Howdy,
I think some of you will appreciate that this missive is arriving on National Book Lovers Day. So let's take a quick moment to appreciate Johannes Gutenberg’s 15th-century printing press which empowered anyone, not just royalty, monks or landed gentry, to read and own books. Added to that it's also The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People to offer some measure of tribute to the 370 to 500 million indigenous people still living within their communities across 90 countries. So it's with those two things in mind that I present this first item before updating you on some other celebratory news, updates and the Big Announcement.

This anthology-that-could continues to make its way onto top 5 finalists lists.  Having recently acquired it's forth such nomination, voting is now open for the 2021 Utopia Award and will continue to count your votes until 10:00 p.m. PST on August 21, 2022. Just click here to add your vote to this anthology's victory!
If you need to refresh yourself on some of this anthology's amazing content you can listen to LeVar Burton read Lisa Bradley’s story Tía Abuela’s Face, Ten Ways. Then listen to Karlo Yeager Rodríguez read How Juan Bobo Got to los Nueba Yores.
Finally, you can read five comic pages from my own contribution to this anthology; CONTRABAND

Have you come across any of the Wuxia Warrior Reveals? Since I last wrote you the final stage of fulfillment for A Tiger's Tale volume 1 took place. This consisted of the delivery and reveal of the artwork created for 6 select backers of the kickstart.aTigersTale.com campaign. Over the past five #wuxiaWednesdays each character design was revealed on aTigersTale.com with its own bit of fanfare. So much so I thought I'd share our two most recent reveals.

Commissioned by fellow Speculative Fiction for Dreamers contributor, author Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos. So pleased she was with the results that she just featured that piece in her own newsletter. Added to that she sent me a delightful unboxing video which you can see here.

Then just last week Warrior #4 announced the arrival of his own commission. Receiving this backer's support has been particularly encouraging as he is among the few to have read the original Tiger's Tale strips which were published in the pages of Kung Fu Magazine back in the 90's.

David Jamison is a life-long practitioner of Sil Lum (Shaolin) Black Tiger Kung Fu, musician and visual artist holding down a job in IT and Office management with an architectural manufacturing firm in Toronto Canada. A a member of two large charitable organizations; an Active Freemason and Widows Son member (Masonic riders organization) David's chapter will be hosting a charity ride to end bullying on August 20th 2022 at the Bulldog Bar & Grill 600 Grandview St S, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.

You can help them Ride to End Bullying... but, if you're not in that area, you can always drop by their facebook page lend your support with a like. Or even drop 'em a message and say you heard about it from me!

The 2022 Make More Comics Art Grant recipient A Tiger's Tale volume 1. will be featured in the 32nd Annual Children’s Book Illustrator Exhibit at the Sun Gallery, in Hayward California from August 26 – October 15, 2022. Front and center, I'm told.

There will be a Reception and Book Signing for the Artists on Saturday, September. 10th 2022 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm

I will be there and would love the chance to see you in person that day. I'm planning a few special things for this momentous homecoming for A Tiger's Tale which had the unique privilege of being featured at this gallery while the book was still being developed. More details on that to follow.

I have a bit more A TIGER'S TALE news (as well as an update for Kickstarter backers) but I'll save those for a forthcoming Tiger Talk Newsletter arriving in a week or so. But after a few years away from the gallery scene (oh, and a pandemic) I had to make sure and personally invited you to my first major in-person event.

I really wish ALL of you could come out for that reception but I know that's more realistic for some than for others. Still, I'm hopeful this will inspire you to drop me a line and let me know how your summer's been treating you. I'd really like to know.

–BEST!
PLUGO