Cleveland, OH - (June 8, 2009) – If character is the measure of a man, the Wilson men stand tall behind one of the world’s most renowned cartoon optimists in history.

In the new Zigzagging: A Memoir by Tom Wilson, the ironic story of witnessing the life of a cartoon character icon from the creation from his father’s pen, to his current home on his own drafting table, Tom literally grew up with Ziggy yet was unaware of the inspirational role that a cartoon’s personality would play in his personal life.

Beyond entertaining the world every morning with original comic quips and scenic clips, the life and times of Ziggy have helped bond a father and son; provided life saving hope after profound personal loss and physical trauma, and helped a man emerge to become an exceptional single father to his two young sons.

Officially titled: Zig-zagging: Loving Madly, Losing Badly – How Ziggy Saved My Life (HCI Books - $17.95), Wilson takes readers along with Ziggy, through tremendous family tragedies, deep depression, and learning to live happily, meanwhile always being an inspiration to millions of everyday readers.

Zigzagging is the opportunity to peek behind the scenes of an animated American icon. Rarely is the person who thinks up and drafts a daily cartoon strip personified as a living being separate, or an embodiment, of the character everyone knows.

Through the occasional appearance of Ziggy cartoons across the pages, the book deftly treats its readers to “comic relief” along Wilson ’s occasional sad road.

Like Ziggy, Tom Wilson has turned tragedy into a learning experience and readers can be inspired by the humorous healing touches throughout the book. Fans of the cartoon will be happy to learn that their illustrator’s outlook on life is in sync with his very own Ziggy.

Ziggy first appeared in newspapers in June 1971. Tom Wilson has drawn and written Ziggy since 1987, after the retirement of his father, the senior Tom Wilson , who first created Ziggy as a greeting card character. Now distributed through Universal Press Syndicate, a division of Andrews McMeel Universal , Ziggy is published in more than 600 newspapers, reaching 75 million readers daily, and maintains an online presence through www.Ziggyzone.com and www.uclick.com.

Video of Tom Wilson discussing the new book is available by clicking here.

Publishing Contact:
Kim Weiss, Director of Communications, HCI Books, T: (800) 851-9100 x 212; KimW@hcibooks.com

Ziggy & Friends, Inc. Contact:
Greg Walsh, Walsh Public Relations, T: 203-292-6280; greg@walshpr.com