Since 1979, Lynn Johnston’s clan Elly, John, Michael, Elizabeth, and April has charmed families with their light-hearted cartoon chronicles in For Better or For Worse. Johnston’s humourous presentation of daily family life has endeared her to a loyal following in more than 2,000 newspapers in Canada, the U.S., and 23 other countries. Twenty-four books are currently in print, and Johnston’s work is featured on television specials, videocassettes, and calendars.
Johnston was born in Collingwood, Ontario, and grew up in British Columbia. She attended the Vancouver School of Art and then took a job in an animation studio in Vancouver before moving to Ontario with her new husband. Unable to find work in animation, she was employed as a medical artist at McMaster University.
When pregnant with her first child, Johnston’s obstetrician invited her to create some drawings for his office. She did over 80 comic drawings in all. The drawings were published in a book called, David, We’re Pregnant which has sold over 300,000 copies. Her second book, Hi Mom, Hi Dad was published in 1975. It was during this time that she met and married Rod Johnston. Her third book, Do They Ever Grow Up?, was Johnston’s next humourous reflection on parenting.
In 1978, Universal Press Syndicate asked Lynn if she was interested in doing a daily comic strip. She sent examples of The Johnston’s, a series based on her own family. “We were the only people I knew I could draw over and over again with some consistency,” she recalls. Expecting to be turned down, she received and ultimately signed a 20-year contract.
In 1993, Johnston was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for a story on one of her characters coming out.
