​Think you have a fun idea? Cool. Now try setting up a table in a public place and pitch that idea to complete strangers. But first, you’ve gotta make eye contact and engage in conversation. 

​Sounds kinda scary, right? It can be…if you’re doing it without a support network. 

Jon and I have been pitching our book at in-person events, which can feel intimidating among seasoned writers and illustrators. But despite our nerves and jitters, we’ve always felt welcomed and supported. 

At one author event we attended, a fellow writer had an observation: “The writers I’ve interacted with in this community have been so kind and supportive. And when I step out, people can be so harsh. I’ve realized that my writing community has become my mothership.”

That sentiment stuck with me. “Mothership” connotes a sense of belonging, safety, and acceptance. It’s a warm place we can come back to when things get tough. We all hunger for and need our “mothership.” And in today’s world, that’s even more true.

When you’re putting yourself out there, people will judge and criticize. Constructive criticism has value, but we shouldn't dismiss it just because it stings. 

But meanness for meanness' sake? We need to push against that. But we also need to cultivate a community that allows us to make mistakes. To fail forward and learn without tearing us down in the process. 

While this applies to people pursuing creative projects, this need for a “mothership” impacts us all. The high school student struggling to find her “people” and fit in with peers who truly accept her. The aspiring entrepreneur looking for other business owners who have experienced the same challenges and can help problem-solve. The musician searching for fellow artists with whom she can keep practicing and improving her craft. 

I’ve found my “mothership” in communities like KCU and SCBWI, where fellow creatives understand the journey of nurturing a personal passion. They’ve faced rejections and empathize when you hit a wall. They strive to share wisdom while uplifting others. That’s a mothership. 

I don’t take these communities for granted. Many people don’t get it, so finding people who do is a precious gift. 

​No matter which path you pursue, I hope you find your “mothership.” This isn’t a passive endeavor. It takes effort to find your cheerleaders, especially when you flop. Search high and low for people who will encourage you and really see that you have so much to offer. They are out there. And discovering them will be so worth it. 

Writing Updates: 
We’ve been making our rounds at several author events. Here’s a video of one that took place at our local library. 

We’ve booked the following appearances:
12/14: City of Walnut Winter Wonderland
3/28-3/30: WonderCon in Anaheim (!!!)

Also, it’s not too late to get your copy of Three Bee Honey on our website. 

Don’t forget to give us a follow on our socials:
IG: @st.amantstories
TikTok: @stamantstories 

Recent Reads:
​Smart Brevity, by Roy Schwartz, Jim Vandehei, and Mike Allen 

Smart Brevity is a very quick read that discusses the power of conciseness in a world that’s bogged down by words and content. It’s not just about tightening your words. It’s about respecting people’s time. It offers practical tips on cutting the fluff and getting straight to the point. Every person who writes anything, even text messages or emails, should read this book. 

Mexikid, by Pedro Martin

I loved this graphic novel! Mexikid felt so relatable and reminded me of aspects of my childhood, including trips to Mexico to visit extended family. With a target audience around 6th-9th grade, the writing is laugh-out-loud funny, with poignant moments about death and loss. The rich storytelling is matched by the lush, colorful visuals. What I appreciated most was the attention to detail and little “side quests” in teaching readers about the culture, such as the random toys unique to Mexico. 

I highly recommend this book!

Pet Pics:

​Lilo snuggled up in her hoodie as the weather cools down. 

Some family tea: Amelie pretends she has zero interest in being friends with Lilo, but I recently caught her secretly sleeping in Lilo’s crate, snuggling with her blankets. Dun dun dunnnnn.

Sanity Corner:
I love a nice little park. And if I can get a little picnic going—even better. There is something so soothing about enjoying the outdoors with other people. 

Recently, we went to one of our favorite spots. The weather was perfect. The sun was shining. We played catch and rode scooters and went on the swings with the kids. In a time when things can be scary and unpredictable, it's good to have a place that can offer a sweet escape, even if it’s just for a couple of hours. 

That’s all for this month. Thanks for reading! :) 

If you haven’t subscribed, make sure you click below to get the next newsletter in your inbox.

Take care,
Desi

What I love most about Halloween, aside from the candy and decorations, is seeing how creative people get with costumes. It’s an artform, really. The details. The ingenuity. The time. And I just love seeing it come to life. 

When my kids were little, I would meticulously plan our family costumes. We’d pick a theme that could fit the four of us (plus our dog at times), and Jon and I would gather materials and chip away at them—sometimes for months. Could I have saved time and just bought them? Sure. But that took the fun out of it (no offense, Spirit Halloween). It was kinda ridiculous how much time it took. But when we strutted out with our creations, it was always worth it. 

Here are some of our favorites:

Now that the kids are older, we don’t do the family ensemble anymore. But my younger son caught the DIY bug and took it upon himself to make Halloween decorations and his Terminator outfit—and even build a spooky animatronic. 

​If you’re out and about today with all of the monsters, ghouls, and goblins, take the time to notice the creative problem-solving behind those costumes. 

Happy Halloween!

Writing Updates: 
We had a lot of fun at the San Diego Comic Fest last weekend! In addition to sharing our book with new fans, we met so many talented creators.

​We’ve booked the following appearances:
11/3- Author Day, Anaheim Public Library
11/16- Author Day, Fullerton Public Library
11/23- Barnes and Noble Book Signing, Victorville
12/14- City of Walnut Winter Wonderland

If you’re in the area during those events, feel free to stop by or let a friend know. 

Also, we’re onto illustrating Book 2 of Three Bee Honey! Here’s a behind-the-scenes video of Jon setting up a page. 

If you haven’t gotten your copy yet, you can find Three Bee Honey for sale on our website. 

If you’re on Instagram, you can find us here for more updates: @st.amantstories

Recent Read: Dancing at the Pity Party, by Tyler Feder

This graphic memoir is about a woman’s grief journey as she processes the death of her mother. Dancing at the Pity Party flows chronologically, starting with her mother’s oncology appointment and terminal cancer diagnosis. While I also experienced the loss of a parent under very different circumstances, this book felt cathartic to read. I found myself crying on one page and smiling on the next, as Feder weaves through the many emotions that come with such a loss: the pain, the anger—but also the love. This is not just a story about facing death. It’s about celebrating a loved one and the impact they have on us. I highly recommend this very moving and eye-opening book. 

Pet Pics:

Lilo with her new toy. 

Cats in cuddle mode. 

Sanity Corner:
We often find ourselves in places where we have to interact with strangers. And while that can be intimidating or outright scary, it can also pleasantly surprise us. For the few hours we find ourselves at an event, a bar, or even waiting in line, I’ve noticed that I sometimes and completely accidentally strike up a conversation with a random person. 

We chit chat about our lives, maybe share a few jokes about our current situation. And then we both go our separate ways with no expectation of staying in touch. No forced long-term connection. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s more than okay—these small, positive interactions keep us from becoming too cynical about humanity. 

That’s all for October. Thanks for reading! :) 
​
Feel free to share this newsletter with your bestie! 

Take care,
Desi

​I’m sure we’ve all been seeing the “back to school” displays in stores and posts on social media. 

In past years, I’d see them and cringe/laugh knowingly, remembering that my summer was skidding to a sudden halt. I’d resign myself to the oncoming chaos and grit my teeth at the avalanche of work I’d face for 10 months straight. But at least I didn’t have to struggle alone. I had fellow teachers going through it with me, sharing the struggle from the trenches. 

But that’s not happening this year. This year, I’m not going back to school. This year, I’m on my own uncharted path. And that realization has got me feeling some type of way. Kinda twisty and sad. Kinda relieved. Definitely shook. Definitely unsure. 

This is real. I made a “big girl” decision and I’m sitting with my big girl feelings now. I understand that these emotions are normal when facing a big change. Rest assured: I’ll work through those in time, and if I need a stronger outlet, maybe I’ll get myself a pinata when the going gets tough. 

Sanity Corner:
Speaking of big feelings, I’ve been trying to meditate more to help myself keep calm. Lately, I’ve been using a meditation app (Headspace) to do that. 

I appreciate the menu of options for whichever state of mind you find yourself in. I’ve even introduced it to my family to help us pause and have mindful breaks. Since life is so busy, I tend to go for the shorter ones, but they still feel helpful.

Campaign Updates: 
The campaign is in its last few days--what a whirlwind! 

We mentioned earlier that Three Bee Honey will feature guest artists. Here are the talented illustrators featured in your copy of the book. 

As we head toward the finish line, we are pushing ahead to try to reach our second and final stretch goal: $4,500, which will allow us to expand the story. 

What’s in it for you? More world-building, more story, and more of the adventure. 

We know it’s within reach, so spread the word to people you know who would enjoy this book. If you haven’t had a chance to order your book, be sure to do it asap! 

Also, because we met our first goal, those who purchase a physical copy of the book will receive a FREE Three Bee Honey bookmark set! 

This offer expires at 12am on Monday, 8/21 at so don’t miss out! 

Whew…that’s all for now, but I will get in touch again right before the campaign ends to send last minute reminders. Feel free to share this newsletter (or the campaign) to anyone you think would enjoy it. :)

Take care,
Desi 

​Hey friends! The Three Bee Honey Campaign has launched and is already at 82% (!!!!) as of this afternoon. We are blown away by the support and encouragement we’ve received.

^^Jon and me when I pressed the “Launch Campaign” button on Friday morning. Lot’s of nervous energy in the house that day lol. 

Here’s what’s inside the book:

​Our son even stepped in to help us edit the launch video. It was an all-hands-on-deck week, and we are so grateful for his editing skills! Here he is, concentrating on the project:

We will be updating campaign donors with regular updates. And we have some awesome things in store. This week, we have a podcast interview scheduled, and we’re hosting a free Balancing Life vs. Art Workshop for the Kids Comics Unite Community. 

​We'll also preview our sticker sets, prints, and spotlight the amazing guest artists who will be featured in the book. In addition to posting silly memes, we’ll share behind the scenes moments on our TikTok account, so stay tuned! 

 Also, those who purchase a physical copy of the book will receive a FREE Three Bee Honey Print! This offer expires on Sunday (7/23) at 9am PST, so don’t miss out!  

Whew…what a whirlwind! That’s all for now, but I will get in touch again in August with some more updates. We truly appreciate your support! Feel free to share or forward this newsletter (or the campaign link) to anyone you think would enjoy it. :)

Take care,
Desi 

When I was a kid, I always imagined the future would look a lot like the one portrayed in Back to the Future: clean technology in every town, hovering cars buzzing in the sky above, and lots of holograms. 

​What I didn’t envision was a future with droughts, famine, mass extinctions, and rising sea levels. The petty political battles, which have crippled regulatory policies and allowed further desecration of our planet, have been beyond maddening. 

​To be honest, I was starting to lose hope, feeling despair about the future of our planet and of human life as we know it. I tried to push these anxieties out of my mind whenever those thoughts creep in, but at 2 in the morning, it's hard to distract yourself when the existential dread hits. 

What about the kids? I’d wonder. I was scared for what the future has in store for the next generations. It just feels so… unfair. 

Then lo and behold: Congress recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act. Among other investments, it contains measures to fight climate change, the most substantial measures ever in the history of our country.

Now, it's not enough to offset all the damage. It's not perfect, but it's a damn good start and a long overdue one at that. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this bill will set off a chain of action in other nations and that we continue to build off of this momentum. 

​I’m not a lobbyist or a political insider: I’m merely someone who has been desperate for progress. We are finally seeing it, and this movement gives me an optimism I haven't felt for a very long time. 

I’m hopeful that we can still have a healthy planet so that animals and plants can thrive. I’m hopeful that our kids and grandkids to have a good life with enough food and water. 

​So yeah--even though 2022 doesn’t look much like my childhood fantasies, I’ll settle for this humble bit of progress that feeds my sense of hope for our planet: the only home we have.

I’ll leave you with this important reminder by Chief Seattle: “The Earth does not belong to us; we belong to the Earth.” 

And if you’re still struggling with existential dread, here is a video that I found very helpful. While we absolutely cannot sit back, wait, or become complacent, we have to remember that we are not alone and many smart and talented people are jumping into the fight to save our planet.

​Wherever you are on the political spectrum, I encourage you to pay attention and push for policies that will keep our planet viable for future generations. 
​
Pet Pics:

Current Read: This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki

I read This One Summer a few years ago, but I wanted to re-read it in my effort to research graphic novels for older audiences. It follows the journey of Rose, a tween only child, living in the summer vacation home her family has visited since she was little. But the trip feels different this year. This time, Rose is caught in the storm of her parent’s constant fighting, and she is witness to the heartbreaking drama unfolding in the lives of other young locals. I loved the quiet beauty of the artwork and the minute details that capture the ups and downs of an unforgettable summer: like a close up of seashells or a bike leaning against a fence, for instance. My oldest son, a middle schooler who is reluctant to sit down and read, read this book in two sittings. I think that is a pretty solid endorsement! 

Writing Update: 
I’ve been working on a few different projects, including some freelancing side gigs. I’m also doing some research on the graphic memoir genre and working on some ideas for that. I’m still brainstorming revision ideas for In the Middle of the Sea. There is so much on my plate that it’s hard to devote a ton of time to one project, so I find myself slowly carving away at each one. 

Garden Update: 
It’s apple season time! Our Gala apples are coming in, and they are crisp and sweet. The kids enjoy slices of these apples with their meals. We just have to make sure to nab these before the squirrels get to them first. 

So I’m curious: what gives you hope these days? Do you have any podcasts, books, speeches, poems, songs, or other media that inspires you and keeps you motivated?

That's all for this month. Until next time! :)

Take care,
Desi