Mwah! Love is real.

Right before we left for ECCC, we got our engagement photos! I’m gonna make a blog post collecting them all later this month. Shout out to Wondra for these! They are stunning. ECCC is when En and I first started dating, so it was really special to be able to share these and celebrate with our friends in Seattle ❤️ Thank you to everyone for sharing in the love!

Anyway… Welcome or welcome back to the newsletter. Here’s a quick rapid fire look at what all’s been cooking for Ren Strapp. I truly feel like I spent the winter sowing. Now spring is here, and it’s time to watch it all bloom!

The Royal Equinox Rager

I’m working on a new comic project with my bestie Jessica Delphi! It’s a story of lady knights, one wild 25th birthday party, and a tailgating tournament to decide the fate of the kingdom. The Princess’s ex-bestie shows up uninvited, and well, she’s gonna cause some problems for the royal court… all captured on the jumbotron!

We finally finished the pitch packet, and I’ve never believed in a story harder in my whole life. We’re going to make this story no matter what happens, but keep your fingers crossed for it to be picked up this year 🤞

ECCC → C2E2

Emerald City Comic Con was lovely as usual ❤️ Thank you all for coming out and giving my comics a warm reception. Invasive Species debuted in Seattle, and it was also my first time bringing The Shepherd’s Sword Volume 1 to the show. They both sold out on Sunday! You guys are the best.

There’s a blog post coming on Wednesday about the show. Don’t miss out! Wednesday, 18 March at 10AM Pacific time. Patrons are already reading my ECCC recap.

Up next: C2E2!!! YAY CHICAGO!!! It’s my only show outside of the PNW on my roster for the year (so far). I hope to see you there! I’ll be at table C-11 in the Artist Alley.

Summer events heads up: I’m coming to VanCAF!!!! OH VANCOUVER, I MISSED YOU SO MUCH. For Portland locals, I’ll be at Summer Story Fest and the waterfront Pride festival this year. Yippie!

Invasive Species

My horny plant girl x park ranger comic that I made with Mel Gillman is available in pink and green riso! Shout out to Outlet for printing this masterpiece. We made 200 copies of the original run, and Mel has 50 of them. I’m bringing my copies to my events this year before they become available on the online shop (when? TBD…)

Invasive Species is still one of my most favorite comics I’ve ever made. It was such a delight to work with a writer, team of editors, and a letterer to make something truly hot.

You can read Invasive Species a few ways:

1. Free preview on itch.io - the sex pages are censored, but you get a good feel for the comic!

2. Full comic is on Patreon for Horn Dog tiers and higher

3. Patreon members can message me via Patreon to coordinate shipping of a copy if you don’t want to wait for the reprinting/stocking in the shop and you won’t be at any of my events this spring/summer

4. You can check out the original comic in the Succulent anthology! This is the original CMYK version, not riso printed, but you do get all the other cool sapphic sex comics, too.

Comics Progress Report

Wow, now that I finished the Invasive Species riso rerelease, and the pitch for The Royal Equinox Rager, and the volleyball short comic for the TBA sports anthology, my mind feels clear and light! Dang… This whole winter I was feeling like, “oh god oh god oh god” for biting off more than I can chew, but now peace is restored to the land.

So instead of a progress report, I can confidently list the order of operations.

• Boot humping comic (written by Aphy Ray). This comic is so hot and fun, and it will be complete this spring! Finishing it is my priority out of everything.

• The Shepherd’s Sword. I did an experimental 2x weekly upload schedule for the past month or so, and while I really liked the speed that people were able to read the pages, I also quickly feel myself falling behind now that I’m starting my events season. We’re back to once a week uploads, folks! I’m toying with the idea of monthly batch uploads, but… we’ll see! No matter what, this is my drum beat comic that I’m steadily continuing. The current chapter is so good. Give it a read at theshepherdssword.com 

• Amira the Van Life Cunt. She’s coming back once the boot comic is complete. You’ve been warned…. 😈 You can download issue 2 on itch.io now! Shout-out to the person at ECCC who said, “my friend is a van life influencer! I’m gonna get it for her.” and I didn’t stop you, and I hope your friend isn’t mad. Amira is wonderful! Really! She’s a good egg!! She just makes choices…

• Boyish Girlish. I think they’re going to be my paper dolls that I play with from time-to-time. With The Royal Equinox Rager on my horizon, these guys are gonna have to wait their turn. The comic will come when it’s ready, whether that’s later this year or in five years. I’m going to let them built up stored energy in the meantime. That said, I may delist their page from my portfolio site so I don’t feel the observational pressure to pursue their story before it’s ready. Let me cook.

• The Royal Equinox Rager. As I said earlier in the newsletter, no matter what happens, I’m making this story with Jessie. That means making the comic, but it also means making fun art of our comic. Get ready to fall in love with these girls. It’s a story of infinite shipping possibilities. (I already have a fave non-cannon ship.)

The Shepherd’s Sword

The Shepherd’s Sword got so much love in Seattle! There’s a lot of pages to read this month. You can read The Shepherd’s Sword for free at theshepherdssword.com 

March Mail Club Rewards & Hang Out!!

You seem like you could use some luck this month. Here’s a flash sheet mini print and a sticker of a lucky rabbit (minus her foot)! I’m also planning on writing little letters to go in the envelopes, too. It’ll be a sweet note exclusive to the mail club. Just a secret between u and me :^)

On Sunday 22 March at 11am Pacific time, I’ll be hosting another video call! Last month’s was so fun, with author Aphy Ray and Fawnduu. This month you’re in for a treat because we’ll be talking about indie web, with special guest Katie Berntson, creator of Snapdragon. Curious? Wanna hang? Join the Lucky Tier and you’ll get access to the link.

What else did I do this month, hmm…

We started March strong with a talk at Powell’s to give Adeline Kon’s debut graphic novel, Just Between Us, the warm welcome it deserves. Thank you for showing up, Portland!

I started coloring the boot humping comic, authored by Aphy Ray! It’s been taking me longer than expected, but if I’m diligent and well behaved, I should have it finished before the end of April!

And… I’ve been playing Neopets. Specifically Neopets Classic, which is a version of the site that exactly mimics the way it used to be when I played it as a kid. There’s a lot more gambling than I remember LOL I got a Darigan Lupe and a Grey Peophin AND a Cloud Poogle. It’s really healing something in me, idk. Will I see you around the shop wizard some time?

My gym sessions have been really good lately. I took some time off while sick, and then of course, traveling to ECCC. But I’m back to it, and it’s been really nice. Cross your fingers that I’m able to get out and do some hiking this year!

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

• Young in Iran, a collection of 32 personal and emotional memoir comics by Gen Z comic creators in Iran. I linked the Kickstarter last month, but then KS nuked their campaign. You can pre-order it on the SAW website!

• Wanna find out about comic and art events in your area? Have an event you want people to know about? Check out Art Book Fairs! It’s such a cool map.

• For my freelancers trying to do their taxes in the States this year (💀💀💀💀💀💀) I guess there’s a way for you to check and see what 1099s have been filed in your name. That’s cool. I guess. I dunno, I keep a really good spreadsheet.

• Why ‘All the Things She Said’ is perhaps the single worst song they could have possibly picked for Heated Rivalry by esteemed Slav and artist, Tay Kovac

• Lesbian Hand Lettering Zine by Erin Moore. I have GOT to get good at lettering!!!!!

• Get blinkied, idiot.

• This website… INÉS ESTRADA is a genius artist.

• Electric Tattooing, Experienced Work by Fred Marquand is on my wishlist.

• Call for art by Strip Comics, open until mid April!

• This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki and Nicole Goux. I picked this up from Nicole’s table at ECCC. It’s a fun read!

• I went to the Indigo de Souza concert at Rev Hall. She’s still on tour, check your local venues for her. You don’t want to miss it!!!!!!! Blog post about that also coming after the ECCC recap.