Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: June 13th
ALWAYS POSTED A WEEK EARLIER ON PATREON
🚨 Storycomic Patreon Update for Creators 🚨
If you're an author, indie comic creator, game designer, or storyteller looking for more visibility, the Storycomic Patreon is one of the easiest ways to get your work in front of a growing audience.
For just $5 a month (about the price of a cup of coffee), you get some real promotional benefits:
🎙 Front-of-the-Line Recording Access
I’m often booking podcast interviews three months in advance, but Patreon members jump to the front of the line. This is especially helpful if you have a time-sensitive launch, Kickstarter, or new release coming up.
🔗 Permanent Show Notes Promotion
Your website or project link will be included in the show notes of all interviews as long as you’re a member.
📣 Social Media Promotion
We’ll regularly help promote your projects across Storycomic’s social media channels.
And remember, the Storycomic podcast has over 30,000 downloads, so it’s a great way to get your work discovered by readers and fellow creators.
For the cost of a coffee each month, you get promotion, visibility, and priority booking.
If you’re a creative looking to grow your audience, it’s a pretty great deal.
👉 Join us on Patreon and let’s share your story with the world.
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:
Barbara Carroll Roberts brings a pivotal Washington moment to young readers in When George Washington Bowed to the New Nation
In my newest interview, I’m joined by children’s author Barbara Carroll Roberts to talk about her nonfiction picture book When George Washington Bowed to the New Nation, illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert and published by Creative Editions (out August 11, 2026). (bookshop.org)
The book focuses on a moment after the Revolutionary War that often gets summarized in a sentence—yet it changed the direction of the country. Washington, still widely admired as commander of the Continental Army, resigns his commission in Annapolis, Maryland. In other words, he chooses to give up power publicly, setting a precedent that leadership in a democracy isn’t supposed to be permanent or enforced by force.
Barbara shares how the book began with a casual comment over lunch in Annapolis and turned into deep research—standing where Washington stood, reading his handwritten speech, and tracking witness accounts to understand what the moment meant in real human terms.
If you want a history book for older picture-book readers (age 9+) that makes civic ideas feel tangible, this is one to put on your list. (barbaracarrollroberts.com)
Amos J. Landon on writing dragons, writing “home,” and building stories in two lanes
In my newest interview, I’m joined by indie author Amos J. Landon, who’s doing something I always like to see: writing across genres without treating either one like a side project.
On the adult-fiction side, Amos has a new release, Wayward Place, pitched as women’s fiction and a “great summer read,” built around a quietly big premise—sometimes home isn’t what you expected.
On the kidlit side, we talk about his middle-grade fantasy Fledgling (Book One of The Dragon Emperor Series), where a kid named Ash thinks he’s just the new kid… until he discovers he’s actually a dragon. With dragon hunters closing in and new friends trying to keep him afloat, Ash has to accept his fate fast. (amosjlandon.com ) We also touch on Heir (Book Two), where Ash winds up in an ancient castle filled with dragons—only to learn the danger is still right there, and the Order may have an insider.
We talk about craft, momentum, and what it takes to keep producing as an indie author. If you like behind-the-scenes creative process, this episode is a good one.
Project Update: Chipping Away and Rediscovering Ideas
It’s been a busy couple of weeks, which has limited the amount of dedicated project time I’ve been able to carve out. Even so, I’ve been very excited to spend what time I can chipping away at some of my newer projects while also revisiting a few older ones that have been sitting on the shelf for a while.
One thing I’ve been reminded of is how valuable it can be to step away from a project and come back to it later with fresh eyes. Ideas that seemed unfinished suddenly feel worth exploring again, and older concepts often spark new directions.
Appliance continues to move forward through the editing process, but I’ve also enjoyed bouncing between different creative endeavors. It keeps things fresh, keeps the creative muscles active, and helps prevent any one project from feeling stale.
Overall, progress may be happening in smaller increments right now, but there’s a lot of excitement around the various stories and ideas that are currently competing for space in my notebook. That’s a good problem to have.
Book Review: Lily-May's Joyful Day – Finding Joy in the Little Things
I recently had the chance to read an ARC of Lily-May's Joyful Day by John Schu, and it turned out to be a delightful experience—especially because my son thoroughly enjoyed it.
The story follows Lily-May as she prepares to share something special with her classmates. While she starts out feeling nervous, she ultimately introduces them to a wonderful concept: slowing down and noticing the world around them. What follows is a gentle celebration of curiosity, mindfulness, and finding joy in everyday moments.
What I appreciated most about this book is its calm and reassuring tone. It encourages children to look beyond screens, schedules, and distractions to appreciate the small things that often go unnoticed. That's a message that resonates just as much with adults as it does with kids.
My son was engaged throughout the story, and it sparked some fun conversations afterward about the things that make us happy and the little details we sometimes overlook. Those are the kinds of books I always appreciate most—the ones that continue the conversation after the final page.
The illustrations complement the story beautifully, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that encourages readers to linger on each page. Together, the artwork and text create a reading experience that feels both comforting and uplifting.
Lily-May's Joyful Day is a thoughtful picture book that reminds readers, young and old, that joy is often found in the simplest places. It's a book filled with warmth, heart, and an appreciation for the everyday wonders that surround us. My son and I both enjoyed it, and I can easily see it becoming a favorite for families looking for a gentle, meaningful read.
Personal Update: Racing Season, Remote Broadcasts, and Another School Year Nearly Complete
It was a very busy week, much of it centered around racing season. We had a Bayridge race carry over from last week and then another race this week, which kept the radio station team on its toes. It's always a busy but enjoyable time of year, and it's fun seeing the community come together around local racing.
Beyond that, we're also planning a couple of remote broadcasts. One will be for a local afterschool program, and another is in the works for Backyard Butchers. Remote broadcasts are always a great way to get out into the community and connect with people face-to-face, so I'm looking forward to both of those events.
Behind the scenes, we're continuing to work on getting our new broadcast software fully operational. We're very close now, and it's exciting to see the finish line in sight after all the planning and preparation that has gone into the transition.
I was also able to spend some time with Iggy again this past Friday, which is always a highlight. Between work, broadcasts, and meetings, those one-on-one moments become even more meaningful.
And perhaps the biggest reminder that time keeps moving forward: we're getting close to the end of the school year. Another year is nearly in the books for the kids. It's exciting to see them grow and accomplish new things, but it's also one of those moments that reminds me just how quickly they're growing up.
Busy schedules, community events, and family time—it was a full week, but a good one.
After running some errands we took a quick ice cream break at Ben and Jerry’s
computer issues this week.