LICAF 2022: In Conversation with Rachael Smith (Lakes International Comic Art Festival, 16/10/22)

Englishman In San Diego

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, the established annual celebration of prestige comic artists, creators and publishers, once again took over a picturesque town in the UK's Lake District... but this time they weren't setting up their stalls in Kendal. Instead, they had moved beside your actual lake - I know, how novel! - with LICAF holding court in Bowness-On-Windermere over the weekend of Friday 14th-Sunday 16th October. I wasn't able to make it to the rest of the weekend's festivities - missing, by all accounts, some amazing panels. signings and appearances by world-renowned comic superstars, a performance by Charlie Adlard and his band, karaoke that will only be saved in the memory of those there and some boozy nights! However, what I took in on the Sunday was more than enough to tell me that this iteration of The Lakes International Comic Art Festival continues in the trend of a very respectable and enjoyable comic celebration. During my day, I managed to speak to a number of creatives who had been exhibiting at the show, including Rachael Smith who was basking in the glow of not only raving plaudits and reviews for her books - including the re-released WIRED UP WRONG and the standout of the lockdown QUARANTINE COMIX - but also of impending motherhood with a bairn on imminent arrival! Rachael talks to how QUARANTINE COMIX was being received by the Lakes crowds, how her weekend in the Comics Marketplace had gone and what was next for her and her work... For more information of Rachael smith, check out: https://www.rachaelsmith.org/