Not Really A Blog
November 2, 2008
Fall is in full swing, and it's burr season -- if you are going out in the woods, keep an eye out for those prickly seeds. They get stuck to your clothing and hair, and are very hard to get out. Here is what real burrs look like:
It's also a great time to look at leaves. Here is a photo that I took of leaves on the ground (Have you ever noticed that no two leaves are exactly alike?)
I will be announcing my next book very soon on this website, so stay tuned to find out. In the meantime, there is a new chapter in the ongoing Sticky Burr online webcomic. Click here to read it!
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September 20 , 2008
I had a great visit this summer to the Thomas Memorial Library, in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Here are some photos of my visit.
Also I've finally resumed the Sticky Burr comic strip, after a busy month, so be sure to check out the latest episode!
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August 3, 2008
This Friday Aug. 8th, I'll be appearing at the Thomas Memorial Library, in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, talking about my books, films, and interactive design. For more information, visit their website.
And if you haven't been reading the Sticky Burr web comic, be sure to check out the latest episode!
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June 8, 2008
What's new? I'm working on two new book projects, to be announced later. I've been planting seeds and pulling weeds. And I saw a toad in the woods the other day. He was very well camouflaged!
I have also just written a new essay about one of my favorite illustrators, N.C. Wyeth. You can read it here.
And don't forget to read the latest Sticky Burr online comic. It's a continuing adventure, so if you haven't seen it yet, it helps to start from the beginning.
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May 7, 2008
 Have you ever noticed that no two trees are alike? This isn't always apparent in the summer, when leafy trees blend together into a giant mass of green, but it is very noticeable in the winter, and also in the spring.
Springtime is that happy midway point when the new buds are just sprouting into leaf, and you can see both the twisting branches and the clumps of color that decorate them. Different trees sprout their leaves at different times, in different ways, and there are even flowering trees. The changes in the spring happen so fast, you can practically watch them unfold before your eyes. And coming on the heels of a long barren winter, it's even more wondrous to see them spring to life.
So the next time you walk down the street, stop to notice the nearest tree – any tree really, for each has its own unique qualities. You may be surprised at what you see.
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March 29, 2008
What's new? Well, the Sticky Burr paperback is coming out April 8th – all the fun and adventure of the hardcover book, but with a much softer cover. Ask for it at your local bookstore!
I'm currently working on two new book projects, and an interactive film project. Also if you haven't seen the Sticky Burr web comic lately, be sure to check it out. The adventure continues each week (usually, unless I am too busy to draw a new page!)
I am also involved in the next Day of Puppetry celebration, put on by the Boston Area Guild of Puppetry and the Puppet Showplace Theatre, April 28th. It should be a fun creative event for all ages.
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Feb 1, 2008
 I've been too busy to update this website recently, but here are a few bits of news. I am showing some of my puppets in an exhibit this month, at the Lexington Arts & Crafts Society, in Lexington, MA. It is part of an exhibit by the Boston Area Guild of Puppetry, to which I belong. The exhibit runs through Feb. 17th, and the gallery is open Tues-Fri & Sun 12-4 PM, and Sat. 10-4. For more information and directions, visit the LACS website.
In other news, I've been adding more pages to the Sticky Burr comic strip, so if you haven't seen it lately, check it out!
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Dec 15, 2007
The end of the year is almost here, and it has been a busy one. I'm currently working on several new projects, and I've also added some new fun stuff to the Sticky Burr website.
Winter has unofficially arrived with the recent snow storms, and if you feel like some snowy fun without getting wet, check out the Snowy Day interactive game I created a few years ago. (It uses an older version of Shockwave, so if you can't play it, let me know and I'll work on getting it updated.)
As the year comes to a close, I want to thank everyone who has given me support during this busy and challenging year. I'm looking forward to a healthy and productive 2008, and will continue my never-ending quest to become a better writer and artist. Emily Dickinson once wrote, "We turn not older with years, but newer every day." And so shall I, with any luck.
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Nov. 4, 2007
Happy NaNoWriMo! Also known as National Novel Writing Month. There are some things about this annual event that seem a little weird to me, like the constricting rules – and why November, one of the busiest months of the year? What's wrong with January? But taken in the carefree spirit of its mission, it's a fun way to jumpstart your writing and maybe even create something worthwhile. There are definite advantages to writing quickly and spontaneously, to get past your inner editor – but everyone writes differently, and forcing your way through 50,000 words on an arbitrary deadline can also lead to frustration.
Personally, I am already in the middle of a novel, and so cannot participate in NaNoWriMo unless I start a new one from scratch. Which I'm not going to. But I will continue working on my novel, at my own pace, and take this month as an inspiration to set my own goals for writing. In the end, it's the story that matters, not the day of the month or the number of words. Happy writing!
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Oct. 8, 2007
Fall is the perfect time to see burrs growing in the wild, and I've added some prickly photos to the news section of the Sticky Burr website.
In between my other projects, I have also written an essay about Tintin, one of my early influences. This comic series has been much in the news lately, with the anniversary of creator Hergé, and the forthcoming film. But I've seen very little literary discussion of the works themselves, and was inspired to put down my own thoughts. Even the PBS documentary seemed to skirt around the actual works, focusing rather on the author's life.
And as for the latest controversy, I personally think it is fine not to republish one of the earliest, most controversial Tintin books – no artist wants to have his early, flawed work paraded out with his later masterworks. Just because they feature Tintin, doesn't make them worthy to share the stage with the other books.
Anyway, you can read my essay on the better qualities of Tintin here.
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August 20, 2007
I've just added some new things to my website. You can now read excerpts from the many great reviews that Sticky Burr has been receiving. And I also made a small photo gallery with pictures from my book signing events this summer.
And I'm still adding to the Sticky Burr comic strip each week -- check out the latest episode!
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Older News |
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Past Events
August 8th, at the Thomas Memorial Library, in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Click here to see a photo gallery from the event.
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Older Photos:
For a look at some photos from the release of my first book, A Froggy Fable, click here. |
