Happy August!
Hi, friends, and happy August!
I'm happy for all of you who enjoy summer (and I'm with you on the extra sunshine!), but I am so ready for some cooler, cozier weather 🥲 How about you? What's your favorite season?
I hope you'll bear with me as I figure out these newsletter updates and the frequency and content of it. I realized this past month that I was trying to do way too much, and I decided to take a step back from a few things in order to focus more on comic making, so I think I'll be mainly sticking to once a month newsletters, as well as adjusting the blog posting schedule once August is over.
Survey
Speaking of, I do have a newsletter survey where you can share some feedback about what you'd like to see more of in these updates! There are only a few questions on there, and I would be grateful to hear your thoughts if you get a moment so I can improve this experience for you 🥰
In the Studio
I've been working hard on my script for the Silver Sprocket open submissions these last few weeks, but I did get some time to make a short comic that I can share with you! Based on a very true story 😂
Silver Sprocket Comic Pitch Update
Today is the opening day for Silver Sprocket's open submissions for mini comics, and I!! Am!! ...not done with my script yet 😂 It's up to 9,275 words, though, and page 34 out of a max of 48, so I'm doing good! I'm pleased with the work I've done so far. My updated plan is to continue working on finishing the script, then work on a few character designs and make some sample pages out of my favorite moments in the comic.
And while I haven't yet started the main sample art for the comic itself, I have worked on a few micro comics recently that will be kind of the same style I have in mind for the comic, albeit in a different color palette, so I'm glad I have something I can at least refer to in case these last 14 pages of script take longer than I plan for lol.
I also have a mostly complete pitch letter ready that I'm grateful to my writer's group for critiquing last month! And thanks to their help, I also finally have a title for this comic, and I love it! It's called Sheryl Doesn't Work Weekends: A Hard Lesson Learned for an Aspergillus Fae.
Here's a look at some ideas I had for some of the characters who are fighting off some fungal fae!
August Offerings
I have a few offerings for you up on the blog this month with more on the way!
It wouldn't be a proper new month without new comic books! Here are 18 New Comics and Graphic Novels for August 2023!
If you missed it, you can also catch up on this list of 23 New Comic Books and Graphic Novels for July 2023!
In Behind the Design: Day Off, I talk about the creation of my one page comic and the design process for the comic overall and the monster Jello fruit salad that inspired it 😂
I interviewed C.E. Chant, aka Hades, about their work in comics, including some current and favorite projects! Here's an excerpt:
What do you wish you had known before starting to make comics?
Honestly? Just that it’s alright to jump around projects if I need to. That I DON’T have to focus solely on one story, only to end up terribly burnt out and resenting it.
What’s the best advice someone has given you about art or comics?
That things don’t have to be perfect and the rules are really just guidelines. Comics are still a pretty young medium, experimentation is its bread and butter.
Issue #5 of More Comics Please! is up!
✦ Read Between Sand & Sea for impeccable ocean vibes, beautiful illustrations, and a touching and relatable story about embracing the home within yourself
✦ Read Demon in the Wood if you're a fan of the novel series Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo which was adapted into a Netflix show
✦ Read the issue itself to see why I don't recommend reading She Said Destroy (Be sure to read the content notes for that one if you do!)
On Patreon
This month on Patreon, I'll be sharing some detailed behind the scenes looks at Sheryl Doesn't Work Weekends: A Hard Lesson Learned for an Aspergillus Fae, as well as some looks at my process on two micro comics I'm working on for #MicroComicSummer on social media. Here's a peek at what I'll be talking about in more detail:
This first work in progress is a micro comic; it's a sweet, lighthearted story about helping one another and letting others help you. I think I excel in writing about difficult personal topics, but I really want to improve my lighthearted storytelling skills and do some more fantasy work! I personally need more of them in my life!
This second micro comic is a very... intimate one for me where I talk about some difficult issues I deal with. I find making art like this to be very therapeutic. I think talking about these things in a more public way also helps me, too, and can help others who might also struggle with similar issues.
Comics in July
And finally, here are some comics I read in July! ARC indicates that I received an advanced reader copy, so if you're interested in that comic, I recommend pre-ordering a copy!
Atana and the Firebird (ARC)
Super Boba Café (ARC)
Firebird (ARC)
Changeling (a mini comic by Jessie Crossman that I can't find a link for)
Micro Comics Online in July
So literally the day I typed up this list, Twitter announced they'll be scraping everything on the platform for their generative AI, and a lot of artists have understandably started removing their work, so my apologies if these links don't work once they're sent out! You should definitely still check out these gems while they're up, though! 🩷
See You Next Time!
That's it for today! I hope you have a wonderful start to the month and get to read some wonderful comics or enjoy some lovely art, and I'll see you soon! 💖
If you enjoy this newsletter, please consider supporting my work on Patreon, where I share more behind the scenes looks at my work and life in general, previews of illustrations + works in progress, and other rewards for $5 a month. Sharing this newsletter with a friend is also a great way to support my work!
Thanks for reading! 💖
With love,
they/them
