Storytelling

or more than that

Turns out, I really enjoy going beyond straightforward prose or comic storytelling. I like when a story creation reaches beyond those bounds, hence the hybrid stories like “Seed of Truth” (in Less than Secret) and “Gnoir with a Silent G” (in What the Gnomes Know).

This has been expanding to “prose + Abe’s photos.” I would like to do more of these collaborations with Abe, but so far, it is just Hamish Rose Garden. (You can get the PDF of this story for $2+ on Gumroad.) But with this rosey story, I went a step further beyond the story.

I made a craft pattern to go with it. And I am enchanted by the idea! At one point in the story, the main character sees the cross-stitch she made for her wife: “If I’m at worky, don’t be a turkey.” I think it was a different craft at first, but it ended up as a cross-stitch. I have been obsessed with cross-stitching for a while, so I decided to make my own cross-stitch pattern to go with this story. My first go was “If I’m in class, don’t be an ass,” but I mostly am not in class. Since I work from home and needed a sign like that for myself, I changed it to a phrase I would put on my door.

The booklet for the story itself also includes a gray-scale chart for the pattern. I hope people who don’t do crafts still find this as endearing as I do. But the pattern itself is also available (PDF on Gumroad for $2+), with a larger version of the chart, in full color. This colored chart can be a big help when working on a . . . color project. I find working from just symbols can be confusing.

So I am looking to do this story/craft combo more. I have ideas for Oooh! Shiny and “Darwin Lampoon.” As well as something sasquatch related. But I also want to go past crafts. Such as making in-world items that maybe come with a print of the story. One of my biggest inspirations for this kind of thing is Shing Khor. I am taking a class from her in September about “keepsake” game design. I have a bunch of the games and things she has designed under this philosophy. Such as “A Mending,” a bandana with a map printed on it that you then embroider with the tales of your “travel.” Sort of DnD inspired but no fighting. Just a trip to see a friend.

So keep an eye out. I have already started the Oooh! Shiny and “Darwin Lampoon” crafts. If only I could focus on finishing one thing instead of starting a dozen more…

B-b-b-book

I have been pounding my way through the Eisner nominees. Patreon backers will get to see my full thoughts. But for now, here’s a book rec.

Little Monarchs by Jonathan Case (Margaret Ferguson Books/Holiday House)

Case’s Dear Creature brought me back from the brink (of thinking comics to be a worthless medium) after reading 52, the dumb-ass series from DC where they had different writer/artist teams do each issue, and one came out each week. (Sorry if you loved this. I read the whole run because a friend of mine loved it. Interesting idea, but the result is not my thing.)

OK, aside from that note on Case’s work, this comic is lovely! It is even a bit similar to Parasolia in that the main character does nature journaling. It has so much great science in the sci-fi story that is useable now. Having already read the caveat about Dear Creature rescuing my comic-nerd soul, I will state, I adore Case’s art. Always have. Always will. But with colors? Even better. The story is well-paced. It has great character development. You meet the main two characters and get to know and like them. Then meet other people and feel their fear and excitement. I found myself holding my breath at times! Great for “all ages.”

Stay curious,
Angela