Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: October 4th
ALWAYS POSTED A WEEK EARLIER ON PATREON
“Whodonut? Josh Funk Serves Up a Sweet Mystery for the Holidays”
Josh Funk returns with He’s whipping up a new delight just in time for the holidays — Whodonut? A Holiday Mystery is the seventh book in the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, illustrated by Brendan Kearney and set to hit bookshelves on September 9, 2025. Union Square Kids brings this 40‑page adventure where literary mischief unfolds at a festive Holiday Eve party when the debut of the latest Miss Maple book goes missing. Pancake, Toast, and Agatha Crispy turn detective, suspects pop up, and clues (and donut jokes) fly.
What makes Whodonut? stand out is how Josh mixes clever rhyme, visual inclusivity, and holiday cheer without leaning into one tradition. From sprinkling in multiple winter holidays to using a locked‑room mystery setup, it’s fun for kids, parents, and teachers alike. The visuals are rich with punny details—musical posters like “Beauty & the Beets,” bridges like Golden Cake Bridge, and so many hidden jokes.
It’s especially meaningful since this release lands almost exactly 10 years after the first Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast book. If you love mysteries, rhyme, or stories that make you smile and think, Josh Funk’s latest is your next festive read.
When Love and Darkness Collide: Love in a Dark Place
Geoffrey Douglas’s Love in a Dark Place is his striking entry into fiction after a career of journalism and non‑fiction. Published by Greenleaf Book Group Press, the novel alternates between the neon glitz and underlying violence of Atlantic City in the 1980s and the aching present day, following Harry Hopper—a once‑investigative reporter turned professor—haunted by memories of Sarah, a woman whose life was marked by addiction, sex work, and survival.
The story begins when Sarah’s body is pulled from the Shawsheen River; the only person who can shed light on her final days is Harry, decades later. As he revisits their shared past, Douglas explores power, corruption, guilt, and the delicate nature of love in a fractured world. His background in reporting—covering vice, criminality, moral decay—lends vivid authenticity to the scenes of Atlantic City, while his prose captures emotional nuance in memory and regret.
If you're drawn to stories that blend love with the underbelly of society, this novel promises both sorrow and insight. Catch the full interview for how Geoffrey picks through the shadows of his characters’ lives and crafts a love story that refuses to be simple.
Project Update: Building the World of Appliance
This week I’ve continued chipping away at the world-building side of Appliance. It’s been fun sketching out the details—how things fit together, what rules govern the world, and what makes it unique. Even though it’s still in the brainstorming and refining stage, every little piece added makes the setting feel more alive and ready for players to explore.
It’s steady progress, and while it doesn’t always feel as flashy as writing new rules or scenarios, the foundation of the world is what will ultimately make Appliance engaging and fun. Slowly but surely, it’s coming together!
Book Review: Arthur’s Halloween – Spooky Fun with a Big Heart
When I was a kid, one of my favorite October traditions was reading Marc Brown’s Arthur’s Halloween. So this past week, it was a real delight to dust off that same book and read it with my own kids. There’s something special about sharing a story you loved growing up and watching it spark the same smiles and giggles in a new generation.
The story follows Arthur as he navigates the spookiest night of the year. Between scary costumes, strange noises, and one very creepy house, Arthur has to face his fears while still looking out for his friends. What I love most is how the book mixes just the right amount of Halloween spookiness with humor and warmth. It’s never too scary, but it still captures the thrill of being out on a dark October night.
Marc Brown’s illustrations are just as charming as I remembered—full of little details that make each page fun to linger over. And while Arthur’s world feels familiar and safe, the story also gently teaches about courage, kindness, and not letting fear get the best of you.
Reading it again all these years later, I realized why it stuck with me as a kid—it’s not just a Halloween story, it’s a reminder that sometimes the things that seem the scariest can turn out to be the most rewarding. And getting to share that lesson (and those cozy autumn vibes) with my kids this year was the best treat of all.
Personal Update: Press Progress, Tech Hiccups, and Rocktober Fest
Things are still going full steam ahead with both the paper and the radio, and I’m excited to share that we’ve officially joined the Vermont Press Association and the New Hampshire Press Association. It feels like a solid step forward for The Bridge and the work we’re doing to grow and connect with the wider journalism community.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a week without a few technical hiccups. Our Bridge Weekly website was acting a little funky, but thankfully that’s all sorted out now. On the home front, my computer gave me a bigger headache—I ended up losing all five years’ worth of my podcasts stored on the hard drive. The good news is they’re not gone forever since they’re all up on YouTube and my podcast platform. Still, it’s a slight pain in the butt to lose the originals.
On a brighter note, Morrisville had its Rocktober Fest this past weekend, and it was a lot of fun. I got to walk around, take in the music and atmosphere, and enjoy that small-town festival energy. A good reminder to step away from the desk once in a while.
🎙️ Been Here. Still Awesome. Still Limited. 🎨📚🎲
For a while now, we’ve been offering a tried-and-true promotional opportunity through the Storycomic Patreon—and if you’re an independent creative, it’s still one of the best ways to sustainably share your work and grow your audience.
Here’s what our Patreon members have been benefiting from:
✅ Permanent Promotion
Your website or project link is featured in the show notes of all podcast episodes for as long as you're a patron. That’s long-term visibility across every platform where our show is streamed.
🏆 Founders Club Access
The Founders Club remains limited to just 15 spots. No expansions, no waiting list—once it’s full, that’s it. These early supporters have their names (and links) locked into the Storycomic platform.
📢 Monthly Promotion at the Super Club Level
At the Super Club tier, members receive a minimum of one promotional post per month—whether it's a new release, project update, or spotlight on their creative work.
Founders Club patrons include amazing creators like:
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese.
Explore their work:
🎯 If you're a creator—author, game designer, comic artist—this is your signal. This system is working. Don't wait until the last spot is gone.
Let’s keep building the kind of community that lifts each other up.
—Barney Smith