In a world as loud and overwhelming as ours can feel, Kim-Joy’s upcoming Comixology Originals graphic novel Quiet offers something rare. A story that speaks softly, honestly, and directly to young readers’ hearts. It navigates bullying, anxiety, and the weight of being misunderstood with the sensitivity of someone who knows how it feels. Known for her warmth, creativity, and emotional intuition as a scholar, writer, cookbook author, and celebrity baker, Kim-Joy brings those same qualities to the page. Crafting a YA narrative that treats mental health with care, nuance, and genuine empathy.
When paired with the expressive, atmospheric art of Alti, Quiet becomes more than a graphic novel; it’s a safe space. A place where internal battles are visualized, where kindness becomes a lifeline, and where readers can see their struggles reflected without judgment. As the book arrives digitally on September 22nd, we sit down with Kim-Joy to explore how this story took shape, how she approached the emotional realities of bullying, and why Quiet may be her most personal creation yet. So, let’s welcome the multi-talented Kim-Joy to GVN Talking Comics.
Creative and Educational Ambitions
GVN: Thanks for sharing some of your time with us, Kim-Joy. Before diving into your work on “Quiet,” I’d like to explore your diverse creative roots, from scholarly pursuits to writing and the culinary arts. As you focused on baking and expressing your passion for it, when did you decide to expand into storytelling and eventually venture into graphic novels?
KJ: The interest started with me wanting to reduce mental health stigma and share my own stories. I used to work in the mental health field prior to getting on the Bake Off – I was working towards getting on a clinical psychology doctorate, and then Bake Off happened and shifted my trajectory. I also grew up with mental health issues massively affecting my family, and I still live with mental health difficulties – and I wanted to be able to reduce stigma and make more people feel connected through writing stories. I’ve also always dreamed that I could write my own fictional book one day. I spoke to Chip Mosher, who at the time was working for Comixology, who gave me the opportunity to write my own graphic novel, and everything just clicked together!
“Quiet”
GVN: So, let’s jump into your project with Comixology Originals. “Quiet” feels deeply personal. What motivated you to explore themes of bullying and mental health? How did your personal experiences shape the story’s emotional tone?
KJ: I had selective mutism in secondary school, and have recently been diagnosed with autism. The main character, Mary, struggles with those issues, so I very much put myself into her. I really wanted to explore these topics so that other people who maybe feel or felt similar, feel less alone.
“A Story for Anyone”
GVN: You have written “Quiet” with young people in mind. What made YA the right audience for this narrative?
KJ: I never really intended my audience to be YA specifically! I found that my first comic, Turtle Bread, naturally drew YA readers, and I guess I just continued that with Quiet. With it being set in school it makes sense that it would appeal to YA, but I think it’s a story for anyone at any age, who relates to the themes of bullying, the feeling of alienation and social difficulties.
Bullying
GVN: The subject of bullying is often complex and sometimes subtle (especially with our youth). As you built this story, how did you decide what forms of bullying to highlight?
KJ: I did a lot of research into the psychology of bullying, and wanted to make sure the bullies were not one-dimensional. There’s fears of vulnerability, insecurities, projection, needing that feeling of your own chosen family, feeling like you belong. And at the same time, recognising that though something can be a reason for bullying and you can intellectualise it, and even feel for them (as Mary does end up doing), it doesn’t make it okay. And the question comes up, in getting revenge, yes it feels good, but at what point do you look in the mirror and not see yourself anymore? The bullying in Quiet isn’t extreme, and I wanted to create some comical elements so it wasn’t too intense, but bullying doesn’t need to be extreme to make someone feel small.
The Focus of Mental Health and Psychology
GVN: In conjunction with that, have you had any discussions with mental health professionals about how to portray anxiety and internal struggle in a way that feels honest to young readers?
KJ: I’ve had a lifelong interest in this, have a masters in Psychology and worked in the mental health field with people of all ages and backgrounds, so a lot of that thinking is already baked into how I see anxiety and internal struggle. I also am very intrigued about psychology and always have questions in my mind that I’m researching and mulling over. So it’s a mixture of my professional and lived experience. Everyone’s experience of anxiety is different, and it’s not possible to write one definitive account of it – I wanted to be true to one perspective, mine – filtered through Mary.
Working the Talented Artist Alti
GVN: In working with the talent that is Alti, what was the creative dynamic like between the two of you as the world of “Quiet” took shape? (On a side note, since this story is set in the future, I am grateful that the art of Baking is still a hands-on endeavor in this world).
KJ: Alti is amazing and really understands what I’m trying to get across. She often has her suggestions about how best to portray certain emotions and scenes. We are very collaborative in process and always curious about how we can make the work as good as it can be. She loves to draw baking and food too. And she inserts little references to me here and there – in one panel, Mary is sat in bed and has a book in her room, which is Turtle Bread, my first graphic novel! On that side note you mentioned, I do believe baking and all sorts of creative pursuits will still be something people will want to be hands on with in the future!
“Someone Else Gets it Too”
GVN: What’s the one thing you hope young readers carry with them after finishing “Quiet,” and how do you hope the book helps kids who see themselves in these situations?
KJ: It’s hardest when you feel like nobody gets how you see things, or why you react the way you do. I want kids to read Mary’s story and think — oh, someone else gets it too.
For example, I used to worry that being quiet meant people saw me as boring – like my external self was a true representation of my internal world. It was so far from the truth. Writing this as a graphic novel let me show that gap visually – Mary’s imagination is drawn in colour, against an otherwise black-and-white world. I hope people feel seen in that. That they too have a colourful internal world that no one else can see, and maybe other quiet people also see that in them. Quiet people unite!
More Graphic Novels
GVN: Thank you once again for your kind attention, Kim-Joy. Finally, what did this project teach you about yourself as a storyteller, and has “Quiet” opened the door to more graphic novel storytelling?
KJ: I learnt a lot along the way! I’m always curious about how to best word and show things, and having my editor Allison O’Toole on board, and Alti, really helped me solidify how I wanted this story to be told. And I absolutely would love to do more graphic novel storytelling! I enjoy the process so much. I’ve always enjoyed creating characters through my bakes, and graphic novels allow me to really flesh those characters out into stories.
“A Story with Empathy, Vulnerability, and Emotional Truth”
What Kim-Joy and Alti accomplish with Quiet is something quietly powerful. A story that doesn’t shout its message, but lets it bloom through empathy, vulnerability, and emotional truth. In speaking with her, it becomes clear how much intention sits behind every choice. Bullying is shown with subtlety instead of drama, anxiety and shyness are portrayed with empathy rather than fear, and kindness is a powerful force that changes the world instead of just making it gentler.
Paired with Alti’s expressive, atmospheric art, Quiet becomes more than the sum of its parts. It’s a companion for readers who need to feel seen and heard. A mirror for those navigating their own internal storms. And a needed reminder that healing often begins in the smallest moments. As Quiet arrives digitally on September 22nd, it stands ready to offer comfort, courage, and connection to anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the noise around them. Be sure to check it out at Comixology Originals.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
