I think I’ve been threatening you with this page for like two weeks now. Maybe three.
Below the cut to spare your RAM:
Continue reading “Last Watch Before Dawn: Volume 1, Page 2”Author: Madeline Crane
Fantasy writer, tabletop gamer, wearer of hats.
Song of the Week
Ye Vagabonds, “Her Mantle So Green” (traditional)
Good morning!
I am trying very hard to get the next page of Last Watch Before Dawn finished and out to you. It’s almost done! I’m on the last panel (out of four), and then I just have to format the text. It is very difficult to draw while holding a baby. I appreciate your patience.
The next episode of The Well Below the Valley will conclude the Whitmoor arc, corresponding to Chapter Two of the Call of Cthulhu module (which you can read, if you don’t mind spoilers, here). It will be a chunky one, so it’ll take a little while to complete. The good news is that it is much easier to type while my baby naps on my chest.
The newsletter will be going out on the 31st (Sunday). You can put your email in the box at this link if you aren’t signed up and would like to be. Be sure to check your inbox afterward for a confirmation.
I’ll be away for the Labor Day holiday, so there won’t be a Song of the Week next week. I’ll get you new content as I finish it, but otherwise your regularly scheduled nonsense will resume the following Monday (the 8th).
A couple of petitions:
Via Turn Left: Tell the White House Faith Office to condemn Trump’s treatment of migrants
Via RootsAction: No war on Iran
Via Just Foreign Policy: Restore medical visas for Palestinian children
That’s all for today. I’ll be back as soon as I have new content for you. Thanks for reading!
The Well Below the Valley, Episode 11: Dust to Dust
Dramatis Personae
(in order of appearance)
Father John WHITNEY, leader of the Whitmoor church and all that entails. Male, early 50s, Northern English accent.
Dr. ERNEST Wilde, botanist and semi-voluntary investigator. Male, early 30s, Northern English accent.
Eloise “ELLIE” Westmont, protective older cousin. Female, mid 20s, posh British accent.
KURT Cross, veteran of the French Foreign Legion, among other things. Male, early 30s, New York accent.
Inspector ISKANDAR Meshkia, who has seen this before. Male, late 30s, strong Turkish accent.
AURELIA Westmont, sheltered heiress. Female, late teens, posh British accent.
A pair of Whitmoor CULTISTS, searching for a particular text. Both male, ages can vary, Northern English accents.
JAMES MacDonald, oblivious citizen and book enthusiast. Male, early 30s, Northern English accent.
Scene 1: Int. Whitmoor Parish Church – Day
MUSIC: OPENING THEME.
Father WHITNEY approaches the investigators at a casual pace. The floorboards creak, and his steps echo; the church is a tall, narrow building.
Continue reading “The Well Below the Valley, Episode 11: Dust to Dust”Song of the Week
Muco, “Bryd One Brere”
Hello again!
I had a lovely time at What the Hex: Arbor and Alchemy yesterday! I’ve attended enough of these events now that I’m starting to see some familiar faces, which is just lovely. I appreciate everyone who came by to say hello! I completely sold out of The Book of the New Moon Door, so I have another box ordered. Today, I’m dropping off some books at Story Keepers for their Gumball Gala on August 26th, which is a charity event supporting Bernie’s Book Bank. More information about that here.
Episode 11 of The Well Below the Valley is up on Patreon and will be here on Wednesday for free reading. I’m also going to do my very best to get the next page of Last Watch Before Dawn done and in front of your eyeballs by the end of the week.
A couple of petitions:
Via All Out: Protect Ugandan LGBT+ refugees in Lusaka
Via Save the Children Action Network: Demand lifesaving aid for Afghanistan
Via USCPR: Tell Congress to support the Block the Bombs Act
That’s all I’ve got for you today. Check back soon!
Event this Sunday!
This Sunday, August 17th, I’ll be returning to Dresden Castle on Underwood for What the Hex: Arbor & Alchemy! I’m very excited to finally be back, and also to be rejoining Brooke of the Figuratively Speaking Tarot. What the Hex is one of my favorite events, and I try not to miss any of them (I did miss their Pride market right after I had my baby). The people are so kind, the music slaps (as the kids say, or did at one point?), and there is so much cool stuff that if I didn’t confine myself to my own table, I’d spend all my money.
Dresden Castle can be found at 3775 East Underwood Ave, Cudahy, WI. Entry is $3 for anyone 12 or older; kids get in free. In addition to entry, your three dollars also gets you access to the classes in the last image. Doors will be open from noon until 5.
I’ve restocked all my books, and I hope I can see you there!
New Patreon Post/ The Well Below the Valley, Episode 11
If there is danger, it’s right outside her door.
Not knowing about it doesn’t make her safe.
At long last, the latest episode of The Well Below the Valley is now available on Patreon. The sinister town of Whitmoor is preparing for some momentous occasion, putting our intrepid investigators in danger. This episode will be available for free reading next week, but if you’d like to support an independent creator, my Patreon is only $3 a month.
Song of the Week
Renee Christine, “The Bomb”
Good morning! Milwaukee is somewhat underwater right now, so I hope you’re safe. My basement is leaking, but the drains didn’t back up, so I am thankful that it wasn’t much worse.
In case you missed it, the first page of Last Watch Before Dawn is live right here. You can also access it on Patreon as a free or paid member. Paid members also get bonus art!
This week, I’ll be starting the next page, as well as finishing the latest episode of The Well Below the Valley. I’m hoping to get the latter up this week, though I don’t know if it will be on my usual Wednesday. One day, I will manage my time well enough to get ahead on my work, but that isn’t today.
On Sunday (the 17th), I’ll be at What the Hex: Arbor and Alchemy! Doors will be open from noon until 5 at Dresden Castle on Underwood, Cudahy, WI. I’ll be joining an eclectic collection of magical artists and craftspeople, including my best friend and business partner Brooke (of the Figuratively Speaking Tarot). Admission is only $3 (free for kids under 12), and there are three free classes you can join throughout the day. What the Hex is a delight every time, and I hope to see you there!
A couple of petitions:
Via Win Without War: Restrict the first use of nuclear weapons
Via No Business with Genocide: Strengthen the arms embargo on Sudan
Via Demand Progress: Stop supplying weapons to fuel Israel’s atrocities in Gaza
That’s all I’ve got for you today. I’ll be back later this week. Thanks for stopping by!
Last Watch Before Dawn: Volume 1, Page 1
So it begins!
To avoid gumming up your scrolling with a huge image, I’ll put it below the cut:
Continue reading “Last Watch Before Dawn: Volume 1, Page 1”Song of the Week
Buffalo Nichols, “Belly of the Beast”
Good morning!
I am writing to you from inside the smoke cloud moving off the Canada wildfires. I hope you’re safe today.
I’m working on Episode 11 of The Well Below the Valley and the first proper page of Last Watch Before Dawn. I should be able to finish the latter in the next day or two, so that should be up soon! I’m planning on putting the comic pages both here and on Patreon for free, image size allowing, and bonus art will be available for Patreon subscribers. Here’s the link if you’d like to become a free or paid member ($3/month).
This month, I’ll be heading to What the Hex: Arbor and Alchemy on Sunday, August 17! I’m excited to be back at What the Hex and to rejoin Brooke for our first table-sharing event since…February? I’ll have more details for you as we get closer to the event.
A couple of petitions from the depths of my inbox:
Via CARE Action: No one should die from hunger
Via Win Without War: Defund the GHF and restore a UN-led humanitarian response in Gaza
Via No Business with Genocide: Pass the Uyghur Policy Act
That’s all for today. I should have new content for you soon! Thanks for stopping by.
The Well Below the Valley, Episode 10: All Who Have Ears to Hear
Dramatis Personae
(in order of appearance)
KURT Cross, actor, private investigator, and former skeptic. Male, early 30s, New York accent.
Inspector ISKANDAR Meshkia, Metropolitan police detective and raging caffeine addict. Male, late 30s, strong Turkish accent.
Dr. ERNEST Wilde, skeptic enough for the whole group. Male, early 30s, Northern English accent.
Eloise “ELLIE: Westmont, returned home at last. Female, mid 20s, posh British accent.
JASMINE Indrani, haunted by the ghost of her mentor. Female, late 20s, could have a British or Indian Accented English accent.
A Whitmoor FARMER, unwelcoming to outsiders and unphased by recent events. Male, middle aged, Northern English accent.
Constable Ben COREY, who learned not to ask questions. Male, mid 20s, Northern English accent.
MARIE Campbell, post office attendant and dreamer. Female, early 20s, Northern English accent.
Robert SANGFORD, telegraph operator and de facto postmaster. Male, early 40s, Northern English accent.
Father John WHITNEY, Whitmoor parish priest. Male, early 50s, Northern English accent.
Scene 1: Int. Westmont estate, third floor – Day
MUSIC: OPENING THEME.
KURT wakes, shaking off a dream; to represent the dream lingering, the sounds of a drone, a steady drip of water into a metal sink, and the rattle of an old radiator fade in after the music and fade out as he narrates.
Continue reading “The Well Below the Valley, Episode 10: All Who Have Ears to Hear”
Space Whales Press 