Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: January 10th
ALWAYS POSTED A WEEK EARLIER ON PATREON
Podcast Update: Season 3 Is Officially Underway
I’m excited to share that I’ve officially launched Season 3 of We Make Children’s Books! It always feels good hitting that “go” button on a new season, especially after spending time planning, recording, and lining everything up behind the scenes.
One thing I’m especially proud of right now is the schedule—I already have a solid queue of Monday releases lined up, taking us all the way through mid-May. That kind of runway feels really good and takes a lot of pressure off week to week. It also means listeners can count on a steady rhythm of episodes without interruption.
Season 3 is shaping up nicely, and I’m looking forward to sharing more conversations about creativity, process, and making children’s books with the folks who tune in each week.
Project Update: First Draft Complete!
Big milestone this week—I’m officially done with the first draft of Appliance! The manuscript has landed at a whopping 90,000 words, which honestly feels a little surreal to type out.
Getting to the end of a first draft is always equal parts relief and excitement. The full world is down on the page now, the ideas are connected, and the game finally feels real in a way it didn’t before. There’s still plenty of work ahead—revisions, tightening, polishing—but having a complete draft gives me something solid to shape and improve.
I’m really proud of how far this project has come, and it feels great to hit such a major creative checkpoint. Onward to the next phase!
Book Review: Nature Parade – A Gentle March Through the Outdoors
Nature Parade is one of those quietly wonderful children’s books that does exactly what it sets out to do—and does it really well. It’s simple, rhythmic, and inviting, making it a perfect read-aloud for young listeners and a calm, cozy book to return to again and again.
The concept is straightforward and charming: elements of nature parade by one after another—animals, insects, and bits of the natural world—each taking their turn in the spotlight. The repetition gives the book a soothing cadence, almost like a chant or a song, which makes it especially engaging for little ones. It’s the kind of rhythm that kids quickly latch onto, anticipating what comes next and happily joining in.
The illustrations are warm and full of movement, giving the sense that everything is gently marching along together. There’s a friendliness to the artwork that makes nature feel approachable and fun rather than distant or instructional. It encourages kids to notice the world around them—bugs, animals, and outdoor sounds—without ever feeling like a lesson.
What I really appreciate about Nature Parade is how calm and confident it is in its simplicity. It doesn’t try to do too much. Instead, it creates a small moment of connection between the reader and the natural world, one page at a time.
This is a lovely book to slow things down a bit—perfect for younger readers, bedtime reading, or a quiet moment during the day. Sometimes a gentle parade is exactly what you need.
Personal Update: First Night Fun and a Familiar January Rhythm
This past week wrapped up with New Year’s Eve, and we spent it as a family at First Night in St. Johnsbury. It was a great way to ring in the new year—fun, low-key, and full of community energy. We were back home around 10:30 p.m., which felt just right. Staying up until midnight is definitely a young person’s game these days.
On the work side, the new year brought one of its familiar challenges. This first week of January is always a dry spell for ad-hoc community announcements and advertising, and this year was no exception. For the coming week, we could only muster up a 12-page paper. While that’s never ideal, the good news is that it’s completely in line with history—the paper has traditionally been this thin at the start of the year, long before I ever owned it.
It’s one of those moments where perspective matters. January always takes a little patience, and knowing this is part of the normal cycle makes it easier to take in stride. A quiet start, but a solid foundation for the year ahead.
Cousin time at New years Eve
🎙️ 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