As the nights draw in, we are looking forward to settling down with a good book, and first on our list for December is the latest visually stunning and completely gripping instalment of Stagdale, the graphic novel by Frances Castle.
Stagdale Part 3, follows on from Frances’s previous two instalments of the critically acclaimed Stagdale series. Their beautifully curated colour palettes, vintage-style illustrations and captivating storytelling have become much sought-after.
Frances continues the story of Kathy and Max, two strangers, a generation apart, who both unexpectedly find themselves living in the isolated village of Stagdale. Previously, we met Max in 1930’s Berlin, who embarked on a horrifying journey across Europe as part of the Kindertransport, eventually arriving in England in a small village by the name of Stagdale.
Book 3 picks up with twelve-year-old Kathy reading Max's diary after finding it hidden behind the skirting board of the old cottage she and her mother are renting. She is instantly captivated as she reads Max's descriptions of his daily life staying with the Jackson family during World War 2. Cleverly flitting between the late 1930’s and the 1970’s, Kathy and readers will discover that Max’s hidden diary may be the key to unravelling many years of mystery relating to the missing jewel of Stagdale.
We spent some time with Frances to find out more about the creative process behind this unique and intriguing project.
“Before starting the books, I spent a great deal of time researching wartime Germany and the Kindertransport. Much of that research shaped the second book, which follows Max's escape from Germany and his journey across Europe by train. The third book, however, leans more on my imagination, as I tried to capture the atmosphere of a secluded English village and the kind of people who might have lived there at the onset of World War II.
I began the project by creating a detailed synopsis of the entire story, mapping out exactly what happens in each part. From there, I divided it into separate books. For each book, I start by sketching out the story in rough pencil drafts to ensure it flows coherently. Once I'm satisfied with this, I move on to the colour artwork. It's a very time-consuming process—my last book was published in 2021, so this one has taken three years to complete. I work on it during my downtime, balancing it with illustration jobs and my work for my record label.”
Here are a small selection of some of the spreads from Stagdale, Part 3.
Frances is a London-based creative, an avid collector of all things vintage including comics and children’s books which inspire her delightfully unique vintage style. She works digitally, combining freehand work with scanned textures adding colour and depth to her work. Read more about Frances and her work HERE.
Stagdale, Part 3 comes with a bonus 3 track musical soundtrack, and there is also a special edition which includes a flexi disc. You can purchase copies of the Stagdale graphic novels on Clay Pipe Music's Greedbag and Bandcamp.
