March 2024 News

You may have noticed recently that the rumblings about Charles Bruce Foundation comics has grown louder. The publication of Invisible in November 2022 has prompted work on two additional upcoming releases. First to be released will be Major Tom versus The Spiders from Mars written by Jason Seaux and illustrated by Chad Bruce. The interesting thing about Chad's work is that he makes tiny prototypes (to scale) of every book he produces, so he can see the story layout laid out before him. It demands the utmost restraint not to show you all of the pages of this masterful graphic novel. We're also so excited for illustrator Micah Davis-Culbertson & writer Phillip LaMarche in their first (for both!) solo comic project entitled Losers Weepers. Watch for information on their soon-to-be-launched Kickstarter campaign.

While we are on the subject, do you want to make a giant difference for WAM! Comics and the magnificent Jason Seaux? Go to the "Heroic Awards vote here" button below and scroll down to Bracket 62 in round one voting to advance Major Tom vs the Spiders from Mars into the second round. Act now because round one voting only lasts until March 21st. Encourage all your friends to vote, too! If you are curious about the Heroic Awards People's Choice, you can use the second button below to learn more details.

We have diligently been reminding you about the Partnership for Better Health's annual Match Madness campaign this month. Although the goal of $10K for 10 years in such a short time seems lofty, we have little doubt that we will beat the clock with your help. Because we know you all support our dedication to writers, artists, musicians. and social justice, we encourage you to share the link to the Match Madness portal with your friends on social media. If you haven't taken the opportunity to donate yet, you can use the button below to link to the campaign, or simply use your cell phone's camera to scan the QR code. And be sure to keep your calendar open on September 7th for the 10th anniversary celebration at Thornwald Park. 10 dynamic years deserves a blowout!

Hollywood isn't the only place celebrating awards seasons. American Roulette recently took home a publishing award. As highlighted on their official website, "The SUNNY Awards are given annually by Sunbury Press, Inc. for each imprint they publish. The authors and books awarded best exemplify the mission and values of Sunbury Press, Inc. The authors are dedicated to their craft. Their books are high quality and are among the bestsellers in their category for the calendar year." As a bonus for the honor, Sunbury Press is offering a 20% discount with the code 2023Sunny. If you haven't read this moving story about gun violence, there is no better time than now to get your copy!

Five years ago, the Charles Bruce Foundation traveled to Indianapolis to screen a Kurt's Karass film. It highlighted a friendship between Kurt Vonnegut and fellow Shortridge High School alumni and author Dan Wakefield on his birthday inside the school's auditorium. Three years ago, we again traveled to Indianapolis for a live reading of Dan's book Under the Apple Tree in the public park bearing his name. Two years ago, we accompanied Dan to the county courthouse of Sumner Mississippi where he was interviewed for a forthcoming documentary about his role as the last surviving reporter present at the Emmett Till trial. We have been honored to have supported Dan's work up and down the east coast with stipends for his travel to speaking engagements - sharing his civil rights experiences with audiences from Boston to DC. And we look forward to a new film about Dan's life that CBF managed to help get off the ground...coming to theaters within the next twelve months. Consequently, we are saddened to report that author Dan Wakefield passed away on Wednesday, March 13th at the age of 91. We close with his most cherished first line of any of his writing from that article he wrote for The Nation magazine, "The crowds are gone and this Delta town is back to its silent, solid life that is based on cotton and the proposition that a whole race of men was created to pick it." As Kurt Vonnegut might likely have said about his Christian friend, "Dan is up in heaven now."