Motherhood Comics on Substack

Having a baby last year has made me eager to draw life through the lens of motherhood. I find myself uncovering nuggets of awe and wisdom every single day since she came into my life, and I’ve been hankering to document them somewhere.

So, I’ve created a Substack publication! Nuggets is an ongoing illustrated collection of the lessons, fun facts, and truths I’m discovering about babies, motherhood, and myself.

Despite watching birthing courses, reading baby books, attending newborn care classes, and talking to other parents, my husband and I have been blown away by how much we don’t know, and we’re only a year in!

I also wanted a cozy place to explore comic illustration, capture how utterly obsessed I am with our scrumptious baby, and make sense of this magical, overwhelming, and fleeting time. This blog + newsletter hybrid lives on Substack because I really like the community aspect. I love that readers can comment on every post, so please feel free to chime in with your thoughts and experiences too! Like motherhood, I’m still figuring it all out so posts may be weekly or bi-weekly to start. Some may be comic-like graphic essays, while others may be a small collection of shorter illustrated pieces. Oh, and it’s free. I would be so delighted if you’d join me there!

I will still be sharing regular work related updates in my monthly artist newsletter (subscribe to that here) and sharing the occasional update here on the blog.

Win a free copy of TINY JOYS 🎉📚

This week has been so full of joy for me. Not only did I get to celebrate Tiny Joy’s book birthday, I’m celebrating my own birthday today! For this happy occasion, I’m doing a Coastal Grandmother giveaway on Instagram! One lucky winner will get a free copy of Tiny Joys: A Guide to Embracing Your Inner Coastal Grandmother, an “In My Coastal Grandmother Era” vinyl sticker, and a 5x7 art print with some of my favorite illustrations from my Tiny Joys book.

If you’d like to enter, head on over to Instagram:
👉Follow me @katiemarievaz if you aren’t already
👉Click on the giveaway post and then tag a friend in that post’s comments

That’s it! Multiple entries are allowed. 1 comment = 1 entry (but no duplicates please).

The giveaway ends on Monday, September 4th, 2023 at 11:59 pm ET. One (1) winner will be selected randomly and notified in the post’s comments on September 6th. Participation open only to legal residents of the United States who are 18 or older as of date of entry. The giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram in any way.

Tiny Joys is published by Andrews McMeel and is available wherever books are sold.

Free printable Coastal Grandmother gift tags! 🎁

My next Coastal Grandmother freebie for you is a set of printable gift tags! Perfect for gifting a batch of homemade pesto, which you can find the recipe for in my new book, Tiny Joys: A Guide to Embracing Your Inner Coastal Grandmother. You can print these right at home and then simply attach to a gift with some pretty yarn or twine.

Click here to access the PDF, then download and print with any home printer. You can use any paper you like, but I recommend something a little sturdy, like card stock that’s 80# or 100# cover weight.

Tiny Joys is published by Andrews McMeel and is available wherever books are sold.

A Coastal Grandmother freebie for you!

To extend the celebration of Tiny Joys: A Guide to Embracing Your Inner Coastal Grandmothers publication (and since my own birthday is in just a couple days!), I've got a few coastal grandmother-themed freebies I'll be sharing this week! First up is a coastal grandmother digital wallpaper to decorate your phone, tablet, and computer! The pattern is created from some of my favorite illustrations in the book.

You can download the desktop wallpaper version here, and the mobile wallpaper version for tablets and phones here.

Make sure to check my blog tomorrow and Friday to see what the other freebies are! Tiny Joys is published by Andrews McMeel and is available wherever books are sold.

Happy Pub Day to TINY JOYS!🍋

Happy Pub Day to Tiny Joys: A Guide to Embracing Your Inner Coastal Grandmother, the newest addition to my universe of cozy!🎉 It’s now available everywhere books are sold, including online and at your favorite local bookseller. 🍋

Equal parts inspirational guide, gratitude journal, and self-care activity book, Tiny Joys is full of ideas for how to incorporate the luxuriously simple "coastal grandmother" lifestyle into your day-to-day life, like refreshing drink ideas, cozy coastal outfit choices, farmers market shopping lists, and suggestions for curating the perfect Sunday morning.

After all, being a coastal grandmother is all about finding joy in the simple and good things in life and making even the most ordinary of days feel special.

Join me in person for two local book events!

You're invited to two local book events! Join me in Owego and Binghamton for two fun book signing events to celebrate the release of my new book, Tiny Joys: A Guide to Embracing Your Inner Coastal Grandmother!

Tiny Joys will be published by Andrews McMeel on August 29th! Find all the links on where to buy here!

September 2nd, 2023
2:00–4:00 PM
Riverow Bookshop

(187 Front Street, Owego, NY 13827)
More Event Details

At the event, there will be copies of my book for sale. Each purchase of TINY JOYS will also come with an exclusive coastal grandmother-themed art print for free! The event is free and all are welcome.


September 23rd, 2023
2:00–3:00 PM
Broome County Arts Council Artisan Gallery

(223 State Street, Binghamton NY 13901)
More Event Details

There will be a mini reading and discussion of my inspiration, a Q&A period, and conversations with refreshments. There will also be copies of my book for sale at the event. Each purchase of TINY JOYS will also come with an exclusive coastal grandmother vinyl sticker for free! The event is free and all are welcome.