NEW CHESTER BROWN ORIGINAL GRAPHIC MEMOIR: PAYING FOR IT

Drawn & Quarterly will be publishing the all new original graphic memoir, PAYING FOR IT, by the legendary cartoonist Chester Brown in the Spring of 2011, it was announced today by Editor-In-Chief and Publisher Chris Oliveros. PAYING FOR IT chronicles Brown's break up with a long time girlfriend and his subsequent search and examination of the need for companionship, love, and sex and whether they are inescapably intertwined.

"To any follower of Chester Brown's career, PAYING FOR IT is classic Chester," said Oliveros. "It is unabashedly frank in his depiction of his sex life while coolly asserting his view of a controversial topic. It is safe to say that there has never been a graphic novel like PAYING FOR IT before and it will be the most talked about book of 2011."

Brown has never shied away from tackling controversial subjects in his work. In his 1992 book, THE PLAYBOY, he explored his personal history with pornography. His bestselling 2003 graphic novel, LOUIS RIEL, was a biographical examination of an extreme political figure. The book won wide acclaim and cemented Brown’s reputation as a true innovator. PAYING FOR IT is a natural progression for Brown as it combines the personal and the sexual aspects of his autobiographical work with the polemical drive of LOUIS RIEL. Brown calmly lays out the facts for us of how he became, not only a willing participant, but a vocal proponent of one of the world’s most hot button topics —prostitution. While this may appear overtly sensational and just plain implausible to some, Brown’s story stands for itself. PAYING FOR IT offers an entirely contemporary exploration of sex work from the timid john who rides his bike to his escorts, wonders how to tip so as not to offend, and reads Dan Savage for advice, to the modern day transactions complete with online reviews, seemingly willing participants, and clean apartments devoid of cliché depictions of street corners, drugs, or pimps.

PAYING FOR IT will be distributed in the U.S. by Farrar, Straus & Giroux and in Canada by Raincoast Books. International rights will be represented by Samantha Haywood of the Transatlantic Literary Agency.

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