Dreams do come true!

Here we are, the first newsletter of 2025. This year is going to be a good one or else! I wrapped up a bunch of big deadlines that had been hanging over my head for months. But more on all that later. Let’s get into the announcements.

When I first visited Portland, nine years ago, before deciding to move here, before even a sparkle of a dream of becoming an author hit me, I saw the sign above the front doors of Powell’s and wanted my name up there. That’s gonna be true next week! (I think? Do they still change the signage above that door? I haven’t been downtown in months, I’ll admit haha)

Thursday next week, stop by after work and warm up in Powell’s with me and Shay Mirk, best known for their work on Guantanamo Voices, Cartoonists for Palestine, and The Nib. We’ll be talking about How Could You and the process of making comics, characters, and the creative process. After I finish writing this newsletter, I have to go make my slideshow. I hope to see you out there!

Then, next week Friday through Sunday, I’ll be at FanExpo Portland.

I’ll be at table A410 with my girlfriend En Nelson-Correia selling our wares. Come say hi and pick up some comics. I’ll have new prints, Amira issue 1, How Could You, and more.

How Could You’s first month on earth

It’s my very first book, and I’m so proud of it. I hope to take it everywhere with me and do lots of signings and talks this year. It’s at the Multnomah County Library, yo! It’s at my favorite bookstore in Vancouver BC (Lucky’s Comics). People have spotted it in bookstores in Germany! All of this comes as an incredible honor, and I’m glad many people will have the opportunity to read my book.

Here’s the link to get your copy! Tell your friends! Tell your college professors, tell your local indie bookshop, tell your mama.

Mail Club January 2025

Your chivalry is kayfabe!! This month I began printing the mini prints myself at the print shop I work at, which is so awesome that I get to be hands on. The stickers are still printed by Saturn Stickers here in Portland. Join the mail club, and I’ll be sending out December and January’s rewards at the end of the month.

Amira the Van Life Cunt shipping imminent!

The print edition pre-orders of Amira the Van Life Cunt, issue 1 will be shipping out soon! I sent a whole box of books to White Squirrel, so keep your eyes out for your shipping notifications. Thank you all so much for the love and support you’ve shown the worst dirtbag lesbian in the world. She might not seem like the worst in issue 1, but we’ve got quite a few issues to go…

If you want to read Amira issue 1 in all their sweaty gym rat glory (and see sneak peeks of issue 2 right now) you can join the Horn Dog tier on Patreon! Issue 1 will be coming to itch.io eventually, but for now the only way to read the PDF is via Patreon.

The Shepherd’s Sword dot com

New website alert! The Shepherd’s Sword has a brand new website. Well, I’ve mentioned it in previous newsletters, but starting next week I’ll be rolling out the new read-ahead buffer for paid subscribers. Free subscribers will still get updates as usual, but a month later. This is very much still a test run, and I’ll talk more about it in a future blog post.

Whether you join the paid tier or the free tier, both mean so much to me and provide me valuable data that I can use in determining the future of this webcomic. Thank you very much!!

Star Crossed: A Queer Tarot

From the genius editorial and publishing minds of Nova and Mali, a new project is born. I’m participating in Star Crossed, a queer tarot deck! Each card has a unique artist and style, and the Kickstarter has some delicious bonus rewards.

My contribution is the Six of Pentacles, a card all about charity, generosity, and taking care of your people. I did something bright and bold and tried a new coloring style that I really have been liking recently. The Kickstarter for this deck goes until February 4th, so don’t wait. We’re already mostly funded!!

What else did I do this month, hmm…

Like I said at the top, I put a bow on some projects that I’ve been working on for a while, which feels great. In addition to finally shipping a box of Amira issue 1 to White Squirrel to wrap up that pre-order, here’s a look at some of the other projects I wrapped:

I have a new pitch packet on submission right now about wildfires and being on the cusp of teenagerhood but still playing pretend. It’s definitely the youngest demo I’ve written for/about. People ask me if it’s middle grade or YA and I just say “yes?” Honestly it could skew either way, depending on the editorial process. That’s the trick, isn’t it? That’s the thing about being 12-14. I’ve been working on this pitch packet for a year or so, in between my other responsibilities. I don’t know how some people can churn out pitches so quickly, it takes me an age. Maybe I’ll get faster as I get older and more experienced.

I also have been working with author Aphy Ray on some spot illustrations and cover art for their lesbian urban fantasy series Saffron and Honey. This project is so much fun, and the characters are delightful. I highly recommend! Most recently I worked on the cover for a horny, 18+ story, which was the main thing I was rushing to finish for a specific deadline. Now I’m back to drawing spot illustrations.

I also submitted the final files for an upcoming comic that will be published on Oh Joy Sex Toy. It’s a one shot featuring a twinky nonbinary dyke and their two buff lesbian companions camping in the woods. I might post a cheeky sneak peek to Patreon, just so you can get to know these characters and get hyped for their debut later this spring.

OH! And I have an event at Secret Room coming up soon. Still TBA, but if you’re local to Portland, maybe keep your schedule clear for the evening of February 8th.

Apart from all that work stuff? I’ve just been really happy and enjoying the city more than I have in years. I love my neighborhood, and I love walking to see friends. I love meeting up at cafes. I love organizing get togethers and parties and projects. I’m trying to savor and appreciate all the small things right now. I love biking, I love seeing the skyline and the mountains and the rain. I’m nearly nine years into living here (the longest I’ve ever lived anywhere) and it feels so much like home.

Here’s some sweet treats for you to check out:

• Why Have a Website in 2025? by Black Candle

• Artvee, a collection of public domain images and paintings

• Or perhaps you prefer Public Domain Image Archive

• Need some fonts? UNCUT.wtf has free typefaces for you to check out.

• Speaking of, Sara Linsley just released a new font: Girl Kisser

• Meeting ADHD by Ash Herr is a browser extension that opens up subway surfer or kinetic sand videos for you to look at while you’re in meetings. I don’t know that I would make use of it, but I find the concept intriguing.

• Just finished listening to Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh. She’s the author of all time to me.