SICBA Awards: Best Graphic Novel (for Take it as a Compliment)
Independent Publisher’s 2016 Outstanding Book of the Year, Independent Spirit Award

More on the book: http://www.mariastoian.com/Take-it-as-a-compliment

✦✦✧ABOUT VAL-BLEU✦✦✧
Val-Bleu (Valérie Jacques-Bélair) is a Montreal-based graphic novelist who likes to broach social questions with art. Firmly feminist, she expresses her reality and those of others through a simple and naive drawing style, and a solid dose of humour. She tries to dedramatize complex situations in order to open dialogues with people who would prefer to avoid discussing such topics.
http://val-bleu.blogspot.ca/

À PROPOS DE VAL-BLEU
Val-Bleu (Valérie Jacques-Bélair) est une bédéiste montréalaise qui aime aborder des thématiques sociales. Féministe, elle exprime sa réalité et celle des autres avec un dessin naïf et simple, ainsi qu’une bonne touche d’humour. Elle tend ainsi à dédramatiser des situations complexes afin d’ouvrir une discussion avec des gens qui préféreraient éviter ces sujets.
http://val-bleu.blogspot.ca/