A day at CCAF!

Last week I had a table at Camosun Comic Art Festival, first time presenting Scrappy Jack. It was high fives all day! I hadn't been to Camosun in 4 years... just before COVID shut down the college. Also the last year I would be teaching there. Since then I've been very busy creating new works and attending comic art festivals. CCAF was especially fun because I got reacquainted with lots of students and friends I hadn't seen in years. I also got to meet this years new crop of amazing new graduate students. I'm thrilled the program Ken and I co created over 10 years ago is thriving under the guidance of, Gareth Gaudin cartoonist extraordinaire!! My next event I will be launching Scrappy Jack at Gareth's Legends Comic and Book Store. I'll make another announcement closer to that time on May 17th.

 

Understanding Media Intensive taught by Andrew McLuhan

I highly recommend this 10 week on line course for anyone interested in Marshall McLuhan's book Understanding Media that he wrote in 1964. It was as timeless then as it is today. I took the course during COVID when Andrew first offered it. His teaching style and delivery is wonderful,  he's a natural teacher like his father Eric and grandfather Marshall McLuhan.  

https://grayarea.org/course/andrew-mcluhan-teaches-understanding-media-intensive-part-one-2024/ 

Changes I made.

The above image is where I was working out some ideas for the cover of my new book and four new pages. Below that is the final pencil drawing. Later it was digitally  coloured in photoshop. 

My original version of my book title was " So, That's That! " which was an expression my dad used  a lot.  The new version I changed to "Scrappy Jack"with a different cover Illustration. I also added four new pages and changed the writing  to integrate with the story. 

When I first decide to write and illustrate a book of my dads life for his 100th birthday, it was a daunting task! But, I was determined to do it... in 1year, not knowing if he would live to see it. He did! I presented the book to dad and mom, in a quiet room were I could read out loud, without any noise distractions. A wonderful experience, what can I say... So, That's That!

My publisher from Vancouver arrived today with a box of my books! I plan on having a book launch in Victoria but I haven’t picked a time or place. I’ll keep you posted when I do. 
 

Coming soon…

I’m excited to announce the publication of Scrappy Jack by Midtown Press in Vancouver. As far as I know it should be in book stores, schools and library’s this month. A French version is also in the works! 

The original version on this blogspot was self published in 2007 for my dad’s 100th Birthday. At the time I set out to write and illustrate this book I was determined to get it done and present it to him on his Birthday, not knowing if he’d live to see it… happily he did. 

In this 2024 version I have adapted the writing for a younger audience and added four new double page illustration's to enhance the story. My dad was a great story teller and as a result I was inspired to tell them, through words and pictures based on what I remembered while growing up. 

That’s me and my brother on the back cover, my two sisters on the front.

 I've been working on a story off and on over the last two years, hoping to finish it soon. Everything takes longer than you think. 

This story is about the jobs we take for granted when we order a meal at a fast food burger joint. Who's the guy that works the night shift as a cleaner? This is a story about that guy.

 

Last summer I had the pleasure of meeting with Margaret Atwood! Her wit a charm was inspiring and I like her taste in hats!!