Hi everyone! I am so excited to bring you Vicky McGrath on this week’s episode of the True Fiction Project to discuss her graphic novel The Dragon and the Mysterious Artifact – Tails from the Clinic. Victoria was inspired by her daughter’s desire to become a veterinarian, and she uses her childhood hometown to bring the setting of The Dragon and the Mysterious Artifact: Tails from the Clinic to life. Listen in as Victoria reads an excerpt from her book about two excited middle-grade friends on their way to the veterinary clinic after school.
IN THIS EPISODE:
- (02:10) Vicky shares how she developed the foundation for the series of novels
- (06:59) Vicky tells why she chose to write a graphic novel for middle grade
- (08:41) How did Victoria find an illustrator
- (13:36) Vicky reads a passage from The Dragon and the Mysterious Artifact describing how her characters met due to their moms owning a veterinary clinic together
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Vicky’s journey into writing her middle-grade fantasy graphic novel series, Tails from the Clinic, began during the COVID-19 lockdowns. As an in-person, service-based business owner in Ontario, she had to pivot her work life drastically. Writing became a source of stress relief and a way to combat isolation and anxiety—what started as a creative outlet eventually blossomed into a full-fledged book series.
- The inspiration behind the series stems from her daughter’s lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. The main characters’ mothers are vets who co-own a clinic, and the story is rooted in Vicky’s childhood hometown.
- Vicky gravitated toward the graphic novel format because of her childhood love for comics like Tintin. Though she isn’t an illustrator, she collaborated closely with her publisher and artist to bring her detailed vision to life, making her books accessible and appealing—especially to reluctant readers and those who thrive on visual storytelling.
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FICTION CREDITS:
Written by Vicky McGrath
Read by Vicky McGrath
GUEST RESOURCES:
The Dragon and the Mysterious Artifact – Amazon
The Dragon and the Mysterious Artifact – Barnes and Noble
The Dragon and the Mysterious Artifact – Indigo Chapters
HOST RESOURCES
BIO:
Vicky McGrath is the author of a middle-grade children’s graphic novel series, Tails From the Clinic. Vicky began writing the novel series during the COVID-19 lockdown as a creative outlet, inspired by her daughter’s desire to become a veterinarian and their shared love for Harry Potter. Before becoming an author, Vicky owned and ran a senior care business for eight years. Vicky enjoys writing fantasy and incorporating fun, humor and adventure with the main themes of friendship, love and bravery.
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