Fantagraphics is proud to announce the acquisition of Ellen Forney’s forthcoming graphic novel/self-help book, Rock Steady: Brilliant Advice From My Bipolar Life. This companion book to her best selling graphic memoir, Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me (Avery, 2012) marks Forney’s return to the publisher where she began her career over 15 years ago. Due out in 2018, Forney’s new book is a combination memoir and self-help manual, a survival guide of tips, tricks and tools by one of Seattle’s most celebrated cartoonists. With Marbles, Forney helped destigmatize mood disorders with her candid presentation of her struggle to find mental stability while retaining her passion and creativity. This is the jumping off point for her new book, Rock Steady: Brilliant Advice From My Bipolar Life. Personal stories and solid advice from Forney on how to overcome the hassle of meds, recognize red flags, and other tools from her own experience of 14 years of stability - all in comics form.

“I’m so excited to be working on this book!” Exclaims Forney. “Getting stable is really tough - but staying that way is maybe even tougher.”

Ellen Forney’s comics are both accessible and intensely personal. Her graphic novels Monkey Food, I Love Led Zeppelin (both Eisner-nominated) and Lust: Kinky Online Personal Ads, all from Fantagraphics Books, helped earn Forney the coveted The Stranger Genius Award in Literature in 2012.

“Ellen is not just a great cartoonist, but also a great friend, and we are extremely proud to publish her next book,” says Fantagraphics Associate Publisher Eric Reynolds. “Marbles saw Forney enter the first rank of contemporary comics authors, and we couldn’t be more excited to see where her next masterpiece will take her.”

Rock Steady: Brilliant Advice From My Bipolar Life invites readers into Ellen’s home, head, and Peanuts pill box.