WAIT! Wait A Minute Mister Postman!

An open call for feedback, quotes, and questions

This has been a busy week. A busy month.

I’m going to try to keep this short since I’m in the final push to finish the book (looking to submit files to the publisher next week) and need to get back to crossing items off my to-do list.

I’m coaching soccer this season and, as of the writing of this post, just got home from practice. I told Julie I just more or less blanked out for the previous twenty minutes at home because apparently I was still on the field replaying moments from practice, identifying areas where our team needs improvement, and strategizing how I’m going to structure our next practice in order to best work on those areas.

It’s my seventh coaching season and I’m realizing that I bring the same level of intensity and passion to the soccer field that I do to my art classroom and that I used to bring to the stage when I directed high school theatre productions.

It’s surprising to me because I never thought I’d coach a sports team, let alone be any good at it. Not bad for a kid who was picked last in gym class.

Speaking of being picked last in gym class…

THIS WEEK:

• PRE-ORDER: Buddy and Romeo Alone for the Holidays

• Requesting questions and quotes!

• BEHIND THE PAY WALL: Book to-do list and mailbox cartoons

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Hey! I’m publishing a new book next month! Have a look at the cover!

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In case you missed it, on Saturday, a special edition of this newsletter landed in your inbox. You needn’t dig it out, I’ll repeat it here.

I’m going to record an audio book/audio commentary for Buddy and Romeo: Alone for the Holidays. Think of it as a hybrid audio book/1980s children’s book on tape/DVD director commentary. It will be released episodically with each episode focusing on a chapter from the book (each chapter of the book is a different holiday).

In the first episode, I will discuss the book covers: front cover, back cover, and interior cover. Episode one will be posted here on Substack for all subscribers and on YouTube prior to the book’s publication. Subsequent episodes will be sent after publication (so as not to spoil the book!) to those who have pre-ordered the book and to paid Substack subscribers.

While I have planned talking points already, to make this audio commentary more interactive, I’d like to hear from you! Do you have questions about the artistic process? Image symbolism? Character designs? Let me know! Ask me some questions in the comments (or send a DM) and I’ll do my best to answer in the upcoming first episode of Buddy and Romeo: Alone for the Holidays | the audio book commentary.

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I know I’ve said it before, but thank you to everyone who has pre-ordered the new book!

I’m still drawing new strips! I’ll have to stop adding to the book soon though…because I need to submit the final version to the publisher next week.

Pre-Order Buddy and Romeo: Alone for the Holidays

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Now for a look at the mailbox…

Years ago, I asked friends and family for quotes I could use as sarcastic testimonials for marketing the [then] new comic strip.

The quotes above are attributed to: my grandmother; my dad; an illustrator friend from college; Real Buddy; a newspaper journalist; Real Buddy’s Real Wife.

I’m not sure if I want to do something similar for the back cover of the book. Would you like to chime in? I can’t promise that you’ll make the back cover — but maybe! If you are able to take a couple moments out of your day to drop a sentence or two about what you think of Budddy and Romeo, I’d appreciate it! If nothing else, you’ll probably wind up being featured on this Substack.

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Join me behind the paywall for an updated to-do list of what I still need to do to finish the book! Plus three more mailbox comics!