Jeff Koterba is a cartoonist, writer, musician and creativity advocate. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and during the summer before his senior year of high school, he was struck by lightning. Instead of taking him to the hospital, his dad gave him a shot of Jack Daniels.
Since joining the Omaha World-Herald in 1989, he has been a finalist for Editorial Cartoonist of the Year from the National Cartoonists Society and has twice placed second in the National Headliner Awards. He has also won first place for editorial cartooning in the Great Plains Journalism Awards five times.
His cartoons are distributed to over 850 newspapers around the globe and have appeared in such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, Dallas Morning News and USA Today.
Koterba also produces a weekly video for Omaha.com and CBS affiliate, KMTV, that goes beyond the drawing board and explores the creative process.
His memoir, Inklings, traces Koterba’s path on his journey to become a cartoonist, and more so, to rediscover the love of his family that was there from the start. Entertainment Weekly called Inklings “…a powerful and moving portrait of an artist.”
Jeff also is the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the Prairie Cats, a swing and jump-blues band he formed in 1998. The Prairie Cats have performed at the South by Southwest Music Festival, Windows on the World at the World Trade Center, and at the Derby Lounge in Hollywood.
And in case there was any question, he now avoids thunderstorm whenever possible.
