Author’s Note

Good things are happening. Stay tuned.

An Early Summer Update

I won’t lie to you. It has been awhile. Sorry about it.

More and more it occurs to me that this blog is turning into a live/work function. I mean that it’s my news ticker when something personally cool dislodges, rumbles around and finally occurs. Like bringing home a shiny new puppy to love and love and love. Or, winning a beauty pageant. (I have nothing to link to. That one hasn’t happened yet.)

In any event, I’ve been letting my daily crazies and finds and inspirations freakishly fly at my Tumblr blog and long-time followers (if any remain) and new supporters (if any exist) are more than welcome to visit me there. That would be aces.

Now for the news-y stuff!

Those that have made that Tumblr trek already may be familiar, but those that have stayed loyal to this hub, or those that have stumbled across me here only now may not know: I have written a collection of illustrated short stories. Above, as well as throughout this site, you’ll see some of the illustrations that may or may not be included in the book! Ooh, it’s a like a total mystery.

What is not a mystery, though, is that the artwork is all done, fantastically so, by the very large hand of Ian Dingman. He has a gift, and he’s allowed me to mooch off of it and write short stories inspired by his illustrations. You’ll find a few examples, which—again—may or may not be included in the final book, of this charming idea via the glamorous stories section on this here website of the Internet.

The stories have taken on a variety of shapes and sizes and lengths, as well as explored different themes and tones and styles in the telling. But it’s always been about making something inspired, something beautiful and unique.  The writing process started a little over a year ago and picked up decidedly more steam just in the last four months. It’s been a labor and a massive confidence game to sit alone and tell myself that I was a worthy enough creator to debut a polished story collection. I still falter.

I set June 1 as my deadline to have the vast majority of writing done. I’m quite proud that next week I will be able to say that I am a very good boy in having done so. There will be bits and bobs that remain, as you shouldn’t really rush creativity, but the building blocks will be set into the ground. June will be a month of editing and tweaking and polishing as you would a pair of old shoes or something impossibly scuffed. Out the other side, blazing into July, the idea is to hold a sharpened stack of paper which can then be transformed just a bit more, morphed if you will, until it’s a stack of paper that you—yes, you!—can hold in your very hands. It’s a lot like magic, and I’m almost there. Ta-dah!

I believe this is the first official announcement here that a book is coming. We don’t have a title yet because we plan to arm wrestle over it later. I did want to announce it though. The quiet and the sound of crickets around here is not for lack of hard work or interest. I’m at this desk almost every day, very much like today, smelling like lemons:

Thanks for stopping by! Thanks, perhaps, also for the support and encouragement and personal interest in my work, or Ian’s work or the mating habits of mammals. And thanks for not sending me hate mail or telling me that I suck. Yeah. Most importantly, thanks for that.

Later on.

Sing Statistics Secrets

That vibrant blue could only mean one thing: SING STATISTICS. The venture between my favorite UK lit-art duo Jez Burrows and Lizzy Stewart revealed yesterday that there were a mere 30 copies left of their fantastic book We Are The Friction. Today, I see there are now less than 20. That’s after being whittled down from 1000. Once they are gone, they are gone. (If you missed my brief write-up on the book, wherein I urge you to get a copy of your very own, you may visit it here.)

Congratulations! That’s a super accomplishment for these guys. But it ain’t all. Some new and, uh, er, um, spectacular releases are coming in the next few months. I’m not saying I’m involved BUT I’M NOT SAYING I’M NOT INVOLVED EITHER. I’m just saying: Perhaps you want to sign up for their mailing list? I mean, that way you’d be the first to know when their next project, which I may or may not be involved with (AHEM!), is up for grabs. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.

RRR.001 Zine

A copy of RRR.001, a new zine by artist/designer Scott Massey (and a host of like-minded friends), landed on my doorstep last night. Never heard of it? I hadn’t either until my pal Bobby at Kitsune Noir got his paws on one and wrote about it. I bought mine based on his recommendation. Now let’s pay it forward!

Here’s what you should know:

1. RRR.001 is a brightly packaged, well-made little book filled with outstanding artwork from a variety of creative geniuses. | 2. It is inspired by Earth, the environment, sustainability, recycling and eco-friendly attitudes. (Oh, hey, me too!) | 3. There are only 1000 hand-numbered books in existence. | 4. Having one on your desk or bookshelf or coffee table will get you laid*.

It’s a pretty clever creation, and not just because it happens to feature a drawing of a mallard in business attire. Ahem! Get one of your very own today.

*Speculative

Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life

I’ve been drooling over Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life for a few years. As coffee table books go, it’s the must-have of must-haves. And a must-have that I didn’t have—the 420-page tome weighs in at hefty 12.2 pounds and carries a steep $200 price tag. Oof, it was always too tough to rationalize taking that purchase plunge.

Now, we don’t have to: In a solid move, AMMO very recently re-released the complete collection in a slightly smaller form—for just $50.

There is a dash of cartoonish whimsy (Charley called his style “minimal realism”) that gives each of his subjects a personality. I’m so fond of animals in art, and Charley’s illustrations really bring them to life in an inspiring way.