Foreword, edited
And here's the foreword after it was edited by Ruben's production manager and myself.
I met with the star of the comic strip Penny at her favorite local café to talk about her writer and artist, Ruben.
Rebecca: Penny, after reading just a few of the comics, the first thing I wondered was, “How does a man write so well about a woman?”
Penny: I’ve wondered that myself. I think, with Ruben, it’s about listening. He really pays attention!
Rebecca: That is what makes a great writer. I fell in love with the strip because Ruben obviously really listens to people! I think that’s how he is able to make you a unique and fresh character. You’re not stereotypically stressed out, or whiny, or ditzy, or shallow.
Penny: You just haven’t seen me off panel!
Rebecca: I really see you as more than a one-note character - one with complexity!
Penny: Wow, thanks! I guess I’m just a normal, crazy, modern cartoon woman, living
her normal, crazy, modern woman’s life.
Rebecca: I don’t know how he does it, packing life’s situations into those little frames,
in a realistic but funny way.
Penny: It does get a little crowded in there sometimes. He has to make room for my job and all it’s frustrations. At least my tiny paycheck doesn’t take up a lot of room.
Rebecca: He always gives you enough room to be you.
Penny: Ruben does give me plenty of room for my poems and daydreams. That’s what helps me deal with sharing that space with my boss.
Rebecca: Many of us have had your boss, or someone just like her, at some point in
our careers, for sure.
Penny: Oooh, really? I am so sorry.
Rebecca: Folks like us somehow manage. And reading comics like Penny certainly helps us cope.
Penny: I’m glad Ruben and I can help!
I met with the star of the comic strip Penny at her favorite local café to talk about her writer and artist, Ruben.
Rebecca: Penny, after reading just a few of the comics, the first thing I wondered was, “How does a man write so well about a woman?”
Penny: I’ve wondered that myself. I think, with Ruben, it’s about listening. He really pays attention!
Rebecca: That is what makes a great writer. I fell in love with the strip because Ruben obviously really listens to people! I think that’s how he is able to make you a unique and fresh character. You’re not stereotypically stressed out, or whiny, or ditzy, or shallow.
Penny: You just haven’t seen me off panel!
Rebecca: I really see you as more than a one-note character - one with complexity!
Penny: Wow, thanks! I guess I’m just a normal, crazy, modern cartoon woman, living
her normal, crazy, modern woman’s life.
Rebecca: I don’t know how he does it, packing life’s situations into those little frames,
in a realistic but funny way.
Penny: It does get a little crowded in there sometimes. He has to make room for my job and all it’s frustrations. At least my tiny paycheck doesn’t take up a lot of room.
Rebecca: He always gives you enough room to be you.
Penny: Ruben does give me plenty of room for my poems and daydreams. That’s what helps me deal with sharing that space with my boss.
Rebecca: Many of us have had your boss, or someone just like her, at some point in
our careers, for sure.
Penny: Oooh, really? I am so sorry.
Rebecca: Folks like us somehow manage. And reading comics like Penny certainly helps us cope.
Penny: I’m glad Ruben and I can help!