Posted in: Comics, san diego comic con | Tagged: comic con, Comics, entertainment, san diego, san diego comic con, sdcc, sdcc '16, sdcc16

G. Willow Wilson Reads From Her Next Novel, The Bird King, At San Diego Comic-Com

Written by Marilyn Weiss

From the age of fifteen, G. Willow Wilson knew that she wanted to write comics, but wasn't quite sure how she would get there. Raised as an atheist, she started to come into her faith during her teen years when she discovered Islam. She converted in secret and moved to Cairo where worked as a journalist. She described her arrival to Cairo as a sink or swim situation. With limited understanding of the language, she either had to go home or learn fast, and with she had no desire to return home.

As for her journey from Air, her first graphic novel, to her current work on Ms. Marvel, it's been an interesting one. She wrote her first novel and sent in the first draft while in labor. Wilson joked "that's what I do well, write things and get pregnant." And when Marvel called her up and offered her opportunity to create a new Muslim character she eagerly agreed. Working with Sana Amanat, the pair had complete creative freedom over the backstory and design of Kamala Khan. Wilson was a little worried about the hate mail she might receive for writing the character, but she saw the need for a character like Kamala. Speaking about the overwhelmingly positive reception of the character Willow said that is was "one of the most life-affirming things, I'm a different person now."

Wilson has begun work on her second novel, which is to be titled The Bird King. Wilson treated her audience to a reading of the first chapter of The Bird King. The first chapter follows the young concubine Fatima as she slips out of her harem quarters to visit her friend Hassan. Fatima has become obsessed with and outdated map, and longs to see the world outside of the palace walls. Willow takes great care in describing her world, inviting her captive audience into the detailed and vibrant world she has created. The Bird King has no set release date.

The question portion of the panel was short and focused on diversity in comics. Wilson has helped to bring a voice to fans who have felt underrepresented in a medium that they so dearly love and fans are hungry for more. Willow was happy that stories like hers have helped to initiate a conversation about diversity but acknowledged that there is still a lot of work to be done. She hopes that books like hers will create real world opportunities and hopes to see the comic industry make room for new writers and creators.

Marilyn Weiss is a contributor for Bleeding Cool and loves her job as a children's librarian. You can find her on twitter @marilynjweiss

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