The Inquiring Minds are Digital on Comixology

The Inquiring Minds #1, The Ghost PIrate Skeletons of Three Craters Lake!   Now digital on Comixology.com.  Help support HappyGlyphs Comics, and assure more kid friendly books like this by buying the book here or at our shop.  With Comixology, you get closer to the art than ever, with incredible zooming, and(!), get this; you buy it once but can read it anywhere, from your PC, phone, or tablet.  How cool is that? Here's the official information, with links, followed by a closer look at the advantages of reading quality books like this in a digital format.

Published by: HappyGlyphs Comics Cover by: John W Steventon Written by: John W Steventon Art by: John W Steventon Colored by: John W Steventon Price: $3.99 Bobby, Albert, and sometimes Iris are The Inquiring Minds, three kids who seek fun and adventure by exploring all things strange and unusual in their hometown of Three Craters Lake. This summer, though, they're going to find plenty of adventure in their own backyard, as Albert, ever seeking fame and fortune, declares that The Inquiring Minds are going to build their own theme park! Sounds crazy, but as Iris herself says, "Bobby and Albert just don't know enough to let anything stop them!" Their success, or possible failure, comes down to one ride... The Ghost Pirate Skeletons of Three Craters Lake! Buy now on comiXology!  So what are some of the advantages?  Well, like a paper comic, you can view whole pages, entire spreads, or one panel at a time.  With Digital, though, you can zoom in on the action and art, and see details you might not have noticed in the paper comic.  Not that paper isn't great, but like a paper comic, you take the digital version with you, and catch up on your reading anywhere.  I started reading the comic on my phone, and when I picked up my tablet, it asked if I wanted to pick up where I left off on my phone.  Pretty cool!    So please check it out.  We'll still have paper books, of course, and we do have digital books on Kindle, but this looks worth looking into.  And if we do well on comixology, there'll be more books on comixology, and more new books for you to read! Thanks for the support,    JOHN :0)

Public Speaking: Expect the Unexpected!

Today's lesson?  Be prepared!  Unless you're really really good at winging it. :0)

This morning I was supposed to be talking to a class of second graders about cartooning.  I knew I was going, but have been so busy that I hadn't given it any thought at all... until this morning.  Mistake number one.

I've done quite a bit of public speaking, and I've spoken to classes and groups about cartooning, so it's not brand new to me.  I have certain things I bring along, handouts, activities, and I know there'll always be a place to draw on, so I figure if worse comes to worse, I'll wing it.  It's just a small room of kids, right?

So, I sit down with an hour left before I have to leave, and go searching my computer for the handouts to print.  I found one, but not the one I wanted.  So, I started printing the activity page while creating a coloring page.  And that's when my computer started dying.  It's moments like these when I understand why people hate PC's so much... and Windows Vista is one of the worse.

Now I have 5 minutes until I'm late, and I've finally managed to print out the activity, the coloring page, and pack up selections of my books and comics and freelance work, grab some give-aways, grab the camera, and get to the school as fast as legally possible.  I find my way to the classroom and there is a swarm of activity!  Weren't they expecting me?

Oh yes, they were.  Except that  the teacher had told another teacher who told another teacher... and this morning they all decided their classes should see what I have to say.  FOUR classes of second graders!  A huge group of kids who all have something important to say and share and questions to ask and.... oh boy.

I'll be honest:  I love kids.  But they also terrify me.  No, not terrifying like zombies, but kids tend to be... honest. Brutally honest.  And the questions they ask?  I used to coach girl's soccer, and let me tell you how tough that was, to get a word in, for one.  "Didn't you wear that shirt yesterday?"  "How old are those shoes?"  "How's my hair?"

So, I entered this noisy classroom as if it was a shark tank, and I had no cage to hide in.  I settled in, got a drawing board, and hid my give-aways because there were just too many kids, and I don't ever want to disappoint a single child.  I looked into the audience, and just started talking.  I figured that was better than standing there looking stunned, and it was.

It turns out that that group of sharks was actually a room full of cuddly bunny rabbits!  The kids were so sweet, so much fun, and as always, had so many very intelligent questions!  There is never enough time to talk with kids about cartooning, let me tell you!

I showed them my books, talked about working, answered questions, and did a few drawings in between, to keep the flow going, and it was a wonderful experience.  We ended by me doing a drawing of my Alien, and the kids telling me what to add to it.  Again, it was so much fun!

The kids had to go to lunch, but so many held back to ask questions, and I even got a few hugs!  That was a surprise... I usually just high-five, because isn't that what kids do?

So, a potentially terrifying experience became a wonderful moment which I will always treasure.

A final word of advice?  Don't pass out bookmarks at lunchtime, because you will definitely get in trouble with the cafeteria lady!

JOHN :0)