Further info about the books of Sean Michael Wilson
Welcome to my web site, folks. As my grandfather used to say in Irish, 'Cead Mile Failte', a hundred thousand welcomes. On this page is further info about me and my books. Myself and the artists I work with appreciate your interest, comments - and for getting the books! We always need your support and interest.
I grew up in Scotland, from an Irish family, and it was my childhood dream to make comic books. Be careful what you wish for!
Now I live in Japan and I have written more than 40 graphic novels, comic books, manga on a variety of themes and published by US, UK and Japanese publishers. I have worked on these books with a wide diversity of artists, male and female, from several different countries. I am open for commissions for writing comic books, documentary scripts, youtube scripts on history, Japan, Scotland sociology, politics, music and various cultural subjects. I have also hosted and narrated several documentary films. I have also done many college presentations and online talks about my books and about manga and Japan. Just drop me a line here:
[email protected]
I grew up in Scotland, from an Irish family, and it was my childhood dream to make comic books. Be careful what you wish for!
Now I live in Japan and I have written more than 40 graphic novels, comic books, manga on a variety of themes and published by US, UK and Japanese publishers. I have worked on these books with a wide diversity of artists, male and female, from several different countries. I am open for commissions for writing comic books, documentary scripts, youtube scripts on history, Japan, Scotland sociology, politics, music and various cultural subjects. I have also hosted and narrated several documentary films. I have also done many college presentations and online talks about my books and about manga and Japan. Just drop me a line here:
[email protected]
Help us out with a review
If anyone feels like putting a nice little review and high star rating for our graphic novels on Amazon or Goodreads that would be appreciated by myself and the lovely artists I work with.
These kind of indie books need your help with promo, and we need decent sales if the publisher is to agree to doing more books.
If anyone feels like putting a nice little review and high star rating for our graphic novels on Amazon or Goodreads that would be appreciated by myself and the lovely artists I work with.
These kind of indie books need your help with promo, and we need decent sales if the publisher is to agree to doing more books.
Donate
Making our books takes quite a bit of effort and time, often for very little money... so please donate something to help us continue.
Thanks!
Making our books takes quite a bit of effort and time, often for very little money... so please donate something to help us continue.
Thanks!
Social Media
My various social media can be seen on this handy link. Feel free to add me and chat on any of these.
I welcome your interest and support:
https://linktr.ee/seanmichaelwilson
My various social media can be seen on this handy link. Feel free to add me and chat on any of these.
I welcome your interest and support:
https://linktr.ee/seanmichaelwilson
Have a look at my other site, Radical Roots, for various articles I've written
As well as this main web site for my books I also have a website which is for various articles on culture, history, politics, etc that I have written for newspapers such as The Japan Times, The Herald Scotland, web sites and special pieces just on that site.
https://radicalroots1.weebly.com/
As well as this main web site for my books I also have a website which is for various articles on culture, history, politics, etc that I have written for newspapers such as The Japan Times, The Herald Scotland, web sites and special pieces just on that site.
https://radicalroots1.weebly.com/
I have also been interviewed by many places, such as PRI radio in the USA, the BBC, the Scotsman, the Japan Times, various podcasts, youtube sites, websites and newspapers. Links to these can be seen by pressing the image below.
Film Producers!
I'm actively seeking for my comic books to be turned into movie versions. As you all know movie adaptations of comic books are common nowadays. Some of my comic book friends and colleagues have already had film versions made of their books, so maybe it's my turn soon. I think these books of ours at THIS LINK are especially suitable for film versions.
I am also open to hosting/narrating youtube videos and have already written, directed and hosted several documentary films before.
I'm actively seeking for my comic books to be turned into movie versions. As you all know movie adaptations of comic books are common nowadays. Some of my comic book friends and colleagues have already had film versions made of their books, so maybe it's my turn soon. I think these books of ours at THIS LINK are especially suitable for film versions.
I am also open to hosting/narrating youtube videos and have already written, directed and hosted several documentary films before.
Excellent photo by my old childhood friend, the photographer Barry-John Stewart, of myself and my brother in a fish and chip shop in Edinburgh (im enjoying some lovely unhealthy curry sauce on the chips, of the type that you can only get in certain parts of the UK. Nice!):
Excellent photo by my old childhood friend, the photographer Barry-John Stewart, of myself and my brother in a fish and chip shop in Edinburgh (im enjoying some lovely unhealthy curry sauce on the chips, of the type that you can only get in certain parts of the UK. Nice!):
Myself and my brother 'doon the chippie' in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh, near where we went to school.
Photo by my old school pal Barryjohn Stewart
Why comic books? Can't you do 'proper books'?
For the lovely folk remaining unenlightened: Comics, as an art form, are not only for kids... they never have been. It's a cliche that is a common in some countries, but less in others. It's quite common in the UK and the US, but in place like France and Japan comic books are often thought of as a more sophisticated art form. What are comics? - they are a combination of TEXT and IMAGES. For what reason would such a combination be only for kids? What would cause that limitation? It's a strange idea, and simply wrong. So, please toss that silly idea out right now, dear reader.
It's true that most comics have been made for children, with young readers in mind (8 to 12 years olds in many cases). From maybe the 1940s to the late 80s that was statistically true in the UK and USA. But two points there: the quantity of something is not the same as its nature. That most comics were made for kids does not mean that comics, as an artform, is ONLY for kids. Thats like saying that ALL music must be for kids because songs like 'London bridge is falling down' are. Obviously there is music for kids and then music made at a greater level of sophistication for older listeners. Comics are exactly the same - some are made for kids, some are made for older readers. What was my second point? Ah, yes. Nowdays the average age of readers of comics in North America and the UK is, I think, mid 20s. So, since the early 90s its no longer even been true that most readers of comics are kids. Not in those areas anyway. So, people like myself are trying to do comic books, graphic novels, manga, etc of a more mature, literary type.
Why not join us by getting some... we need you.
So, what ARE graphic novels? - "Graphic novels are, simply defined, book-length comics. Sometimes they tell a single, continous narrative from first page to last; sometimes they are collections of shorter stories or individual comic strips. Comics are sequential visual art, usually with text, that are often told in a series of rectangular panels.1 Despite the name, not all comics are funny. Many comics and graphic novels emphasize drama, adventure, character development, striking visuals, politics, or romance over laugh-out-loud comedy.
The popularity of graphic novels is only growing as more people become familiar with works in this appealing and diverse format. A thriving market for graphic novels and rich cross-cultural influences mean that more experimental, innovative, high-quality stories and art are available now than ever before. Readers have a wide variety to choose from, so readership is no longer limited to fans of superhero escapades or slapstick humor. In addition, greater access to graphic novels—such as graphic novel collections in public and school libraries—certainly contributes to their current popularity."
http://www.ipl.org/div/graphicnovels/gnsHistBasics.html
Why comic books? Can't you do 'proper books'?
For the lovely folk remaining unenlightened: Comics, as an art form, are not only for kids... they never have been. It's a cliche that is a common in some countries, but less in others. It's quite common in the UK and the US, but in place like France and Japan comic books are often thought of as a more sophisticated art form. What are comics? - they are a combination of TEXT and IMAGES. For what reason would such a combination be only for kids? What would cause that limitation? It's a strange idea, and simply wrong. So, please toss that silly idea out right now, dear reader.
It's true that most comics have been made for children, with young readers in mind (8 to 12 years olds in many cases). From maybe the 1940s to the late 80s that was statistically true in the UK and USA. But two points there: the quantity of something is not the same as its nature. That most comics were made for kids does not mean that comics, as an artform, is ONLY for kids. Thats like saying that ALL music must be for kids because songs like 'London bridge is falling down' are. Obviously there is music for kids and then music made at a greater level of sophistication for older listeners. Comics are exactly the same - some are made for kids, some are made for older readers. What was my second point? Ah, yes. Nowdays the average age of readers of comics in North America and the UK is, I think, mid 20s. So, since the early 90s its no longer even been true that most readers of comics are kids. Not in those areas anyway. So, people like myself are trying to do comic books, graphic novels, manga, etc of a more mature, literary type.
Why not join us by getting some... we need you.
So, what ARE graphic novels? - "Graphic novels are, simply defined, book-length comics. Sometimes they tell a single, continous narrative from first page to last; sometimes they are collections of shorter stories or individual comic strips. Comics are sequential visual art, usually with text, that are often told in a series of rectangular panels.1 Despite the name, not all comics are funny. Many comics and graphic novels emphasize drama, adventure, character development, striking visuals, politics, or romance over laugh-out-loud comedy.
The popularity of graphic novels is only growing as more people become familiar with works in this appealing and diverse format. A thriving market for graphic novels and rich cross-cultural influences mean that more experimental, innovative, high-quality stories and art are available now than ever before. Readers have a wide variety to choose from, so readership is no longer limited to fans of superhero escapades or slapstick humor. In addition, greater access to graphic novels—such as graphic novel collections in public and school libraries—certainly contributes to their current popularity."
http://www.ipl.org/div/graphicnovels/gnsHistBasics.html
I also DJ, just for fun...no, not 'scratchy scratchy, ziggy ziggy, ruin the songs' type DJing. Just Selector DJ style...one great song after another.
No idea how these things are selected but I noticed, somewhat to my surprise, that a quotes site has a bunch of them from me!
https://www.azquotes.com/author/95709-Sean_Michael_Wilson
Me as a child in Scotland, reading a comic, of course.
The issue that changed my life! This was the first issue of the comic 2000AD that I bought when I was 11 years old. It was from then on that I really got into comic books.
Foolishly, I never gave up the dream of being a comic book creator.
Other Languages
On Korean TV, with a hat. On my head. And a book. In my hand.
My first interview in Italian, in an excellent magazine for ipad, COMX DOME.
Which includes a video of me (and one by Dave Gibbons too), alongside lots of other great stuff - and it's free:
https://itunes.apple.com/it/book/comx-dome/id585317968?mt=11
Which includes a video of me (and one by Dave Gibbons too), alongside lots of other great stuff - and it's free:
https://itunes.apple.com/it/book/comx-dome/id585317968?mt=11
List of all books published, most recent first:
- THE TALE OF GENJI, Tuttle, Spring 2022
- SUCH, SUCH WERE THE JOYS: ILLUSTRATED ORWELL, Pluto Press, Autumn 2021
- THE MINAMATA STORY, Stonebridge Press, Summer 2021
- THE SPIRIT OF JAPAN, Liminal Books, Summer 2021
- MANGA YOKAI STORIES, Tuttle Books, Winter 2020
- The Garden. Art by Fumio Obata. 70 pages, May 2020, Liminal 11 publications.
- Tokyo Olympics Guide Art by Makiko Kodama. Japanese/English bilingual version, Kodansha, Nov 2019.
STORY OF LEE volume 3, a 125 page long manga with (art: Piarelle), Feb 2019 from NBM Publishing, USA.
TAO TE CHING, 180 pages, Dec 2018, Shambhala Publications.
THE SATSUMA REBELLION, Spring 2018 North Atlantic Books and Japanese version from Kodansha
BREAKING THE 10, Vol 2, Spring 2018 from NBM Publishing.
THE BLACK SHIPS, Spring 2017 North Atlantic Books.
PORTRAITS OF VIOLENCE, Nov 2016, New Internationalist.
BUSHIDO, 130 pages, Autumn 2016, Shambhala Publications.
BREAKING THE 10, Summer 2016, from NBM Publishing.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN MORNINGSIDE, June 2016, Biguglyrobrot Publications.
CIGARETTE GIRL, editor of a 250 page book of stories by Masahiko Matsumoto, the 1950's colleague of reknowned gekiga manga creator Yoshihiro Tatsumi. This will be Matsumoto's first book in English, and will considerably extend understanding about gekiga style manga. May 2016, Top Shelf Publishing.
STORY OF LEE volume 2, a 150 page long manga with (art: Nami Tamura), November 2015 from NBM Publishing, USA.
Lafcadio Hearn’s THE FACELESS GHOST - manga version’s of some of Hearn’s classic Japanese tales. Art by Michiru Morikawa. 130 pages, Nov 2015, Shambhala Publications.
SECRETS OF THE NINJA ,historical manga, 150 pages, July 2015, North Atlantic Books.
COLD MOUNTAIN, on the 7th/9thC Chinese mystical poets Han Shan and Shih Te, 130 pages, April 2015, Shambhala Publications.
GOODBYE GOD: an illustrated guide to science V religion. 120 pages, April 2015, New Internationalist.
MUSASHI, historical manga, 150 pages, Sept 2014, Shambhala Publications.
THE 47 RONIN, (English edition) historical manga, 150 pages, October 2013, Shambhala Publications.
FIGHT THE POWER: a visual history of protest amongst the English speaking peoples, 150 page documentary style book, Sept 2013, in the US by Seven Stories Press and in the UK by New Internationalist.
PARECOMIC, 200 pages documentary comic book, Spring 2013, Seven Stories Press, USA.
THE DEMON'S SERMON, manga adaptation of the Japanese classic, 150 pages, Spring 2013, Shambhala Publications, USA.
THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS, manga adaptation of the Japanese classic, 150 pages, November 2012, Shambhala Publications, USA.
A comic book adaptation of SWEENEY TODD, 140 pages,(art: Declan Shalvey, Eagle award winner and artist on comic book version of the horror '28 days later' and 'Thunderbolts' for Marvel), March 2012 ,Classical Comics.
A comic book adaptation of WUTHERING HEIGHTS (EMILY BRONTE), 140 pages,(fully painted art: John M Burns, one of the most respected artists in the UK who's 50 year long career includes illustrating Judge Dredd, Modesty Blaise, Eagle and many others ), August 2011 ,Classical Comics. Nominated for the 2012 Stan Lee Excelsior Award.
YAKUZA MOON, 190 page manga book, (art: Michiru Morikawa), spring 2011 from Kodansha, Japan/USA.
STORY OF LEE volume one, a 150 page long manga with (art: Chie Kutsuwada), december 2010 from NBM Inc, USA.
Also released in digital format on Comixology, Dec 2011
A comic book adaptation of A CANTERVILLE GHOST (OSCAR WILDE), 110 pages, (art: Steve Bryant, Eisner Award nominated artist), October 2010,Classical Comics. Translated into Chinese and soon Portugese.
HAGAKURE: manga edition, a 140 page manga style book,(art: Chie Kutsuwada), Sept 2010 in Japan, (Jan 2011 in US) from Kodansha, Japan/USA. Translated into Italian and Indonesian so far.
AX: alternative manga, a 400 page book collecting alternative Japanese manga in English for the first time (editor), July 2010, Top Shelf Publishing, USA. Selected as second place in the 'Top ten comic books of 2010' by Publishers Weekly, and nominated for a prestigious Harvey Award.
BUSKERS, long manga book with award winning artist Michiru Morikawa, 122 pages, in tandem with a film of the same name, October 2009, Insomnia Publications.
A comic book adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL (CHARLES DICKENS), 120 pages (art: Mike Collins of Judge Dredd, Doctor Who, Batman, Superman, etc ), Autumn 2008, Clasical Comics, UK. Best selling book so far, sales in excess of 20,000 copies and three foreign language editions. The graphic novel was chosen as one of the 'Top Ten Graphic Novels of the year' by the Sunday Times.
A documentary comic book, IRAQ: OPERATION CORPORATE TAKEOVER, 70 pages, (art:Lee O'Connor) with UK activist charity, War on Want, 2007
A historical manga THE JAPANESE DRAWING ROOM (with artist Sakura Mizuki, of THE RING horror manga), 70 pages, Museums,Libraries and Archive Department of the UK government, 2006
The poem comics in award winning collection BEAUTIFUL THINGS, Boychild Productions 2005
MANGA MOVER, 2004, Boychild Productions
The graphic novel ANGEL OF THE WOODS, 90 pages, Boychild Productions, 2003
Plus various strips published in anthologies...
Sean Michael Wilson's books on Goodreads
Yakuza Moon: The True Story of a Gangster's Daughter (The Manga Edition)
Yakuza Moon: The True Story of a Gangster's Daughter (The Manga Edition)
reviews: 6
ratings: 49 (avg rating 3.53)
ratings: 49 (avg rating 3.53)
