Do you like poetry? Do you like comics on walls? Are you going to be around Chicago between May 31st and September 4th? Do you like rhetorical questions asked in dulcet tones? I guess that means you should briskly mosey to the POETRY FOUNDATION’s:

“Verse, Stripped: A Poetry Comics Exhibition!”

The exhibit will feature poetry comics by:
Sommer Browning – She’s rad, also we’re Draw Something buddies.
Bianca Stone – Do you have a copy of her new book with Anne Carson? You should.
Gary Sullivan – He lives in my borough, we should be pals. You’ll like him too.
Paul K. Tunis – What? That’s me! Seriously, try the link. Did it bring you back?

Also included are the books of poetry comics pioneers Kenneth Koch and Joe Brainard.

Plus, for one night only, Matt Madden (OuBaPo-ian, comics-scholar, guy I’ve been telling you about) will be giving a talk on poetry, comics and their intersection.

Gallery admission is free, but Mr. Madden’s talk is ticket only, so make it snappy before they’re gone.

Click to read the newest Omphaloskepsis.

This time I think back to my glory days in kindergarten. Sarah Birch taught me how to stick a pin under my palm-skin with out it hurting. I’m still not sure she wasn’t a witch.

So this one’s based on a true-ish story. ‘Cept I never met Radium, yet.

Obviously.

Occasionally someone passes away and you feel like there is less wonder in the world because of it. Maurice Sendak was a genius who never lost his integrity, spirit or moxy. Here he is at his best; wild, profound and rowdy.

ORIGINAL POST:
Today’s the day! I only have one comic, but I’m willing to share.

Click here for a full PDF download giving you all 36 pages to read on your mobile gadget or computer. After you read it tell (or warn) your friends and maybe get a customized hard copy.

For a short time I worked as a publicist. I wasn’t very good at it. I don’t like repeatedly bothering people, and that’s most of the gig. While trying to wrap up Bumblebee Physics, I have found an old query letter I wrote but never sent, during my publicity job. It’s got some awesomely bad publicist-style writing. Here’s how I described Sophie:

“Sophie, a teen cellist, whose wit and snark can’t seem to capture her parents’ attention causing her to up the stakes. Perhaps they’ll notice when she—with the help of an old wives’ tale—tries to seduce the devil.”

What?! The devil? Hook alert. Like all good publicity writing, it is only partially true, but written in the most, wait, what? kind of way. For the record, the devil doesn’t make a literal appearance, it isn’t Twilight with Satan… dammit I should have written that book instead.

What mythic creature would you get lusty with in your YA book? Mermaids, bigfeet, skin-walkers, chupacabre? Tell me in the comments.

Some folks had mentioned wanting prints of the comic so I’ll get some made up. If you are one of those people, send me an email.

I took about a year hiatus from working on Bumblebee Physics, but resolved, during my spring break from teaching, to pull the trigger and find a home for the book.

What’s a project you know you have to finish but can’t seem to wrap up?

More comics!

Follow the link to see a drawing of fish playing fish playing fish.