Age of Bronze

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Indigogo Campaign for Horror Anthology

Today, the crowdfunding campaign for Of Dread, Decay, and Doom went live! This forthcoming horror anthology of short stories seeks your support.

I can think of many great reasons to support this book, including stories by Jonathan Maberry, Casey Stegman, and Alex Grecian. But there's so much more, including a new Oz short story by yours truly.

My story, "Courage," takes the Cowardly Lion back to the forest where he originally killed a giant spider to become king, as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz relates. The new horror lurking in the forest—a threat from beyond the solar system—is ten times as frightening as the old one. Will the courage the Lion got from the Wizard of Oz be enough to defeat it?

I wrote "Courage" a couple years ago, intending it for a horror anthology of stories based on classic children's literature. Unfortunately, "Courage" didn't make the cut. I revised the story and submitted it elsewhere, but the openings for horror stories related to L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz proved to be few. It wasn't finding a home. I wasn't surprised. It's an unsettling story grounded solidly in Baum's text. But it stands outside the traditional whimsical tone of most of my Oz writings. (Even though, in a group of cartoonist colleagues last summer, I mentioned the story and ended up laughing at the way the melding of Oz and horror made my quick summary of the story sound like a joke. But the story itself is no joke.)

Earlier this year, editor Jendia Gammon contacted me to ask whether I might be interested in submitting a story to one of her Stars and Sabers Publishing anthologies. I sent in "Courage" with the expectation that the story wouldn't fit Jendia's needs. But it was just the sort of thing she was seeking. "Courage" will appear in Of Dread, Decay, and Doom. I hope you'll read it and experience some enjoyable shivers.

Jendia Gammon and Gareth L. Powell have gathered the best new short horror from a wide swath of talent. Of Dread, Decay, and Doom debuts from Stars and Sabers Publishing in October 2025. Support the book's campaign today and reserve your copy.

Here's the link to the Indigogo campaign for Of Dread, Decay, and Doom: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/of-dread-decay-and-doom-a-horror-anthology#/

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

To and Again Again - with Freddy the Pig

I recently illustrated a new edition of the first book in Walter R. Brooks's Freddy the Pig series, To and Again (otherwise known as Freddy Goes to Florida). The new edition of To and Again with my illustrations debuts this coming weekend, October 4-6, 2024, at this year's Freddy Fest. The convention takes place at the Winter Clove Inn, 557 Winter Clove Road, Round Top, New York 12473.

I'll attend the convention on Saturday, October 5, to sign copies of the new book and participate in the all-around Freddy the Pig fun. Want to join us? Here's the Freddy Fest announcement on the Friends of Freddy website: 2024 Convention - Oct 4-6 - Friends of Freddy (freddythepig.com)

And here's the website for the venue, the Winter Clove Inn: Winter Clove Inn | Catskills NY Resorts - Upstate New York Resorts

Revisiting Matilda Joslyn Gage

A few years ago, I wrote and drew a short comics biography about Matilda Joslyn Gage, one of the foremost 19th century fighters for women's rights. My story centered around Gage's erasure from history by Susan B. Anthony. The story was published in the graphic novel Mine!, an anthology published by ComicMix as a benefit for Planned Parenthood.

On Friday, October 4, from 4 PM to 5:30 PM, I'll be at the Matilda Joslyn Gage Center in Fayetteville, New York, to sign copies of my comics and books. You see, both Gage and I have a close connection to L. Frank Baum, author of the Oz books. I've followed in Baum's footsteps for much of my life and career. Gage was Baum's mother-in-law.

So, stop by the Gage Center, 210 East Genesee Street, Fayetteville, NY 13066, on Friday to see me. The Gage Center is Matilda Gage's former home and now a museum. I've visited it before and found it an inspiring place. Here's the Gage Center website: Matilda Joslyn Gage Center

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Richburg, New York's First Theatre

I'll be speaking on Sunday, October 6, at 7 PM, about Oz-creator L. Frank Baum and the theatre he managed in Richburg, New York, in 1881-82. The presentation will be at the Richburg-Wirt Historical Society. If you're in the area, stop by to learn about this little-known part of L. Frank Baum's life.

Here's the address: 243 Main St., PO Box 181, Richburg, NY 14774.

More detail: https://www.alleganyhistory.org/places/historical-societies/richburgwirt-historical-society/1764-richburgwirt-historical-society

Oz in North Carolina

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is hosting a major Oz event this weekend, September 26-28. I'll be speaking on four programs, the first at 10 AM Friday morning. If you're in the area, swing on by for the convention. Attendance is free. Plenty of events are happening through Sunday afternoon in various locations on the UNC-Charlotte campus and throughout the city of Charlotte.

Details at the website here: https://charloz.charlotte.edu/

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Boise Comic Arts Festival

This weekend, August 24-25, 2024, I'll be appearing at Boise Comic Arts Festival at the Boise Center in downtown Boise, Idaho. I'll have a table in Artist Alley and participate on Saturday in the panel discussion on Folklore and Fairytales in comics.

The previous day, Friday, August 23, the Boise Comic Arts Festival will hold a program for librarians and educators, and I'll be speaking there, too, a the panel discussion on American History and Folklore in comics.

Entry to the Boise Comic Arts Festival is free. So come on down! Here's the link for details.

Thursday, June 6, 2024

Age of Bronze at Bodyvox

Tomorrow, Friday, June 7, I'll be exhibiting and selling my comics and graphic novels at Bodyvox Dance Center's Open Floor Pride Night in Portland, Oregon. It's free to attend. Come for the Makers' Market, where I'll have a booth, and stay for the performances. At Bodyvox, 1201 NW 17th Ave, Portland, OR 97210. Details at this link.