Praise for Ben's meadowdrama

meadowdrama is a comic strip which explores the relationship of two diverse characters living side by side.  Each page contains one nine panel comic; some stand alone, while others continue on the same subject for several pages.  We see the characters thoughts and conversations as they struggle to understand each other, while making a case for their own beliefs.  

Out in the meadow we have a foul-mouthed rock, a cynical creature, which has lived for millions of years and enjoys nothing more than tormenting his neighbor, a flower.  Freshly sprouted, the flower is assaulted with anger, insults, and name calling; it responds not in kind, but with heartfelt love, innocence, and wonder.  The fun loving flower is unaware of many things, but tries to enlighten the rock about life with its deep understanding of the natural world.  Throughout the book, the flower relentlessly chips away at the rocks anger and hatred; however, after hearing about his neighbor’s life, the flowers own beliefs shift.  By the end of the book, both have gained some insight into the other, and the rock looses an ever-so-small bit of his hatred.

This drama’s theme, that we should treat each other with kindness and respect, is told in black and white with a simple line drawing which keeps the focus on their words. Topics of conversation veer wildly and the comics alternate between sad, silly, and serious - sometimes all on the same page. Readers will find a reflection of our times in the characters quest to understand someone completely different from themselves, while also finding some humor, humanity, and food for thought in this little meadowdrama.

Ben Hertel grew up near Big Flats, New York and has lived in Washington state since 1977.  He spent 34 years working in the backcountry of Olympic National Park, which may help explain the setting, but not the content of his first book. Ben enjoys listening to records, reading, drawing, ping pong, and rooting for the Seahawks.  He lives a quiet life on the Olympic Peninsula with his wife, a COVID- casualty-college student, and their bunny Jacky.