Song of the Week

Kira Mac, “Hellfire and Holy Water”

Good morning! I have new content for you!

The latest episode of The Well Below the Valley is up on Patreon now, and on Wednesday it will be up here for free reading. I am putting the finishing touches on the next page of Last Watch Before Dawn, and it will be up later today. The next page is a single panel, so I’m hoping to get it out this week as well.

I’ll also be writing the newsletter today, and that will go out tomorrow. If you’re not signed up and would like to be (it has cat pictures), here’s a link. Be sure to check your inbox for a confirmation afterward.

Some petitions:

Via National Campaign for Justice: Birthright citizenship must be protected

Via Win Without War: Stop Trump’s march to war in Latin America

Via Drop Site: Grant safe passage to the Global Sumud Flotilla

Okay, I think that’s everything for right now. I love and appreciate you. Stop by again soon.

New Patreon Post/ The Well Below the Valley, Episode 12

KURT:

With an antique sword and one and a half guns? 

That’s not a good idea. 

ISKANDAR:

You don’t have to come with me. 

KURT:

That would remove one entire gun from the equation. No. 

Hey, look at that! I have a new episode for you a little earlier than anticipated! You can find it on Patreon.

My Patreon is only $3 a month, or you can purchase individual episodes (or bonus comic art images) for $3 each. If you don’t have $3, don’t worry, this episode will be up here for free reading next week.

Song of the Week

Khaled, “Alech Taadi” (from The Fifth Element)

Hello again!

I had a lovely time at the last Kenosha Book Festival of the year. It was still pretty hot, but the rain stayed away. Next month, I’ll be heading to the Spooky Frog Horror Book Fair and another What the Hex! More on that later.

The last couple of weeks have been difficult for me in terms of work; I managed to qualify for a home weatherization program, so I’ve had a crew coming in and out of the house and disrupting everyone’s schedules. I’m very grateful for the assistance, and will be even more so when winter hits, but it did prevent me from getting all the writing and drawing done that I wanted to (and poor Shepard, my small and cowardly cat, hid in the basement ceiling for the better part of several days).

That being said, I think I can get the next page of Last Watch Before Dawn done this week, and the latest episode of The Well Below the Valley should be out next week. I appreciate your patience.

A couple of petitions:

Via Drop Site: Grant safe passage to the Global Sumud Flotilla sailing to Gaza

Via Doctors Without Borders: Stop the Genocide, let Gaza live

As always, thanks for stopping by! I’ll be back again soon.

Song of the Week

Taqbir, “Aisha Qandisha”

(Lyrics and more information here)

Hello!

I promise I am working on getting you new content. Our house has undergone several days’ worth of weatherization work over the past week, and there’s still more to do. In addition, my baby has just learned how to roll over and wants to do nothing else. She hasn’t figured out how to roll back yet. There will be a new episode of The Well Below the Valley and a new page of Last Watch Before Dawn soon. I appreciate your patience.

I’m going to the Kenosha Book Festival this Sunday (the 21st)! It’s looking like rain, but I promise it’ll be worth it. There will be a gathering of indie and local authors eager to talk books with you, a huge used book sale, delicious food, and goody bags for the first 100 guests (so plan to come early!). We’ll be there from 10 to 3 across from Studio Moonfall, 5031 7th Ave., Kenosha, WI. Here’s the Facebook event and here’s the website.

Here’s some petitions:

Via RootsAction: Pass War Powers Resolution to prevent war on Venezuela

Via Demand Progress: Stop Trump’s military takeover of US cities

Via Feminist Majority Foundation: Stand with Afghan women

Via Civic Shout: Investigate cruelty at ICE detention centers

Thanks for being here. I’ll be back again soon.

Song of the Week

8eyes, “Devil Dance”

Good morning! I’m back.

Not much to report; I’m still working on the next page of Last Watch Before Dawn and the next episode of The Well Below the Valley. If you’re not caught up on either of those things, now’s a good chance! Head on over to the Stories tab above (under the Menu if you’re on mobile).

On Sunday, September 21, I’ll be heading out to the Kenosha Book Festival one more time. Here’s the website and here’s the Facebook event. Back in July, it was nearly ninety degrees out, so I’m hoping for a pleasant fall day. I’ll be joining a collection of local & indie authors across from Studio Moonfall, 5031 7th Ave., in Kenosha, WI from 10 until 3. There will also be a huge used book sale, and the first 100 guests get a goody bag, so plan to be there early!

Some petitions for today:

Via No Business with Genocide: Join the Congressional Armenian Caucus, Pass the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act, Strengthen the arms embargo on Sudan, and Pass the Uyghur Policy Act

Via Win Without War: Block the bombs

Via the American Friends Service Committee: Protect immigrant communities

Also, Chicago friends, please stay safe.

That’s all for today. I love and appreciate you, and I’ll have new stuff for you soon.

Last Watch Before Dawn: Volume 1, Page 2

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” →

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

A bleak, leafless tree against a sepia-toned sky. Text reads: Space Whales Press presents The Well Below the Valley, an audio drama

Table of Contents

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!

Three images side by side. First image: Dark text on a background of a forest and a stretch of moss-covered ground. An alchemical diagram is superimposed over it. Text reads: What the Hex Witches Market, Arbor & Alchemy. Explore the mystic roots of teh earth and step beyond the physical to celebrate where science and magick meet. August 17th 12-5, $3 Entry, Children under 12 free. Dresden Castle, 3775 E Underwood Ave, Cudahy, WI 53110. Second image: Same background. An image of scattered handpainted tarot cards and another of the cover of Journey to the Water. Text reads: What the Hex Witches Market, Arbor & Alchemy, August 17th 12-5, Dresden Castle, Cudahy, WI. Figuratively Speaking Tarot & Space Whales Press. Third image: Background is a bare forest at night, with black trees against a dark blue sky. Text reads: What the Hex: Arbor & Alchemy Free Offerings. 1:00pm Evening with the Devil. Learn about the often misunderstood tutelary spirit and why embracing him will only expand your craft. Led by rustbelt_witch. 2:00pm Guided Meditation. Connect to Arbor & Alchemy with this transformative ritual of word, sound, and breath. Led by Tres Ojos. 3:00pm Finding Runes in Nature. Learn about this ancient divination practice and how to identify them in nature. Led by Bee Batty. Sunday August 17th at Dresden Castle

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!