Texas Author Con 2025

Excuse me, that’s Texas Author & Reader Con to be exact! I love this show (and shows like it) not just because it supports established and up and coming authors, but also because it has every genre imaginable. The show has more than 100 authors exhibiting (at last count), offering everything from Romance to Westerns and even non-fiction. There are also two full days of panels for both writers and readers. (see below)

The show takes place this weekend and will be my second year exhibiting. I can tell you it was quite the experience to exchange the hallowed halls of a typical FanCon convention for a hyper focused readers paradise. I learned more about who my reader was and what they were looking for than I did at a dozen previous conventions. That’s one of many reasons I’m excited to return.

If you’re in the area, stop by. It’s a free show and you might just find your next favorite book.

The Hidden Legions Is At The Press!

I am very excited to say that we have hit the deadline on getting this book to press. It features 9 new pages of work for a total page count of 32. I’m equally anxious to share a few preview pages with you but first, let me introduce the latest member of the crew, Tiffany Garcia.

Tiffany Garcia is an up and coming Latina artist currently working in the comics and book industry. Tiffany cites Todd Nauck and Sailor Moon as artistic inspiration. To date, she is credited with work on the 2024 book “I survived Three Polar Bears and The Magic Phone” published by Charter Comics.

I met Tiffany a few times on the local show circuit and had always been impressed with her portfolio. She’s a full spectrum artist who can handle all aspects of book art but what we really needed her for on this book was COLOR…

All of the new nine pages are Tiffany’s colors and just look at these pages!!!

I’m proud to say that Tiffany can add “The Hidden Legions” to her list of accomplishments and I hope to continue working with her on future projects.

Release Date: September 28

The goal is to debut this comic at the Denton Comic Art Festival here in Texas, September 28th. For my Kickstarter Community and those abroad don’t worry I will announce where/how you can get a copy in the coming weeks!

The Hidden Legions Returns

Colette Delacroix is on a mission to uncover her estranged father’s location and end his work. Raised as his lab assistant rather than his daughter, Colette struggles with feelings of abandonment and yet a strange admiration for his genius. When the work turned from scientific curiosity to abusive experimentation, she ran from the lab and ultimately, his reach. Years later, she would hear rumors and whispers about him and his continued work. They spoke of abominations that seemed to come from the pages of Frankenstein rather than reality. But Colette knew better than to dismiss these as fantasy. Then, when she learned the Kaiser might be employing her father, she knew what to do!

The long-anticipated conclusion of the opening chapter will finally be delivered. It will combine the original art (unabridged & unedited) with new pages to complete the story. Since the original art is as old as 2016, I’ve been working to replicate the original look as much as possible. Here is the final panel from the web release in 2018.

I’ll post a few examples of the new pages soon as well as details on the Kickstarter!

All-Con Starts Today

I’ve really embraced the necessity of doing book shows. So I’m experimenting more right in my back yard starting with All-Con. It starts today and runs through Sunday. If you are located in or around Dallas or are just happen to be in town I’d love to meet you. Just out there raising awareness!

Inchi #02

For Backers of Inchi #01 you may have recieved an update already via Kickstarter or through the Voyages newsletter. I’ve already been thinking about when is the right time to prepare for the next launch. Much of that content you all receive first as Voyages subscribers so I’ll just hit you with the main update! Page 4!

Nothing has changed as all of this will go through a final edit. Some details I like to leave until the end to make sure the creative flow doesn’t suffer and to have better continuity. One thing I’m sure of, this will be an even better book than the first.

I’ve definitely grown since the publication of Inchi #01, both as a writer and an illustrator. Making comics is hard and takes a lot of dedication to the craft. There is always something to improve upon, so thank you for your support from the bottom of my heart.

It’s a full-court press this spring to get this Book ready for launch. I’ll keep you posted as always.

Art Preview & Updates

A lot has happened since my last update. First, Inchi #01 wrapped, and then 21 Steezy Snuffs launched! Truth be told, I kinda wrecked my very cool-looking site turning it over to an e-comm page. I still don’t love it yet, but I’ll get there! But that’s not why you’re reading this! Let’s talk art!

If you’ve already pledged for 21 Steezy Snuffs (21SS), then you know that I’ve been on studio lockdown finalizing art. It’s been so much fun! I’m super excited about where it’s at and coming together nicely. That said, (Pirate Voice) “there be 10 days left” on this Voyage at $707 raised. As I said in yesterday’s Kickstarter update, I’m thrilled! Considering this type of book isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it’s incredible! But that’s why we serve tea, coffee, and scotch on this ship. No spiced rum in this update.

Check out the Kickstarter

So let me take you through some of the new art that’s coming into the book. Another word of caution these are in progress! Let’s start with the surprise breakout star, the plague doctor!

Plague doctors have never gone out of fashion. Still, considering we have been living a modern plague for some time, perhaps that’s a boost. I love this dark and mysterious version, but this is how he will appear in 21SS with the story.

I’ll work the dark and mysterious version in somewhere too just cause he’s cool. Maybe on a keychain? Or a fridge magnet! This is what’s circling through my mind right now!

Ah, ha, ha! Love that movie, and oh, so true! But more on the fall conventions I’ll be at later!

These Animals are all “Rude men, gangsters, proper naughty boys, and all that bollocks!” Love that line from Guy Ritchie’s, The Gentlemen! In the print version, expect blood on Mr. Rabbit.

You probably never considered the challenges Brownies and Faerie Folk go through daily! Empathy is a blade that requires constant sharpening.

I love doing these silhouette-style pieces. It has an inherent drama to it that is unique to the form. In this piece, I’m working towards having the bloodied face the focal point as the story pivots on this detail. Sort of. 😉

OMG! She has no hands….NO HANDS!!! LOL!!! I love the drama unfolding on this one too. It’s different in that I’m going for more of an oil on canvas look. It’s exciting to see it coming together.

This book is a long-time dream come true with a wide breadth of art styles throughout. There are ten days to pledge if you want to support it directly. I appreciate you being on the Voyage in any case! I gotta get back to work, and you gotta get on to enjoying the holiday!

Be Safe!

David

Bookmarks and Postcards Are In!

It’s a great day on the blimp because bookmarks and postcards have arrived! Take a look!

The stickers are due to arrive on Tuesday, and we are still on track for the book in the next two weeks. The stickers are due to arrive on Tuesday, and we are still on track for the book in the next few weeks. Once we get inventory, those will be on the website for purchase. Book 2 is already in art production! Can’t wait to post up some prelims.

David

Final Weekend to Pledge

As I write, less than 70 hours of this campaign are remaining, and I am grateful. I can’t thank all of you enough for believing in and supporting this project. Everything about this project is fun, and it’s because of you! Every single backer of this campaign has a special place in Moonblimp history. I won’t forget that. I’m actually in the process of preparing unique letters for my Doge level backers. You all went above and beyond, and because of that, I will too! Inside these letters is something never before done in business! Well, it’s probably been done and is now considered a bad idea for profits, but you Doges deserve a little something extra. I can’t wait for you to see what’s inside.

It’s not too late to help get the word out on this project to jump everyone to $1500. I still want to be able to print the Armida Bookmark and get that in with all the print-level backers. But hey, digital backers! I’ve been thinking about you too. If we can get to $1500, I’ll drop some wallpapers for everyone!

If you haven’t pledged don’t wait! Have a great Saturday!

INCHI #01 RESERVE YOUR COPY!

Armida Page Reveal Inchi #01

There are just 8 days remaining in this campaign and only $115 left to unlock the Runa Postcard Extra! Thats thanks to some generous backers who joined us in the last few days. Remember, Runa is only available at a print tier so you can always upgrade your pledge to make sure you get this bonus! Either way, please share the campaign around in this final week because I really want to print this card!

Campaign Updates You Should Know About

I decided to do something fun with the project cover in this final week on Kickstarter. When you look for updates you will notice I changed the cover to this…

I’m calling this the “dark vs. light” version. Armida and her legion of monsters taking on the world against our hero’s! Speaking of Armida, she’s appeared a few times in the preview but for you guys…here’s another preview page!

But that’s STILL NOT ALL! I added TWO MORE preview pages to the story on the project so head over and check those out when you have a moment.

Inchi #01 on Kickstarter

You’ll have just 8 more days to wait because I’m not giving you anymore teasers! More rewards, sure! We just have to get the word out. Thanks for your help!!!

Friends to Check out

Our friends over at Last Ember Press are currently raising funds for a unique take on Alice In Wonderland that has some fun reversals from the original.

Curiouser: We’re All Mad Here #1

Curiouser is a sequel of sorts set some time in the future starring Alice’s adult son, Alec as he gets pulled into a plot to save Wonderland from a hostile takeover by a mysterious new threat! Join, Alec, The Knave, The Mad Hatter, and more as they fight to restore Wonderland to the peace and balance that Alice managed to leave this wondrous place in when she left so many years ago.

I love this concept and the art is gorgeous. If your any kind of fan of Alice this is something you should be looking into…through a looking glass perhaps?

Runa The Mermaid Postcard

The campaign to print this book is 157% funded! So that’s $786 pledged and with just 13 days remaining I’d love to unlock a second stretch goal! Wait, you don’t know what a stretch goal is?

Stretch goals are extra’s that I can throw in the more money that we raise together. The first stretch goal was $750 and we blew past that last night. That means that everyone who’s backed this comic will be receiving this fun Inchi character sticker for free with their reward package.

The second stretch goal is set for $1000. I know we can do it because I know there are a few out there who want to stress me out and haven’t pledged yet. Well, let me sweeten the pot a little. If we get to $1000 pledged then it will unlock this Runa character postcard.

This postcard is a vertical format 4×6 that you can collect or actually mail out. Runa is a mermaid unlike any other and she can be yours once we get past this stretch goal. Please note that the art isn’t final…but close.

If your new to Kickstarter or went on there and thought you were looking at a Chinese menu then please watch this video I prepared just for you! It explains the reward tiers and what you get per contribution starting as low as $5. Please keep in mind that only “print backers” are eligible for the stretch goal unlocks which start at $10.