“Storms are, by nature, and among other things, scary, awesome, chaotic, terrible and beautiful all at the same time. My personal theory is that you cannot look at a storm brewing and not feel anything stirring in your gut. Likewise, in going through an art gallery, the masterpieces that have stopping power are not unlike storms in that they evoke emotional responses from us are the very same ones we consider great.”
— Edmund Shern, from Turbulence: The Art of Storm Lion

I don’t usually do this sort of thing but…

As many of you know from reading this site, I’ve had some conversations with a development company in Singapore about a few projects. Regrettably, we never got far enough to find out what. However, although we’ve never been able to find the right combination of circumstances for working together, I’ve followed Storm Lion and their progress with no small amount of interest over the past few years since they first reached out to me about turning “Assam & Darjeeling” into . . . well, something. I’ve no doubt they would have done exciting and amazing things with it, if we’d been able to work out the rights.

So it was a bit of a surprise and disappointment to hear the rumors this past weekend that they were possibly closing their doors — and right on the eve of their big splash at ComicCon later this week.

Sad stuff but, as it turns out, the reports of their demise are (hopefully) exaggerated. News today came through that Storm Lion isn’t quite ready to throw in the towel just yet. Their ComicCon plans will proceed full speed ahead, as will the launch of their new art book “Turbulence”. I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the book a week or so ago and it’s full of great work from great talent.

If you’re going to ComicCon this week, stop by Storm Lion’s booth (#4122) and say howdy to Edmund and the team for me. While you’re there, show your support by picking up a copy of “Turbulence”.

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I’ll be doing a reading at the Grand Rapids Art Museum this Friday evening, the 23rd of July. The reading starts at 6pm and three other local writers will also be reading: Adam Schuitema, Jennifer Armintrout, and Tanya Eby (who was nice enough to set the whole thing up and ask the rest of us to join in). If you’re going to be in town, stop by and clap loudly. There will be live music afterwards and fun for all. I don’t know that there will be books for sale at the event, but I’ll be handing out vouchers so attendees can order a specially priced copy through my website.

Or if you’ve got a copy of “Assam & Darjeeling” or “Matters of Mortology” you want signed, bring it along. I’ll have my pen at the ready.

Hope to see you there.