Yo Momma!: Cover to Bill Holbrook's latest bookIn case you didn't know, our very own Bill Holbrook has a new Kevin & Kell collection out, entitled "Yo Momma!"...

How do I know this? Because I laid it out, that's how!

I've used my Cintiq for about a year and a half now, and a few observations are in order. It's a big relief that I don't have to do oversized illustrations on 30x40 illustration board any more. Digitally, you can just start drawing on the screen and keep adding to your "canvas" as needed. The fact that the Cintiq tilts like a drawing table and swivels like an animation board makes for the nearest thing to drawing on a sheet of paper and rotating the sheet as you draw to take advantage of your optimal swing of the wrist.

By MARTHA WAGGONER Associated Press Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Doug Marlette, the North Carolina-born cartoonist who won a Pulitzer Prize and created the popular strip "Kudzu," was killed in a car accident Tuesday morning in Mississippi, authorities said. He was 57.

Marlette, who joined the Tulsa (Okla.) World last year, was the passenger in the car, which struck a tree after skidding on a rain-slicked road, said John Garrison, the coroner in Mississippi's Marshall County.

"Evidently, it hydroplaned, left the highway and struck the tree," Garrison said.

The WNC group of the SECNCS met at our "usual watering hole", Frank's Roman Pizza on Tunnel Road in Asheville, NC on Tuesday evening, July 2, 2007.

In attendance were, Michael Cole (along with, briefly, his parents, brother and sister), Phil Hawkins, Orrin Lundgren, and James and Karin Lyle. Topics discussed were: Michael Cole's latest 10 strip sequence from his "Dragin and George" strip; Orrin Lundgren's cover for "I might as well be naked"; and James Lyle's latest collaboration with Matt Mulder (who was not able to be there).

Okay, this is my first blog entry--entirely, upon the whole landscape of the internet-- well, that doesn't include interviews. But it's significant in that 1) it is my first pro-active entry 2) I'm grateful that it doesn't consume any of my personal bandwidth and 3) it will be critical for business of freelancers in the 21st century.

Let me explain,

Annual meeting for all chapter members in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Dateline, Asheville, NC.

The WNC group of the SECNCS had its monthly meeting at Frank's Roman Pizza on Tunnel Road in Asheville at 7pm Tuesday, June 5. In attendance were; Steve Haynie, Orrin Lundgren, Matt Mulder, Phil Hawkins, James Cassara, Michael Cole, and James and Karin Lyle. The group passed around various new projects along with the usual gossip.

Amy Lago, comics editor for Washington Post Writer's Group (Opus, Candorville, Bo Nanas, Pickles, Red & Rover, Watch Your Head) and formerly comics editor at United Media (Peanuts, The Buckets) is our guest speaker!

If you're headed to Charlotte for HeroesCon June 15-17; feel free to join some of the Charlotte contingent Saturday, the 16th at 11:30 am at Fuel Pizza across the street from the convention ctr. This will serve as our June By George lunch meeting; and any and all are invited to join us! -Dave McDonald-

The title of the new monthly publication is Out Of The Boxx and is being produced by the team of Joyce and Ladd Miller of CA. The Miller's formerly published ProTooner for many years. They're mailing address is: P.O.Box 2158, Daly City, CA 94017-2158. I think a sample copy runs about $3.50. Their email addy is: outoftheboxx@earthlink.net Jack designed and illustrated their new logo :-)