'Stone Soup' creator ends weekday comic strip
Jan Eliot, whose "Stone Soup" shows the humorous moments in the lives of single moms and blended families, will retire from producing the weekday comic strip Oct. 19.
"Every Monday morning, there it is, the blank paper that represents the seven comic strips that need to be created," Eliot said. "I have reached a point in life where I'd like to be free of these daily deadlines - free to travel more, spend more time with family and friends, pursue other creative projects."
Eliot will continue a Sunday version of "Stone Soup," which stars working-mom sisters Val and Joan who live just across the fence from each other.
Once a single mom raising two daughters, Eliot created the comic strip in 1990. It has been syndicated by Universal Uclick since 1995.
"We're sorry to see 'Stone Soup' leave our weekday pages," Daily Herald Editor John Lampinen said. "We hope to be able to announce a weekday comic replacement soon."
Eliot, remarried and with her daughters grown, says writing, photography, marine science and scientific illustration are some interests she's considering exploring.
"I thought long and hard about relinquishing my daily spot on the funny pages," Eliot said. "I fought to get there, after all. But 20 years is a long time."