Lady Comic Strip Artists and Apple Pie Moonshine

I Loved This Documentary About Women Comic Strip Artists

I found this documentary on Kanopy (which you might have access to through your library card) and I thought it was such an interesting look back at women comic strip artists of another era. The documentary itself was made in 1991, which, I regret to inform you, was thirty years ago. Even the documentary is from another era, as it looks back at a still earlier era.

I loved watching them draw, of course, and hearing about how they worked around their artistic limitations, the shortcuts they took to meet the demands of daily production, and how they (again, this is back in 1991!) were thinking about how to remain relevant. 

Of the four of them, only Linda Barry is really still in our cultural conversation. She was thirty-five when the film was made, and it's incredible to think about how much more she'd go on to do after that. (She's fun to follow on Instagram.) But actually, both Nicole Hollander and Cathy Guisewite would go on to publish their strips for another twenty years before finally retiring them around 2010. That's a good long run in a field that was always male-dominated, right up to the end of their careers.

"Ask Me Anything" is Back

Would you like to win a free book? Do you also like to ask nosy questions? Then you will be happy to know that my "Ask Me Anything" giveaway has returned after a short hiatus. Here's how it works:

Go here to ask me a question. Could be anything at all! Questions about art, writing, my favorite brand of socks...it's up to you!

And if you've asked a question before & I haven't answered it, ask me again! I love all your questions and I'm happy to see repeat entries.

If I choose your question to answer in the next newsletter, I'll send you the book of your choice.

That's it! Get over there and pick out your book.

Are You Participating in
National Novel Writing Month?

Above: Here's a picture I painted of Colette, probably not participating in National Novel Writing Month

It seems kind of crazy, the idea of writing a novel in a month, and most writers who have participated in National Novel Writing Month will agree that you don't actually write a whole novel in a month. You just make a really good start.

I like the idea of a community effort, of throwing yourself into a project for a manageable period of time, and just cranking out big piles of pages. Something could come of it! It's a good way to put some momentum into your writing practice! 

If you're giving it a try this year, or if you're just thinking more broadly of wading into a book project this winter, I do teach a few classes on starting a book project. I've bundled them together here on Udemy, or if you're on Skillshare, just go to my teacher page and scroll down to see all the writing classes in one place.

I Am 100% Here for
'A Castle for Christmas'

Do not mock this movie, in which Brooke Shields plays a famous American novelist who goes to Scotland to buy a castle (like you do) and finds herself in a conflict / love entanglement with the guy who played Wesley in the Princess Bride. I am here for every single minute of this goofy movie, which debuts on Netflix November 26. Just think...it'll be the day after Thanksgiving, you'll have all that food in the house...and you have my permission to evict anyone who is likely to sit around making snide remarks about what is sure to become a new holiday classic / hit real estate show.

Apple Pie Moonshine is a Fun
Holiday Cocktail /Craft Project

Maybe you're finally getting together with your loved ones this Thanksgiving, or maybe you're still doing a little social distancing (or...you know..family distancing? It happens!) Whatever the reason, this is a drink that you can either bring to a gathering, leave on someone's front porch, or enjoy all by yourself in blissful solitude.

It's also a fun craft project that will make your house smell wonderful.

This recipe calls for using "moonshine" (which means white whiskey, or unaged whiskey) or vodka, or bourbon. I hereby reject the moonshine and vodka suggestions. Make it with bourbon, brandy, or calvados.

Supply Chain Delays?
Give Handmade Art for the Holidays

We keep hearing about supply chain disruptions interfering with the holiday shopping season, but you know what you can do about that? Buy something handmade. Check out Etsy, visit a craft fair, or drop by my shop and take a look around. Handmade art: definitely not stuck on a container ship from China.

Writers Chat & Painting Demos on Pause

It turns out that I'm still super busy, Zoom-wise, so I won't be scheduling a writers' chat or a painting demo for now. But keep in mind that I teach many classes on both!

I Can Send (Some) Signed Books to You

Would you like a signed Kopp novel? I have small quantities of a few titles...or rather, my husband does. Supplies are limited, so get them while they last, and thank you sincerely for your patronage. Go here to browse and order.

What Are You Reading?

I'm doing a lot of reading right now that's connected to the book I'm writing, but for pleasure I'm working my way through Stella Gibbons' backlist. If you've read Cold Comfort Farm, you know what you're in for (and if you haven't, go read that right now.) Several of her lesser-known novels have been re-issued as affordable ebooks, and they are lovely to read if you find yourself awake in the middle of the night, as I often do.