I am writing a graphic novel that takes place 12,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age. It’s about Hodei, a 14 year old boy, and his struggle to find his place in the world. He has an incredible talent for art which begins as his secret and then later becomes his salvation.

In the summer of 2006, I picked up The Mind in the Cave by David Lewis-Williams. I have always had a fascination with cave art and this book inspired me to pursue this interest of mine with my first graphic novel. Since that summer I have devoured every book on the subject I could get my hands on. While the story that fuels my graphic novel is fiction, I have a deep desire for it to be as real and well-educated as possible. I have learned a lot from my two+ years of book research, but I am still lacking one very important detail: context.

I’m saving for a trip to France to visit painted caves this September. I found a tour that includes visits to Lascaux II (replica), Rouffignac, Cougnac, Font de Gaume, and Les Combarelles. There is also a visit to the National Museum of Prehistory which will be invaluable to my research! It is one thing to look at photographs of the caves and artifacts, but it’s something completely different to experience them in person. I believe this trip is exactly what I need to finalize my research and bring much needed context to my story.

For more info about my graphic novel and what you can do to help make this trip possible, please CLICK HERE!

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