Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: January 17th
ALWAYS POSTED A WEEK EARLIER ON PATREON
You Matter, Luma: Helping Kids Feel Seen, Heard, and Brave
On this episode of Storycomic Presents, I sit down with John R. Miles to talk about his debut children’s book, You Matter, Luma. Set in the magical Passion Struck Forest, the story follows Luma, a quiet bunny who feels small and unseen—until she discovers that her voice and her kindness can send ripples of change through her whole community.
You Matter, Luma is the first book in the You Matter series, part of John’s larger Matteringverse™, and is aimed at kids ages 4–8. It’s written to help children understand that they are important exactly as they are, while also learning empathy, courage, and the impact of their actions on others.
In our conversation, we talk about the real childhood experiences that inspired the book, why emotional education belongs right alongside reading and math, and how parents, teachers, and caregivers can use Luma’s story as a starting point for big conversations about feelings and belonging.
You can find the book and educator resources at YouMatterLuma.com and through publishers like IndiePubs and Booktopia.
The Tales of Rumpus: A Princess Proving She’s Ready to Rule
On this episode of Storycomic Presents, I sit down with author and family nurse practitioner Amy Hawk, whose debut children’s book The Tales of Rumpus follows a determined young royal named Princess Caitlin. Caitlin sets out to prove she’s ready to rule the Kingdom of Rumpus, and along the way she ventures far from the palace, makes new friends, and discovers that leadership is about empathy, courage, and curiosity—not just birthright.
With colorful artwork and a focus on adventure, The Tales of Rumpus is written as a “fun read for the whole family,” aimed at kids roughly 2–10 who love magical lands, surprising creatures, and brave heroines.
In our conversation, Amy shares what sparked Princess Caitlin’s story, how she balanced her medical career with writing, and why she wanted to create a fantasy that keeps kids turning pages while quietly nudging them to think about responsibility and self-discovery.
You can find The Tales of Rumpus at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and Apple Books.
Project Update: Revisiting and Refining Appliance
This week with Appliance was less about adding new words and more about stepping back and taking a careful look at what’s already there. I spent most of the time rereading the manuscript and doing some light self-editing—tightening language, clarifying ideas, and making notes about sections that need a little more polish or expansion later on.
After finishing the first draft, it’s been really helpful to approach the project as a reader instead of a writer. Seeing the whole thing laid out at once has given me a better sense of the flow, the tone, and how the different pieces fit together. It’s also reassuring to see how much is already working.
No big word-count jumps this week, but it was an important step in shaping Appliance into something stronger and more cohesive.
Book Review: Journey to Openworld – Curiosity, Courage, and Big Questions
Revisiting Journey to Openworld by Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin was a real pleasure. Published through Rigby Literacy, this is one of those early-2000s books that sticks with you—not because it’s flashy, but because it asks thoughtful questions and trusts the reader to sit with them.
The story centers on Susannah, an eleven-year-old traveling with her mother as part of a mission to colonize a distant planet called Openworld. Through Susannah’s eyes, the book explores what it means to arrive somewhere new and unfamiliar—and what responsibilities come with that arrival. Along the way, characters like Brent and the other scientists and colonists help shape the mission, while Susannah wrestles with the possibility that Openworld might already be home to native life.
What I really enjoy about this book is how much it respects its audience. It doesn’t talk down to younger readers or rush to easy answers. Instead, it presents ethical questions—about exploration, ownership, and coexistence—in a calm, accessible way. The science-fiction setting provides just enough distance to make those ideas approachable, while still feeling grounded and human.
Reading it now, the book feels quietly ahead of its time. It invites curiosity and empathy, and it encourages readers to think about the consequences of “progress” rather than just celebrating it. That balance between adventure and reflection is what makes Journey to Openworld memorable.
It was genuinely enjoyable to revisit this story. It’s thoughtful without being heavy, imaginative without being overwhelming, and it lingers in the mind long after the final page—exactly the kind of book that rewards a return trip.
Personal Update: Back on Track, Midseason Momentum, and Movie Night Education
This week’s paper felt much better, and it looks like that little hiccup of a thinner issue was just a one-week thing. That’s pretty normal for the very start of the year, and it’s reassuring to see things bounce back quickly. It’s a good reminder that January always has its own rhythm, and we’re settling back into it just fine.
We’re well into basketball season now and right about at the halfway point. It’s been busy, but in a good way. I also made some really solid headway with a few new clients this week, which was encouraging. Moments like that remind me how fortunate I am to be part of the local business community—and how grateful I am to support the folks who support the paper and the radio in return.
On the home front, with the Christmas season officially behind us, we’ve shifted movie nights back to old favorites from the ’80s and ’90s. No more holiday movies—now it’s time for what I like to think of as a proper education in fun nerd culture. It’s been a blast revisiting those classics with the kids and watching them discover stories that meant a lot to me growing up.
All in all, a solid week—steady work, good momentum, and plenty to be thankful for.
🎙️ 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.