alright tumblr gave me a free blaze so that means i get to shill for a second. please read archvillain by barry lyga.

what it is: a middle grade book series about a 12 year old that accidentally becomes a supervillain that lasted from 2009-2012 before being cancelled

who the characters are: kyle, the main character, is cynical and acerbic while still acting like a 12 year old. his nemesis is mighty mike, a clueless superhero who just appeared one day. his best friend is mairi, who calls kyle on his shit and is also best friends with mike. erasmus is an ai based on kyle, created to be his assistant, that also calls him on his shit. and the mad mask is another supervillain, who wears a scary mask, speaks in the third person, and thinks he’s a lot cooler than he actually is.

why i like it: the characters actually act the ages they are, kyle is very obviously in the wrong but is very deep in denial, the dialogue is funny but there are some genuinely touching moments and great insight into the characters

why you should read it: watching a canonically gay 12 year old supervillain cause all his own problems is entertaining, a completely platonic boy-girl friendship is the emotional core of the story, and the mad mask says shit like this:

what is there: three books– archvillain, the mad mask, and yesterday again. plus an article called stories i never told: archvillain, posted on the author’s blog, about where he would have taken the series if it hadn’t been canceled

additional bribe for reading this far: my cat, juno

basically, i need more people to be insane about this w me, so reach out if you read it! thanks for listening!

Truly, I’d forgotten about the platypus thing.

I Hunt Killers...on Sale!

Oh, dear. The I Hunt Killers ebook is on sale, y’all! For a mere $1.99.

I mean, at that price, it’s like literary malpractice if you don’t buy it.

Here are some links for ya…

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/i-hunt-killers

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/I-Hunt-Killers-Barry-Lyga-ebook/dp/B005SCR922/ref=sr_1_3

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-hunt-killers-barry-lyga/1106028212?ean=9780316201742

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/i-hunt-killers/id469992997

This book series was so influential to me as a writer and if you read these and follow Syndicate at all you'll probably see how influential it was to me. If you want to know why I'm so into trauma and character development and moral quandries and dark stuff, it's these books.

All this to say I highly recommend these books! They have remained one of my all time favorites, and I just reread them this year so I'm very confident in that assessment

First rule of being me: Other writers ALWAYS like Boy Toy the most. :)

kyle camden 🤝 george singleton

reluctantly going to universe-defying extremes for some guy named mike

😂🤣😂🤣

although I do have to say, and I’m not sure if this was a conscious choice, that it’s really cool that george, a gay older teen who would do anything for a best friend who wouldn’t do the same for him, is the one that shows kyle that love is real and tangible and something you should always run towards. and that the point that mike dropped down from, where kyle dies for a best friend that hates him, is the epicenter of love in the universe. george chooses love, and maybe that inspires kyle to choose love too.

Absolutely a conscious choice.

response to barry lyga’s un/edited

Not sure what this is. A book review, maybe. A creative writing exercise. The ramblings of a madwoman. Whatever it is, it had to be written.

I don’t typically respond to or promote reviews of my work, but this young woman posted a terrific response to my novel UNEDITED. And since that book came and went with hardly a whiff of notice from the universe, it means something to me and I thought I’d link to it.

I am also loathe to explain my work, but I'm gonna make an exception in this case... The "suicide note" referenced in the review as being in the book came to me shortly after I published my second novel. So, a couple of years BEFORE Archvillain was published. Kyle was intended to be gay from Day One. I just never got the chance to land there in the series. And while, no, the book wasn't written JUST for you...it WAS written FOR you! For any fan of mine who cares probably more than I ever imagined. For any fan of mine who had been there since the early days. I've always said (only half-joking) that there's a worldwide audience of ten people for UNEDITED. Looks like you're one of 'em. 😉

Thanks for your thoughts and your comments and for reading!

mighty mike does shit like this

True, but absolutely in earnest.

GENERATION WONDER: "Power Baby Blue"

In what was one of the funniest, and most clever takes on superheroes I ever read, this short story by author Barry Lyga chronicled the difficult life of a teenager who had been a cute baby superhero. He got his power from his binky - and then had to deal with life as a troubled young adult, and the weird fame that followed.

I absolutely adored this story and really enjoyed working on this piece. I would love to see this as an animated series. TOO funny.

Featured in GENERATION WONDER: THE NEW AGE OF SUPERHEROES. This is pen and ink with digital greys.

I remember illustrating this work at the height of COVID. Looking back, I don't think I did my best work on some of the illos, which probably had more to do with my low mood than anything else. I feel bad about that because all of the stories were very good.

But I loved the way this one turned out, and I hope Barry considers more work with this character and concept.

I love that Colleen loves Ty and his world. 😀

Would love to do more with Power Baby Blue someday. Graphic novel, animated movie… We’ll see!

Congrats to everyone involved in Generation Wonder on the #Audies2023 nomination! Such a wonderful project with an amazing array of authors, narrators, and editors. So proud to have been a part of this project. (You can find My Life as a Houseplant included within - with an easter egg or two for the Indestructibles universe!)