Category: Women On Men
The National Book Fair
It’s been a while since I’ve done a book signing, in part because my most recent book, Women On Men, is an ebook. But with print-on-demand, it can be printed, and my publisher printed a whole bunch of copies and I was invited to sign them at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC on Saturday. D.C. is my hometown– it will be nice to return for the weekend.
Here is a podcast for the Library of Congress, where Martha Kennedy, director of the Prints and Drawings Division interviews me on my work and book. I also was invited to donate some of my work to the collection, and it is a great honor for me to do so.
If you would to purchase a discounted signed, with drawing, copy of Women On Men, write me at liza@lizadonnelly.com
James Thurber and The Thurber Prize
When I was around six or seven, I was home sick from school and in an effort to make me happy, my mother gave me a pencil, a stack of paper and a book of cartoons. She knew I loved to draw, and knew this would help me get through the sick days. The book of cartoons she gave me was called Thurber Carnival, a collection of work by the renowned New Yorker writer and cartoonist James Thurber. His drawings are very simple, almost childlike, and I took to them immediately. I started tracing them. Soon, I realized this made my mother smile. I was hooked. From there, I started to draw my own cartoon characters. This is how I became a cartoonist.
So it is especially wonderful for me to be a finalist for the Thurber Prize this year for my book Women On Men (Narrative Library). It is the sole award in America for written humor, and is annually given out by Thurber House (the birthplace of James Thurber and an active literary center in Ohio). Thurber was a master humorist in both the written word and the cartoon, working primarily for The New Yorker in mid-century 1900’s. Past winners have included Jon Stewart, Calvin Trillin, Christopher Buckley and David Sedaris. The other finalists that were nominated along with me are David Letterman and Bruce McCall for their book “This Land is Made For You And Me” and John Kenney for “Truth in Advertising.” We will gather in New York City at Caroline’s Comedy Club on September 30th, where we will all do a reading and then they will announce the prize.
Ironically for me, one of the things that made some of Thurber’s cartoons so notable with the public were their misogynistic tone. Thurber was married twice to strong women, and had a daughter, but his cartoons sometimes betray befuddlement and often hostility towards women, as did his wonderful humorous essays. Who knows if he personally was a misogynist (some say he was), or that he just used it as a comedic tool, not uncommon in the humor of his time.
As a child, I remember that his cartoon women perplexed me and scared the heck out of me. I thought, is this what I have to be when I grow up? A hag, an angel, a delusional waif, a love object…and nothing in between?
Maybe deep down, this is why I wrote Women On Men, a book about women relentlessly making fun of men. 
Lovingly. My tribute to James Thurber.
Women On Men
This is the cartoon that started it all. I began drawing snarky women, women who are funny and sarcastic, in The New Yorker in the 1990?s, and while it’s not all that I draw, it is a favorite topic of mine. In fact, I have a whole book of cartoons and commentary on this subject, called Women On Men. You can take a look at it and order it here. Or contact me and I offer a personally signed (with drawing inside) soft cover hard copy for a discount! liza@lizadonnelly.com
Being On The Radio At WNYC
I love radio, particularly news radio. The interviews, analysis, call-ins about issues in the news, local or national are all great, and what I listen to while I work. My favorite station is the New York City station WNYC, and in particular the afternoon show, The Leonard Lopate Show. I also like the Brian Lehrer Show in the mornings, too. The station loves New Yorker cartoonists, and have had them on the show numerous times over the years. I have done a lot of radio, usually connected to any new books I have. But I have never been invited to be on WNYC….until now. I was very lucky to be asked to be a guest on the Leonard Lopate Show to talk about my book, Women On Men, with guest host Anna Sale. It was great fun– Anna is a skilled interviewer with a devilish streak and great sense of humor. One New York friend said to me when she heard that I was to be on WNYC, “You’re really famous now!” Such is a true New York attitude.
Here is the interview:
Even Ex-Husbands Need Food, Too
From my new book, Women On Men. Take a look here!!! If you would like a personlized copy (with drawing inside), at a discount, email me at liza@lizadonnelly.com