Andy Runton

Georgia Connections

• Roswell, Fulton County

Notes of Interest

Andy Runton is the prize-winning creator of a popular series of graphic novels featuring a kind-hearted owl, Owly, who is always searching for new friends. In 2010, his book "Owly" was chosen for inclusion on the Georgia Center for the Book's list of "25 Books All Georgians Should Read."

Andy Runton was born in 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida and moved to Lilburn, GA in 1988 and has lived in the Atlanta area ever since, currently making his home in Roswell. He is a 1992 graduate of Parkview High School and was graduated from Georgia Tech in 2000 with a master's degree in industrial design from the College of Architecture. He has worked on a series of design jobs and was employed by Motorola in Alpharetta 2000-2002 doing graphic design/interface design. When the economy suffered a downturn, he lost his job "and after much soul-searching decided to follow my heart and draw Owly," he writes. Since then, he has devoted himself full-time to drawing. His Owly series has won him multiple awards in the comics and graphic novel community invluding the Howard E. Day Memorial Prize, the Harvey Award, two Ignatz Awards, and the 2006 Eisner Award for "Best Publication for a Younger Audience."

His first book, "Owly:The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer," was published in 2004. In two delightful short novels in one book, it tells the story -- with few words -- of a small owl who learns the meaning of friendship and that saying goodbye doesn't mean forever. It was followed by a series of books featuring Owly that have appealed to all ages: "Owly, Just a Little Blue" (2004), "Owly, Flying Lessons" (2005), "Owly, Splashin' Around" (2005), "Owly, A Time to Be Brave" (2007), "Owly, Tiny Tales" (2008) and a forthcoming title, "Owly & Wormy, Friends All Aflutter" (2011),

Further Reading

Andy Runton Home Page