Theresa Chen Arzola

Illustrator & Graphic Novelist

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Book Portfolio

This page serves as a portfolio of my books & merchandise that I sell at events and conventions

Books

Zine cover for A Story From Beyond the Road by Theresa Arzola, featuring a woman sitting on top an RV roof looking out to the horizon of a cliffside coastline.

Beyond the Road

A 110-page true story about rediscovering adventure with chronic illness, told through a 4-day RV trip down the California Big Sur Coast.

Beyond the Road is a graphic novel memoir meant for adult audiences, but is written & drawn to be acceptable for all ages.

More details about Beyond the Road

Beyond the Road Sample Pages

Page 6 from Beyond the Road graphic novel. Text reads "February 10, 2020. I am not someone would call outdoorsy. I don't like camping. I'm not a jet-setter. For the last few years my hobbies have been drawing and video games.
Page 6
Page 7 from Beyond the Road graphic novel. Text reads "I am admittedly a product of my tech-filled world. So how did end up here?" Top of page displays a cycle of mobile phone, computer, and TV usage in a desaturated palette. bottom panel shows Theresa standing facing away from the reader and looking at a vast landscape of brightly colored green fields and a blue sky with white clouds.
Page 7
Page 26 from Beyond the Road graphic novel. Theresa looks at the setting sun as she is packing items for the roadtrip. She thinks, "The sun is already setting. Will we even have time to get anywhere tonight?" On the last trip into the home, she sees a bouquet of flowers with a card. It reads, "To Theresa. I wanted to make sure you got these before we left. Happy Valentine's Day." She thinks, "Thought. But we're so late. No time to trim the stems. Just water them. I hope they'll still have blooms left when we get back."
Page 26
Page 26 of Beyond the Road the graphic novel. A single splash image of the RV driving down the highway as the sun sets. The sunset sky is depicted with purple, red, orange, and yellow lines.
Page 27
Page 80 of Beyond the Road graphic novel. Theresa has arrived at a river with no bridge an attemps to wade through it. Text reads: "The trail started paved and well maintained, but we soon ran into our first obstacle. The bridge was out, but people were finding ways to wade across anyways." Juan: "Do you want to turn around?" Theresa: "No. I want to try this too."
Page 80
Page 81 of Beyond the Road the graphic novel. Theresa is shocked by the cold river, but is excited by it. Text reads: "It was shockingly cold. Wading up to my knees in uneven riverbed rocks. It actually hurt!" Theresa: "Eep!" Juan: "You ok?" Theresa: "Yea-- aaeeee!" More text: "But there was also a rush... feeling that crisp icy water pull at my feet. We made it to the other side and kept walking." Theresa: "I have to pee." Juan: "Turn around?" Theresa: "No way."
Page 81

Book of Sophiel

Book 1 of the Angel Chronicles, a YA/Teen urban fantasy about a fallen angel whose presence starts reawakening the supernatural on Earth.

This book and its series is currently in progress, so my intent is not to sell but to promote only at this time.

Other Merchandise

7 minizines of Adventures with Titan the Pomeranian held and displayed spread out in a fan shape

Adventures with Titan – Minizines

Little handmade 8-page comics showcasing various stories about my dog’s (a chaotic Pomeranian named Titan’s) antics. Great inexpensive purchases, especially for kids.

More info about Adventures with Titan

Adventures with Titan – Stickers

Vinyl die-cut stickers featuring Titan from Adventures with Titan.

Wintersday Delivery – Zine

A diy-printed cozy-vibes short story in the Guild Wars 2 universe about a mercenary assigned to help a toymaker apprentice deliver toys to an unlikely group of humanoids. Both illustrated and written by me.

Note: fan works will be omitted from tabling if not permitted.

Table Examples

Note: tables have been laid out primarily for comic conventions or zine fest audiences. For a book con, table hierarchy would feature Beyond the Road and other prose material more prominently.

Outdoor half table layout featuring Beyond the Road as the primary product. From left to right: Beyond the Road Kickstarter bundle for . Assorted zines, Adventures with Titan minizines and stickers, Beyond the Road graphic novel, and a newsletter signup sheet.
2026 Santa Rosa Zine Fest – Half Table (3ft)
Theresa's artist table layout showcasing Beyond the Road as the primary product. Backdrop shows a Beyond the Road banner with 4 large prints of 4 interior pages arranged beside it on either side. On the table are, from left to right, Beyond the Road Kickstarter bundle offering for , assorted zines, Adventures with Titan stickers, Beyond the Road, Newsletter signup sheet, and prints.
2026 – Peninsula Library Comic Art Fest
2024 SF Zine Fest – Half Table (3ft)
Table at Berkeley Public Library Comic Con 2025
2025 Berkeley Public Library Comic Con