2009 Readers' Festival Kevin Fagan Kevin will be speaking from 11:30-12:30 pm in the Palo Verde Room

Kevin Fagan is an American cartoonist and creator of the syndicated comic strip Drabble, a cartoon about a socially inept college student. Fagan was born in Los Angeles, attended Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California, and later transferred to California State University, Sacramento, as a history major. While there, he submitted his work to the student newspaper, the State Hornet. Shortly afterwards, he was discovered by The Sacramento Union, and was subsequently offered a syndication contract by United Media. Only three courses short of a degree, Fagan left CSUS to take up cartooning full-time and to become one of the youngest syndicated cartoonists. Drabble debuted nationally in 1979.

Over the years his fan base has expanded to more than individual readers. Fagan drew a series of strips in which the father character, Ralph, found his dream job of working in a doughnut store. When doughnut giant Krispy Kreme noted the resemblance to its stores, the company bought the signed original strips. Fagan had no idea what the delicious doughy business planned for his art. He found the comic series of 12 original strips framed and hung on the walls of a Krispy Kreme store in Orange, CA. He was elated.

Drawing the comic strip of the Drabble family's silly escapades has been Fagan's on-going career. Kevin Fagan has found his own personality showing through, first in Norman and now in Ralph, Norman's father. If Drabble continues its success for another generation, perhaps fans will find Fagan penning himself in as a cartoon Grandpa, too.

He is married to Christi, with three children; the family currently resides in Mission Viejo, California.