Ahoy, friends!

This is Adventure Cartoonist Lucy Bellwood with three quick items for your delectation:

First: if you are a BOOKSELLER or a LIBRARIAN or a TEACHER of YOUTHS, it’s time for us to get our forthcoming nautical adventure graphic novel Seacritters! into the hands of folks who can champion it before it comes out next March. I would love for you to be among them! Reply to this email if you’d like an advance copy or to chat about possible events.

Everyone else: got a local bookshop/library/school in your community that you love? I’m also happy to add those to our potential tour stop list. Shout ’em out!

Second: this coming Sunday I'm teaming up with the fine folks at Crucial Comix for a sliding scale ($0-$10) workshop about STAYING SANE WHILE WORKING ON LONG PROJECTS.

Here’s what I’ve learned in the last few years of drawing Seacritters!: marathon book work requires mental, emotional, and physical tools that are very different from (though not unrelated to) the ones that work for quick-turnaround comics.

I've put together a suite of strategies from the wisdom of my peers, training in other disciplines, reference books, and good old trial and error during the long, long process of bringing this book to life. Let me help you feel less wretched.

Third: I’ve launched a new offering on Patreon called Knot Club! Monthly tutorial zines to beef up your knot-tying abilities! The “zines in the mail” tier sold out real quick, but anyone who becomes a Patron at the $5+ tier gets access to downloadable PDFs that you can print each month and fold yourself.

There’s a lot happening in my professional world these days, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t overwhelming. But I’m excited, too. I’m excited to be drawing, I’m excited to have applied for a grant to teach comics to kids in my hometown, I’m excited to have a book I can hand to people coming out very soon. I’m also nourished by my friends who keep gathering, showing up to make courageous work, and screening extraordinary marionette musicals.

Also: the Ventura River is still there.

Catch you next time,

L