Author-Illustrator Katie Reiser on Welcome to the Forest, Gouache Painting, and Kids’ Comics Publishing On Good News York, host Noah interviews Syracuse-based author and children’s book illustrator Katie Reiser about her early reader graphic novel series Welcome to the Forest, which she writes and hand-paints in gouache. She describes the books’ seasonal adventures—The Harvest Party (fall), The Lake Trip (summer), and an in-progress winter installment—and explains gouache as an opaque, matte, water-soluble paint used historically in illustration and film. Reiser outlines her workflow from thumbnails to digital layout (using Affinity) to printing on watercolor paper and painting, and discusses how moving from Texas to Syracuse influenced her sense of seasons and settings. She covers character personalities, themes of community, nature, and celebration, school visit activities, advice for young creators, and how agents, editors, art directors, and publishers work in children’s publishing. 00:00 Cold Open Banter 00:09 Meet Katie Reiser 00:36 Welcome to the Forest 01:12 What Is Gouache 02:27 From Sketch to Paint 04:02 Ditching Adobe Tools 05:52 Seasons Texas to Syracuse 09:18 Wallace and Moss Man 10:59 Her Art Origin Story 14:07 School Visits and Kid Ideas 16:05 Advice for Young Creators 17:50 Publishing Roles Explained 20:18 Finding An Agent 21:54 Publishing Roles Explained 23:21 Working With Editors 24:34 Painting A Graphic Novel 27:03 Themes And Takeaways 28:50 Lessons From Book Two 32:31 Craft Choices Noticed 34:12 Syracuse Creative Scene 38:52 Where To Find Katie 39:29 Wrap Up And Thanks