A local artist is sharing her experience as the recipient of a Habitat for Humanity Home with her debut graphic novel – “the Lucky Poor”.
27-year-old Maisie Lovie, a talented illustrator and writer, grew up in Dashwood before moving to her family’s habitat home in Exeter at the age of 12.
Lovie’s memoir covers the formative years of her life | Photo by B. Shakyaver
Reflecting on her family’s experience, she recounted the challenges they faced before finding stability in their Habitat home. From being a single-parent household to navigating her brother’s autism diagnosis, Lovie’s upbringing was marked by uncertainty and instability.
However, the turning point came when her family was selected for a Habitat for Humanity home, providing them with not just shelter but a sense of belonging and security. Lovie vividly remembers the whirlwind of volunteer hours and community support that accompanied their transition into their new home.
Through her work, Lovie aims to shed light on the invaluable work done by organizations like Habitat for Humanity. Beyond providing homes, she emphasizes the role they play in fostering community connections and instilling hope in families facing adversity – she insists that without the stable home that Habitat provided, she likely would not have pursued an education in the arts.
The graphic novel, spanning from Lovie’s early childhood to her high school graduation, encapsulates the profound impact of Habitat for Humanity on her life. It delves into themes of resilience, community, and the transformative power of stable housing.
The home provided to Lovie’s family not only helped her to put down roots in the community, but also made it clear that the people they call neighbours were there to help and support them.
Lovie is extremely excited to share her story | Photo by B. Shakyaver
Her graphic novel, which has been in the making since 2018, is poised to offer a compelling narrative for readers of all ages. – it’s coming out on March 12th, pre-orders are available on platforms like Indigo and local stores like Heroes in London, and Mazie says that she will also be donating a copy to the Exeter Library.
You can preorder her book right now – https://luckypoor.crd.co/
Written by: B. Shakyaver
