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!

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

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)

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” →

Song of the Week

Nathan Evans Fox, “Hillbilly Hymn (Okra and Cigarettes)”

Hello! It’s Monday again.

Thank you to everyone who braved the heat to come out to the Kenosha Book Festival! I’ll be heading back out there in September for the last one of the year. I’m hoping it will be a pleasant fall day.

The newsletter will be going out on Thursday (the 31st). If you’re not signed up and would like to be, put your email in the box at this link, and then check your inbox for a confirmation. If you signed up at the festival, I’ll put your information in today, so you don’t need to do anything else.

I’ll be working on the first proper page of the comic this week, as well as the next episode of The Well Below the Valley. Last week’s episode will be up here on Wednesday for free reading. I appreciate your patience as I continue to try to get on a regular schedule. I don’t know if that will be happening anytime soon, but please believe that I’m trying.

A couple of petitions:

Via Demand Progress: Stop ICE’s human trafficking to foreign prisons

Via Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid: Demand that Congress and the White House act to deliver food to starving Palestinians

Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon!

Bonus art on Patreon! Comic pages coming soon!

A black and white digital drawing of a three-eyed skull with curling horns on top of a stack of books. Two rolled paper scrolls lie on the tabletop next to the books, and someone's arm is visible behind them.

Here’s a little snippet. You can see the entire image on Patreon! As a bonus art, this is available to paid subscribers, but the comic will be available for free and paid members.

I’m about to start working on the first page, so stay tuned! I should have it out sometime next week.