Since my last report I was invited to the New Jersey Comic Expo (thanks to Spencer Beck) along with my Inkwell Awards partner, spokesmodel Hailey Skaza-Gagne.  It takes place for two days on November 18-19 the weekend following Rhode Island Con and before Thanksgiving. We will be fully set up with space. New Jersey has been the most supportive state among promoters as we were invited by 3 NJ show promoters this year with one already attended. We are both excited to check out the first time location! Maybe we'll see you there!

SHOWS: Hailey and I attended all of the summer/fall shows with much fun and satisfaction! However, Rhode Island, our last 2017 scheduled show, will not be an official weekend event now due to altered accommodations. We will be there all day Friday, maybe part of Saturday and part of Sunday. I will be updating my 2018 schedule soon!

COMMISSIONS: My list is still closed as I catch up on belated ones but I am almost finished. I should be lifting the ban soon so please keep checking here.

THE TICK: After Mike Lilly and I did the Tick#1 cover together we were asked to do the next cover. I haven't seen that yet but hopefully any day now.

Sorry for not being around. Here's an update since last time:

*HEALTH: My sleep apnea problem has improved thanks to the CPAP so I'm more rested, not oversleeping or as groggy.  So now that my scheduling time is better I'm starting to resume my power walking, but only 1-2 days a week at the moment because my convention schedule has my head spinning. Once that period passes late in August I will work towards 4-5 days a week. The goal being to be able to altogether lose the apnea and diabetes.

CONVENTIONS: After my previously mentioned "upcoming stops" I did a signing at Rubber Chicken Comics on July 11. The next show for myself and Hailey is Boston Con on August 11-13, my return to that venue after at least 6 years. The new management is Fan Expo. I don't have an Inkwell Awards table this time but I am eager to check things out and talk to management about the future. After that is our third return to Terrificon the following weekend at the Mohegan Sun. And that's the summer end of the tour as we don't go anywhere until November 10-12 to the Rhode Island Comic Con.

*The authorship job position didn't happen because they didn't realize the related costs involved which was beyond their budget.

*The Tick cover was done, is atteched below, and it will debut at Boston Con as a New England Comics Exclusive where Mike Lilly and I will be there to sign it (David Ocampo colored it). I hope to have new Tick news next time;-)

*Still no updates about the updated website and it's gallery. I'm tracking all the commissions I do so that when the time comes I'll have a huge update in that section.

Hope to talk again soon!

Where have I been? Well, my productivity was compromised when I developed sleep apnea last year. I was constantly oversleeping, taking 1-2 hours to wake up and my brain was a mess. After 3 sleep studies, a long wait for insurance approval and some scheduling snafus I finally got my cpap breathing apparatus yesterday and I look forward to resting properly on less sleep and feeling more energized. And more productivity, thankfully, especially with a few irons in the fire...

*After doing some commissions I resumed my work for Ravesnake Media and directing the Inkwell Awards which has been honestly non-stop. In-between there's been drama in that my father-in-law died, my friend Bernie Wrightson died, Inkwell ambassador Rich Buckler passed on recently and now longtime Inkwell soldier and friend Stacey Aragon has departed this mortal coil after a decade of battling colo-rectal cancer.

*We're winding things down at the Inkwells because we're only 3 weeks from the big finale show and ceremony. Next week is the Albany Con and I just updated my public appearances list above and added the Garden State Comic Fest that Hailey Skaza-Gagne (Ms. Inkwell) were invited to since the last convention tour report, a new venue for us.

*I've been approached about writing something as an author.  I submitted the outline yesterday so it may be a while before I find out if things are approved or not.  Once I know I will announce that gig.  It'll sure make things even more hectic for about 6 months.

*It looks like I will be reunited with Mike Lilly for a Tick cover for New England Comics. Somehow I need to fit that in.

*Not related to my goings-on I thought I'd mention my site's Commission Gallery hasn't been updated since December.  I didn't forget or get buried...There's a reason for that. I have a dozen completed new pieces and several on hold.  But I cannot load them to my Gallery because I'm having website issues. Inkwell tech guro and website maintenance contributor Rhys Evans is helping me to  rebuild the site and transfer it to Wrodpress from Joomla! It is hoped that the venue will work properly but I don't know how long it will take and if at that point I'll have time to upload all the new material.  I'll have to wait & see and take things gradually. Life has been very trying so I look forward to seeing you guys on the road!

For those interested, I am scheduled to be interviewed alongside my Inkwell Awards spokesmodel Hailey Skaza-Gagne as Ms. Inkwell on the Static Rift Podcast (Facebook) Monday March 6. The show starts at 6pm EST but I believe we come on at 6:30. We'll be talking about my career and my organization. Their latest Twitter promo says "No show today we'll be back next week to interview legendary comic inker & founder of @InkwellAwards @almondink & his spokesmodel Ms Inkwell."

UPDATE: here's the direct link to the show interview.