Rising Stars: Meet David Rickert of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Rickert.

Hi David, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have drawn comics all my life, really. I started out copying illustrations from my Big Little Books, and eventually moved on to drawing my own stories. I had a comic strip in the Ohio State University Lantern for two and a half years. (please don’t try to find them. They are not good!) I made my way into the educational comics market around 2007 and sold comic lessons for topics such as parts of speech, figurative language, and adaptations of Shakespeare plays. During COVID my friend Caitlin Mitchell encouraged my to write a book and after going back and forth on ideas with my agent, I produced two non-fiction middle grade graphic novels: Pizza, Pickles, and Apple Pie and Checkups, Shots, and Robots.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To be honest, I’ve had it pretty easy. I got an agent and then we sent out a proposal to publishers and had a contract within six months. My biggest obstacles have been finding the time to work on my comics (I have a full time job as a teacher) and the physical pain that comes along with working at a desk for hours. I also tend to be a bit of a control freak when it comes to my work, and once it gets turned over to editors and art directors who need changes made I can get pretty defensive sometimes before realizing that (most of the time) it will make a better book.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Pizza, Pickles, and Apple Pie: The Stories Behind the Foods We Love
Checkups, Shots, and Robots: True Stories About How Doctors Treat Us
My comics have been used in Pearson India’s textbooks.
I also designed a flyer for the Greater Columbus Arts Council which I am very proud of.

What matters most to you? Why?
Right now what matters is a graphic novel I’m working on with Dr. Allison Wood Brooks, who is one of the foremost experts on conversation. I can’t tell too much about it yet, but this will be the first book that I’ve co-authored and I’ve been working on it quite a lot.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://davidrickert.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickertdraws/
• Other: https://substack.com/@davidrickert