Interview with Graphic Novelist Liza N. Cooper

I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Liza Cooper, author of Meems and Feefs, to the blog today! I can’t wait to hear how these adorable characters came to life. As someone who once had a ferret named Fern, I’m especially excited to learn what sparked the idea for this charming story.

Lisa: Tell us about MEEMS & FEEFS.

Liza: Meems and Feefs are two ferret brothers from a planet called Ferretonia, more specifically , from Dook Dook Island. They’re mischievous, adventurous, and always getting into trouble –but their friendship is at the heart of everything they do.

Feefs, the darker ferret, is calm and loyal. He’s great at navigation, can sniff out anything, and always follows Meems into adventure, usually without thinking twice. 

Meems, the lighter one, is a curious inventor. He’s always tinkering with tools and experiments – usually things he probably shouldn’t be touching. He wears a little tool belt, carries his red screwdriver everywhere, and keeps goggles on hand for when things inevitably blow up.

Lisa: What sparked the creation of these lovable characters?

Liza: That’s a great question! I actually had two ferrets, Meemoo and Feefoo, nicknamed Meems and Feefs, and they were the direct inspiration for the series. When we first got them, my husband and I each got to name one. I chose the lighter one and called him Meemoo. My husband, being the copycat he is, named his Feefoo. And that’s how the names of the two ferret brothers were born. They even shared the same colours and personalities as the characters in the books.

Feefoo was the laid-back one, but incredibly skilled at finding hidden stashes and snacks—so his navigation talents made their way into the stories. He was very loyal and sweet, always following me from room to room. Meemoo, on the other hand, was more independent and mischievous. He loved stashing things and getting into trouble. He was also half-Angora, so he had longer fur with little tufts around his face, which you can see in his character design.

I started drawing ferret comics because, when I first got them, I realised there were loads of cat and dog comics – but almost nothing about ferrets. As an artist, I thought, “Why not make my own?” My first comic, Ferret Anatomy, went viral right away, and I think it proved my theory that ferrets were seriously underrepresented online. It’s been amazing seeing how much more love ferrets get now. Honestly, I like to think of it as a bit of ferret propaganda.

Lisa: Do you start with words, images or a mix of both?

Liza: I always start with words. That’s how I’ve written all my comics, even the short ones on Instagram. More specifically, I usually begin with the punchline or the ending. It’s much easier to build a story when I know where it’s going. I like to think of it like planning a trip – once you’ve booked the destination, you can handle any detours along the way, but you still always know where you’re headed.

So once I have my ending, I work backwards: where does it start, how do we get there, and what happens in between? For Instagram comics, I keep it casual, but for the books, I write full scripts, almost like movie scripts, so I can visualise the pacing, the setting, and how the characters interact.

I also break the story down by pages so I know how much text and action fits on each one. I try to make every page end on a small “cliffhanger” or a moment that makes you want to keep reading. After that, I move on to sketching, layouts, and panels – but it all starts with words first.

Lisa: How do you balance the storytelling between text and art?

Liza: My goal is always to show, not tell – but I’m quite a chatty person, so naturally, my characters end up being quite chatty too. I always try to balance that by showing as much as I can through expressions, little visual easter eggs, props, and the environment. Anything that CAN
be conveyed visually, I prefer to draw rather than explain.

That said, because Meems and Feefs is a middle-grade graphic novel, I can’t make everything too subtle or rely entirely on visual cues – kids still need the story to be clear. So the challenge for me is making sure the dialogue feels natural and fun, but trimming it down enough that the visuals still carry the story. Honestly, it’s the same struggle I have in life – trying to talk less and be more concise, haha!

Lisa: Were there any graphic novels or comics that made you want to create your own? 

Liza: When I was growing up, there weren’t many graphic novels around, but I was always drawn to books with pictures. I’m a very visual person, so even a few illustrated pages helped me connect with the story more deeply. Graphic novels just felt like a natural fit for me. What really pushed me to create my own, though, were webcomics. I loved their accessibility and creativity – people just putting their stories out there. And beyond that, I was heavily influenced by the cartoons I grew up with. To name a few, and to give away my age a little – Courage the Cowardly Dog, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Rugrats, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Sonic the Hedgehog was my absolute favourite, and you can probably see some of that energy in Meems and Feefs.

I’ve always been drawn to small, scrappy characters thrown into big adventures. I love that sense of scale, tiny heroes facing enormous odds, and I think that’s something I’ve carried into my own work. The anthropomorphic side came naturally; animal characters are expressive, fun, and full of fluff.

I was also deeply inspired by Simon’s Cat, where I worked as an Art Director for several years. Simon Tofield, who created it, really shaped how I approach storytelling through observational humour and grounded character moments – and he even kindly provided a quote for my first book!

Lisa: Is there something you wish more people understood about making graphic novels?

Liza: I think a lot of people don’t realise that most graphic novels are made by just one person. You’re writing, sketching, inking, colouring, editing, basically doing the work of an entire studio on your own. It’s a huge process that takes a lot of time, patience, and organisation. On top of that, many creators, myself in luded, also handle their own marketing – creating previews, social posts, and reaching out to readers so the book actually gets seen. So you’re not just the artist; you’re the writer, project manager, and marketing team all in one. People are usually very supportive, which means a lot, but it does make it hard to reply to everyone or take on every collaboration. I always try my best, though, it just takes time when you’re a one-person studio.

Lisa: Is there a panel or page in the book that was especially fun or challenging to draw?

Liza: There are several pages like that, but one that stands out is when Liza arrives at Ferryway Hall for the trial, and all of the ferrets from the Dook Dook Island are there. I included some of my patrons’ ferrets as background characters, which was really fun to draw. It was tricky to give each little ferret a hint of personality without pulling focus from the main story, while also making the hall feel grand and slightly intimidating to Liza. Getting that sense of scale, architecture and atmosphere right was challenging – but really rewarding once it all came together.

Another scene I loved working on was the chase sequence. You’ll see it in the book: Liza, Meems, Feefs, and Leeloo are sprinting through the halls of the Citadel of Ferrets. I wanted it to feel fast-paced and energetic, so I angled the panels diagonally and varied the environments to make their escape feel alive.

Throughout the book, I’ve really focused on keeping each page visually exciting. One thing I’ve enjoyed most is experimenting with perspective, moving the “camera,” changing angles, and showing the characters from new viewpoints. It helps with the mood and storytelling flow, but
it also makes the artwork feel more dynamic. Of course, that means a lot of perspective lines in my sketches, but it’s worth it when it all comes together.

Lisa: How long does it take to complete a graphic novel from start to finish?

Liza: It definitely takes a long time. My first book took about a year to complete, and the second one took closer to two, partly because I had a baby in the middle of it. Adjusting to life with a newborn, then a toddler, meant I had to pace myself and take a bit of a maternity break. Even with some help on the colouring, creating nearly 200 pages – writing, illustrating, and designing the world – was a huge task. Thankfully, my publisher was really understanding, and my editor, Erinn Pascal, has been just incredible. She’s helped me grow so much as a writer and has been supportive every step of the way.

The next book is already in progress, and I’m hoping to have it out within a year, so hopefully readers won’t have to wait too long this time!

Lisa: Do you have any upcoming projects you’re excited about?

Liza: Right now, I’m working on Book 3 of the Meems and Feefs series. I’m actually sketching potential cover designs as we speak! This book will wrap up the trilogy, explore more of Ferretonia’s lore, and reveal a few surprises I’m really excited about. It’s a huge project, so I’m trying to stay focused and not overload myself with too many side ideas – though I do have a Quest Based pet board game concept waiting in the wings for after it’s done.

I’m also planning to pitch a few new book ideas soon, with the help of my amazing agent, Kathleen Ortiz of KOMedia Management. She has a real gift for shaping stories and making them stronger. Meems and Feefs actually became a trilogy because of her, she saw the potential for a bigger adventure when it was originally just one ferret story.

Liza: I’d tell 12-year-old Liza to stop worrying so much about the future and just enjoy where she is. You don’t need to have everything figured out yet – things fall into place when you trust yourself and keep going. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, take chances, and most importantly, keep drawing and imagining stories. And I promise, you DO get to own a ferret one day. Actually… more than just one!

Lisa: Thank you so much for visiting the blog and for taking the time to share with us! It was a real treat to learn more about your writing journey and the inspiration behind your work. Your insights were both encouraging and inspiring, and I know our readers truly enjoyed hearing from you. We’re grateful you stopped by. 

About: 

Liza N. Cooper is an artist and digital content creator who goes by the pen name Siberian Lizard online. Originally born in the wild and frosty Siberia, she has since settled down in a much warmer (and wetter) London, where she lives with her two naughty ferrets and a Pomeranian puppy. 

For more information, please visit her website. 

Lisa Schmid

Lisa Schmid has always loved a good mystery. At four years old, she went door to door interviewing “suspects” when her favorite stuffed animal went missing. Fortunately, Big Blue was eventually found safe and sound. No arrests were made. Lisa is the author of OLLIE OXLEY AND THE GHOST and HART & SOULS. She is also co-host of the Writers With Wrinkles Podcast.