Song of the Week

Sinéad O’Connor, “House of the Rising Sun” (traditional)

Good morning! This is my favorite version of “House of the Rising Sun,” so I hope you enjoy.

I have a new page of Last Watch Before Dawn for you, and it will be up tomorrow. I’m working on the next episode of The Well Below the Valley.

I also have some very exciting news, which is that The Book of the New Moon Door will be available as an audiobook soon! I’ve been working with two talented and hardworking voice actors, and they’ve just finished the recording. I’m hoping for a Halloween release! I’ll update you as we go. I’ve maybe mentioned the audiobook before once or twice, but I didn’t want to promise anything before I had an idea of the timeline.

Also, please mark your calendars for the Spooky Frog Horror Book Fair on Saturday, October 18 and What the Hex: Dia de Muertos on Sunday, October 19!

Here are some petitions:

Via Win Without War: Don’t silence dissent with tear gas

Via Ekō: Protect the Sumud Flotilla now

Via The Intercept: Demand Big Tech cancel contracts with Israel’s government

That’s all for today. Thanks for stopping by!

The Well Below the Valley, Episode 12: Sundown

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)

Inspector ISKANDAR Meshkia, former Ottoman cavalry officer. Male, late 30s, strong Turkish accent.

JASMINE Indrani, practical ex-academic. Female, late 20s, could have a British or Indian Accented English accent.

KURT Cross, reluctantly courageous private eye. Male, early 30s, New York accent. 

MARJANI Kaur, director and doctor of the women’s home. Female, early 30s, could have a British or Indian Accented English accent.

VIOLET, a resident of the women’s home after her house was lost in a fire. Female, 50s, Northern English accent. 

BELLA, the young daughter of a women’s home resident. Female, four years old, Northern English accent. 

WINIFRED, Bella’s mother and a war widow. Female, mid-30s, Northern English accent. 

Dr. ERNEST Wilde, who far prefers the boring routines of his lab. Male, early 30s, Northern English accent. 

JONATHAN Martel, defender of the Westmont estate and its young mistress. Male, mid-50s, Northern English accent. 

Eloise “ELLIE” Westmont, who wants to keep her past and present lives separate. Female, mid 20s, posh British accent. 

AURELIA Westmont, less than blissful in ignorance. Female, late teens, posh English accent.

JAMES MacDonald, refugee from the ransacked bookshop. Male, early 30s, Northern English accent. 

Sheriff Norbert OAKS, cult enforcer. Male, mid-40s, Northern English accent.

Richard LESTER and Charles PICK, Whitmoor police deputies. Both male, mid-20s, Northern English accents. 

Father John WHITNEY, Whitmoor cult leader. Male, early 50s, Northern English accent. 

MARIE Campbell, unwilling cult sacrifice. Female, early 20s, Northern English accent.

Scene 1: Int. Whitmoor Area Women’s Home – Night

MUSIC: OPENING THEME.

The music fades out quickly, leaving the tense, empty quiet of the house. A floorboard creaks above; MARJANI and the residents are upstairs, while JASMINE waits by the front door. We can hear her breathing softly. Distant, muffled shouts indicate the activity in the town. 

The loud, rapid pounding of a fist on the outside of the door breaks the quiet. JASMINE draws in a breath. 

Continue reading “The Well Below the Valley, Episode 12: Sundown” →

Last Watch Before Dawn: Volume 1, Page 3

This page kicked my butt and adding text in Photoshop is not exactly a nightmare, but more like one of those frustrating dreams where you’re trying to do a simple task and your brain keeps generating obstacles.

I’m still working out the art style and used some fancy brushes for this one. Let me know what you think.

Below the cut to save your RAM:

Continue reading “Last Watch Before Dawn: Volume 1, Page 3” →

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!