Sam Hall

I am a British author-illustrator who makes graphic novels and comics for adult readers that address the big questions in an accessible way (whether that's through auto-bio-fiction, or a comic about Greek gods stranded in Medway in 2025).

​

As a former journalist, my work often falls into the category of speculative journalism – based on real events but not always in the order that things occurred.

​

Some of my favourite author-illustrators include Robin Ha, Zoe Thorogood, Gareth Brookes, Bryan Talbot, Sayra Begum, and Fumio Obata.

 

BIO

In 2020, after being awarded Arts Council England DYCP funding, I re-learned how to draw and started writing and illustrating graphic novels and comics. I have published My Mind Is Free (about modern slavery and human trafficking, 150-pages, 2023) which was longlisted in the LD Comics Graphic Novel Award; Three Instances Of Not Meeting Jarvis Cocker (auto-bio-fiction about love and loss, 60-pages, 2024); and Believe In Me, Issue 1, (10-part comic series about Greek gods stranded in Medway, 2025). 

​

As a child, though I loved both writing and drawing, when I got to university, I started writing for the student newspaper, and art fell away. For 20 years I worked in journalism and publishing. I edited several local magazines, then moved into publishing for charities and the Higher Education sectors. As a journalist, I freelanced for various online and in print magazines and journals on topics including: health; computer how-tos; food reviews; film and theatre; and lifestyle and entertainment blogs. As a print designer and manager, I have designed and produced over 200 books, magazines, and various merchandising. I currently design and production manage Confluence literary magazine. 

 

WRITING

My creative writing – stories, creative non-fiction and poetry has been published online and in journals and magazines such as: The Journal; Le Menteur; Litro: Dark London; The Blue Nib; Epoch; and The Medusa Project. My poems have been part of several poetry walks.

​

My plays have been produced in the UK, Italy and America. My play, My Mind Is Free (2016) about modern slavery, has been produced in various community and educational settings in the UK and USA, and I adapted it into my first full-length graphic novel between 2020-23.

​​

WORDSMITHERY

Since 2012, I have run my own company, Wordsmithery, winner of the Literature category in the Medway Cuture, Design and Tourism Awards 2015. Wordsmithery undertakes a range of writing-related commissions and projects for organisations and local authorities, such as: writing workshops; Medway River Lit festival (2023-onwards); The Word Shed (2012); and, The Empty Chair Poetry Trail (2021). See more about Wordsmithery on the website.