Sandra Bell-Lundy, Creator of Between Friends

Between Friends could not be more aptly named. With only a small number of words and a few good drawings, Sandra Bell-Lundy provides the most pleasant sensation to the reader of sitting right at the dining table sipping coffee with "the girls." It is as if we could almost carry on the conversation "between friends," with the lead characters of Susan, Maeve and Kim.

A comic strip aimed mainly at women, Between Friends portrays the everyday life of modern women, married and single, and who may be moms, step-moms or adoptive parents. The characters are flawed and troubled, happy and outgoing, and a lot like the loyal readers that are attracted to the cartoon. Between Friends has directly hit the funny bone with women across Canada and the United States and leaving them laughing at the cartoon and themselves.

In the few years that it has been syndicated, Sandra's comic strip has received positive comments from readers who see themselves in her familiar sense of humour:

"I continually look forward to seeing glimpses of my own life in your work."

"Wanted to let you know that my mother and I LOVE your strip in today's Los Angeles Daily News...we have made every one of those statements ourselves!"

"This is a big 'thank you' from every mother who ever had to go through a store with a crying child!!...I have gotten such a kick out of this week's strips." *(1)

Sandra Bell-Lundy was born in St. Catherines, Ontario. Like so many other cartoonists, Sandra created her own comics as a child. One life-changing moment came when she was 13 years old. She sent in a cartoon to "The Cartoon Bug" for a critique of her work. She received a cheque for $10 - her first sale! Sandra still did not consider cartooning anything more than a hobby, but continued to draw the escapades of her friends. While studying French at Brock University, her comics received publication in the university paper and in a newsletter for women's networking. Her work also appeared in newspaper advertisements.

In her first attempts to gain syndication, Sandra created a strip using portrayals of herself and four friends. The comic appeared under self-syndication in southern Ontario papers. She submitted the strip to the big syndicates, only to receive rejections from every group. But, along with the rejection notices came suggestions and ideas from the editors on how to improve her strip. "One syndicate editor suggested I reduce the number of characters from five to three and 'really develop these three women'." *(2) Sandra used the advice to amalgamate the five characters into three well-developed personalities. Adding tidbits of actual frustrations, joys and laughter, the characters came to life. Between Friends had emerged.

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