Noelle Stevenson's The Fire Never Goes Out is a memoir of Noelle's life between 2009 and 2019 told in part through drawings and in part through 'year in review' prose. (My review will be up soon!) To celebrate the release of the book, Noelle stopped by our lockers to chat about the book, a really quality YA idea, and canned wine.
- Noelle Stevenson Art
- Noelle Stevenson Interview
- Noelle Stevenson Graphic Memoir
- Noelle Stevenson Memoir
- Noelle Stevenson Memoir List
- Noelle Stevenson Memoir Summary
From Noelle Stevenson, the New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of Nimona, comes a captivating, honest illustrated memoir that finds her turning an important corner in her creative journey-and inviting readers along for the ride. In a collection of essays and personal mini-comics that span eight years of her young adult life, author-illustrator Noelle Stevenson charts the highs. The Fire Never Goes Out A Memoir in Pictures (Book): Stevenson, Noelle: 'In a collection of personal comics that span eight years of her young adult life, author-illustrator Noelle Stevenson charts the highs and lows of being a creative human in the world.' -Provided by publisher.
From Noelle Stevenson, the New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of Nimona, comes a captivating, honest illustrated memoir that finds her turning an important corner in her creative journey—and inviting readers along for the ride.In a collection of essays and personal mini-comics that span eight years of her young adult life, author-illustrator Noelle Stevenson charts the highs. But a memoir can be an extension of a life. The Fire Never Goes Out: A Memoir in Pictures is what is known as a graphic memoir containing both her words and her artwork in a masterful combination. My first exposure to Noelle Stevenson and her work was back in 2014.
THE ACTUAL BOOK-RELATED QUESTIONS
How does The Fire Never Goes Out differ from your other work(s)?
I’ve mostly done narrative work in the past, so a memoir is definitely new to me! This book is also more of a collection instead of a traditionally scripted work.
What interested you about writing/illustrating a memoir?
All my work is pretty personal, but I’m not used to actually writing about myself. I’m not sure I would have, but I’d already been making these diary comics for close to ten years … so when my editor had the idea to compile them into a book, I was really excited about it!
Are there any lessons in the book that you really want readers to learn and/or take to heart?
I think the core narrative is about burnout, and prioritizing your professional output as the most important thing about you while neglecting everything else you need to thrive and live a balanced life as a person, not just a content-creating machine. When I first started making the year-in-review posts that are a big part of this book, they were all about bragging about my professional accomplishments—I thought that was what gave me worth. But quickly, I got tired and overwhelmed, and more than anything, scared of messing everything up. I spent years pretending I’d worked past my burnout, when really it was getting worse and worse—it wasn’t until it all blew up in my face that I actually made the steps to get better, and take care of myself, and seek out connections that actually made me happier and more stable as a person. I don’t think I really have the answers to this huge problem that so many young people struggle with, but I hope it brings some sense of solidarity to others who are going through the same thing.
Fist pump!
Do you see yourself writing a follow-up memoir later in life? (I.e., is this the first volume in your memoir series?)
We’ll see! I’m certainly not going to stop making diary comics, so there’s a chance they could end up being another book of their own one day.
No spoilers, but what can we expect to see from you next?
The next season of my show She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is coming out soon, and a lot of other things are brewing. Stay tuned!
THE YA QUESTIONS
If your real-life adolescence was a YA book ..
What would you, the main character, be like?
Awkward repressed drama club kid in a Relient K t-shirt and well-Sharpied Chucks, looking for love but mostly settling for flirting with the ticket-taker at the indie movie theater.
Who is your secret crush?
On the one hand, the safe, skinny, floppy-haired boy who will definitely come out as gay one day; on the other, the cool artsy girl in overalls who makes me mix tapes, but I’m not sure what to do with that one yet.
What is your number #1 source of angst?
Falling in love with the boy who plays my love interest in the school play, then having my heart drop out of my chest when he starts hooking up with the other lead.
At what point would the reader pump his/her fist in victory?
When I ditch the drama of the cast party to drive off in a Ford Explorer with the cool artsy girl, still in my costume.
When is this book coming out? Because I need to read it, STAT.
And who would play you in the film adaptation?
Probably Shannon Purser.
The actual Noelle, from Instagram.
THE SLUMBER PARTY QUESTIONS
What is your secret power?
I can quote all of Lord of the Rings (extended editions).
*wolf whistles in awe*
What is your #1 favorite food?
Sushi!
Tell me about your area of expertise.
I know a lot about mountaineering disasters.
Noelle Stevenson Art
If you could assemble your own Ocean's 11 of fictional characters, who would you pick and why?
Oh, that’s a lot. Okay. I’m going to say the whole cast of She-Ra because I’m a cheater.
What is your best karaoke song?
'Wuthering Heights' by Kate Bush.
Tell me something scandalous!
I’ve got a huge crush on Molly Ostertag.
ADORABLE. New operating systems for mac.
What is your favorite adult beverage?
Canned wine!
What book have you read the most number of times?
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.
Who is your “freebie”?
Mackenzie Davis.
YA authors are so cool. Who would you give a BFF charm to?
I’d give one to my real BFF Aimee Fleck!
Out of all of the characters you’ve written, which one do you most wish you could be?
Nimona because she can shapeshift, and I want that.
If you were invited to the FYA slumber party (and, obvs, you ARE), what pajamas would you wear, and what is the most crucial snack food and/or movie you’d bring?
Athletic shorts, knee socks, and an oversized Three Wolf Moon t-shirt. I’d definitely bring some chips and queso, you can’t go wrong with a good queso.
AND NOW, MASH
Noelle made three picks for each category, and I added a fourth. The magic number (chosen by a random number generator) was 5.
MASH
Noelle Stevenson Interview
PARTNER
A dragon
Scorpia
Black Canary from Birds of Prey
Nimona
HONEYMOON
The sunken wreckage of the Titanic
Enya’s castle full of cats
A sleepover camp (à la The Lumberjanes's camp)
Mt. Everest
# OF KIDS
A Sims family
18 Great Danes
2
8
Noelle Stevenson Graphic Memoir
JOB
Comic artist
Librarian
Park rangerSteamboat captain
INCOME
Noelle Stevenson Memoir
A chest of gold doubloons
Capitalism collapses and we pay each other in favors
Exposure
Magic spells
HOMETOWN
Dance ejay for mac os. The Shadow Realm
The Gay Agenda
Columbia, South CarolinaA cave beneath the sea
PET
Noelle Stevenson Memoir List
A pet rock
Swift Wind
A miniature dragon
A permakitten
CAR
No car, you just walk everywhere really fast
A covered wagonA really big slingshot
The Popemobile
Noelle Stevenson Memoir Summary
Thanks for stopping by, Noelle!
The Fire Never Goes Out: A Memoir in Pictures is available now.