♫ Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere;
This bed thy center is, these walls, thy sphere. ♫
The Sun Rising, John Donne
-------
This newsletter goes through what I’ve been up to in my writing - I have to account for myself and what I have to show for my efforts recently. Have I been productive, or not…? A map of my brain, so to speak, and here be dragons.
2024 -- dig it.
A Successful Holiday of Creative Refuelling
I had about 5 weeks off work and in that time managed to dive into some really good reading and viewing. A decent amount was read on planes, or in airports, or on balconies, some with water views, some just into my backyard. I do appreciate being able to have this chunk of time to not be teaching so I can reset the brain and prepare for the year ahead - and each year always gets pretty wild as the classes start up and I try to fit as much awesome stuff in as I can.
I love creative fuel for the brain/soul - and these holidays have been a really lovely time to kick it back a gear, enjoy some time in various chairs, and just imbibe some bloody good stories. Here’s a quick rundown of some of what inspired and recharged me:
EMERALD CITY by Jennifer Egan
This short story collection was just immensely refreshing. Mostly all kind of slice of life things, but every now and then a story popped that just made me love writing. Certain set up/pay offs, or lines where the words really hummed, just made me love the short story form in detailed and beautiful ways.
DEVOTION by Hannah Kent
This book is quite beautiful. The tale of a young Prussian Lutheran coming to South Australia in the 1830s, and the love of another young woman she hopes will endure the transition. The characters intrigue, the romantic plot slowly burns, and it was interesting that about halfway through I wondered to myself that it was well written, but it surely couldn’t sustain another 200 pages of what was happening - and then something completely different happens and it spins the book right around and made me smile to see how much it added an extra layer onto everything.
The idea of a big mid-story swerve got me all excited. Both structurally, and for the character/s, and for the overall meaning of the plot. Well worth spending some time during a holiday just smashing through this.
THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I [finally] read this. It’s very well done, it’s insightful, it’s quite brilliant - but it also just wasn’t 100% for me. I could see how Fitzgerald paints this image of empty rich people filling their lives with many, many empty things - the excess of the parties and the food served and the names of the people; all laborious, as the rich are. I thought Gatsby as this sad man was a brilliant person to portray.
I just, ultimately, didn’t completely care. Strike one for a book I can see is amazing, but is not for me, and that’s okay.
EXPIRATION DATE by
Swierczynski has been one of my favourite modern crime writers since I started reading his THE IMMORTAL IRON FIST run and then slowly worked through everything he had done, and have bought everything he’s done since. I’d been sleeping on this one since forever, and was glad to finally dive into this strange tale of time travel and investigation. Just supreme fun.
CALIFORNIA BEAR is his latest novel, and I’m dying to get my hands on it for 2024 and devour it. This cover is so beautiful, and it’s been years since Swierczynski’s last novel, and it’s so good to see him return.
But now for a comic:
ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE END OF THE WORLD by
, Alexandre Tefenkgi [and some Nick Dragotta]I kinda just always trust Jason Aaron. I was saying to some people the other day, he’s one of the most skilled and talented writers going today because it seems like there’s nothing he can’t do. From his insanely brilliant Thor run, to his early stuff with SCALPED and Ghost Rider and then Star Wars and now this - the guy is a creative titan, and any time I get to spend with work of his is a delight. And, this first volume of this series didn’t disappoint - it’s insane. It’s beautiful in the love story, but completely funky in the world, and quite nasty in some of the more violent moments. The one thing that kept popping for me was the way Aaron uses structure and pacing to build these lovely emotional beats. I’m looking forward to reading the second volume as soon as I can get it.
I also should add: Aaron just got announced as the new writer on a relaunch for TMNT comics and I’m crazy intrigued to read what he does with that property. If he’s going more back to the old school stuff then I’ll definitely be down to get my hands on it.
Okay, that’s enough for now, as you can see my goals for 12 novels is trucking along nicely for 2024, but my 18 graphic novels needs a speed up. But I also am well on my way to the dream of 200 films in 2024, summer holidays are the best, but they’ll have to wait until next time.
///
A Fistful of Pain - Buy It Online [with a discount code]
I have finally put a few copies of the hardcover of A FISTFUL OF PAIN up in my online store. So far, this has only been available at Aussie conventions where I’ve been attending. I’m down to just a few final copies in stock right now [a fistful, if you will] so if you want one I suggest nabbing it quickly.
Buy yourself the hardcover of A FISTFUL OF PAIN now
I have also set up a discount code from now until Leap Day [is that what Feb 29 is called? Does it have a proper name? It should, but I’m sure it’s Leap Day, right?] - so if you order any of my comics on that store/site, just use the code ‘homeopape10’ and receive 10% off your order.
A few people have asked about buying A FISTFUL OF PAIN online, and because our store launch didn’t happen due to low orders, this is my solution for now. The hardcover is such a gorgeous package and I have loved selling it at shows as the cover hooks people, the kung fu revenge [with dragons, on a yacht] sells people, Louie’s art amazes people, and I have received some wonderful and beautiful feedback on this book from so many readers.
Here are some preview pages, may they bring you joy [and maybe me a sale].
///
DEER EDITOR #1…?
Apparently our launch issue still hasn’t hit stores. I actually don’t quite know what’s going on, but let’s all aim for next week, yeah?
Splendid.
For now, get all excited by scoping these delightful reviews out - we’re sitting on an 8/10, which I am thankful for, especially considering that one review really did not appreciate our book :]
///////
Be one of the good guys, because there's way too many of the bad.
///////
Who is Ryan K Lindsay?
I’m an award-winning Australian comic writer. I’ve been published by Black Mask, Dark Horse, ComixTribe, Mad Cave, IDW, Heavy Metal, Vertigo, and a few more. Kickstarter has been a home for many short comics. I often get to collaborate with great mates, and this brings me joy.
I write about balancing this creative game alongside a full teaching load [currently College English and University Intro to Creative Writing] and a lovely family load and the forever melting brain that is modern man. I think about a lot of stuff, I still don’t know if it’s the right stuff. ymmv.
-------
POST CREDITS SEQUENCE
I am also writing.
In fact, I’ve tried to hit the ground running a little in 2024.
I’ve written out a short prose piece that I can use for a school competition. Very first draft, but now I have something I can edit.
I’ve plotted out another short prose thing that I aim to send towards an anthology call I was made aware of very recently by a mate. I’m actually excited about what I’ve been able to cook up, so I will continue to tinker until the submission season is about to close.
I’m hoping all of this prose practice will help me tackle a slightly larger prose story I have mapped out, but just need to find the time and the voice for it to then hammer it down.
I’m tinkering with a new comic pitch idea. It’s into a good space, but I feel like it’s missing something. Like DEVOTION layered on something extra and supremely awesome, I think this story needs this. I’m now taking that initial seed I’ve plotted out and considering what other things I could lay over it, or mash into it, to make it really pop.
Then there’s a solo RPG I’ve put together that I’m aiming to make my biggest splash in that field yet. I recently passed 1500 downloads on my other one-page solo rpgs on itch.io and I’ve been so pleased to see those slowly pop along and find an audience. So this latest thing is bigger, better, and I’ll hopefully have launch news for that soon. For now, here’s a cheeky little image by Sami Kivela to keep you wondering… :]
Beyond that, I don’t really know what 2024 is going to look like, but I’ll keep chasing some words around my head, and the page, and the screen. Surely they’ll slowly line up and mean something…right?
Oh man, Ryan, the new Swierczynski is so good, and such a welcome return -- I’ll forever be indebted to you for introducing me to his work so many, many moons ago. I’m just bummed an Australian publisher hasn’t snapped up the rights yet.