Grab a Cuppa, and Get Cozy
Hello friends!
I write to you from my newly furnished desk, on my IPad, because I’m still waiting for an SSD that is compatible with my computer, but! My desk looks pretty good, even if the monitor is set dressing. It helps having a ‘space’ to feel productive, and that’s what it serves!
This is such a goofy set up…
So welcome to the first edition of The Rabbit Hole. I’d like to thank you for being here. I write this from my little desk in New Zealand, my second home and current residence, that I share with my partner Kale. I don’t currently know how many of my readers are kiwis, but if you are please leave a kiwi emoji in the chat, or my inbox, or dm it to me on Bluesky, just so I know. That said, bear with me as I speak to the non-New Zealanders for a moment.
For the last four years, I’ve been traveling between the golden state of California across the great Pacific on a 12-hour non stop flight to Aotearoa NZ to spend quality time with the love-of-my-life Kale de Wild, a fellow cartoonist and all around silly guy. Each trip lasts between 3-6 months and consists of a lot of gay kissing, friendship gatherings, travel, and event-hopping. My American friends know about this yearly pilgrimage, but I’m shy about sharing my travels online. This isn’t out of fear or anything. I’m afflicted with UNDIAGNOSED ADHD, so I assume 1.) everyone already knows what I’m doing, all the time, and 2.) when I close an app/social media platform it vanishes from my mind completely.
I hope that by creating this newsletter and sending it to you, it will amend this. Mostly.
To my fellow Aucklanders: Thank you for reading, and welcoming me to this country, and tolerating my Americanisms, and for being a powerful group of people who uplift me everyday.
To my American pals: I miss you, and I miss our community, and the opportunity for growth and change and collective action.
To American readers: Cafe culture is pretty big here in NZ. I know, we get it, with our Starbucks on every corner, but no. It’s different here. Three independently owned bespoke coffee shops on the same corner and all of them successful, kind of different. This is where the flat white was invented (Australians might fight me on this, but I know the truth). It’s no surprise that I am shaping this newsletter to honor that culture, and to manifest my future artist owned and operated cafe. (I want that coffee cart life so bad)
Some Housekeeping…
We’ve got a lot brewing in the shop, so lets cover it all right here, right now:
VGen Commissions are OPEN: Have a need to see your ocs kissing? Want a cute PNGtuber for your streams? I’ve got you fam. I’m now offering commissions on VGen, a platform for artists to advertise their services, and for you to find real-deal talent without the fear of “AI-Artists” (yuk!). Get a picture of your blorbo drawn by me, while slots are available!
I’m a Streamer, Mom! Aren’t you proud? That’s right, I’m back on the twitch grind. I play Sims 4 every Thursday at 11:30 am Auckland time, where I put my various cast of characters into Situations that they Suffer through for our Amusement. Mark your calendars, give me a follow on twitch, and keep a look out on Bluesky for stream announcements.
Roommie 4 Rent - A Roommate Erotica — Kale and I’ve been working on this comic for what feels like forever but is really about a year and a half. Lines are complete (thank you Kale~) and now we’re onto colors. Well, I’m onto colors, and it’s because of me this comic is still in production. Fear not! I’ve made a plan and I’m implementing it. Next month, the first issue will be released FOR FREE on itch.io and any other platform we can put sexy comics on without getting booted.
Next events: Auckland Zinefest and Moonlight Alley — depending on when you’re reading this (or when this first newsletter debuts) Aucklanders would have already caught me at Armageddon Winter. As always it was lovely seeing yall again! Both Zinefest and Moonlight take place in July, at the start and at the end of the month respectively. I’m bringing 3 new handcrafted zines for you to enjoy, and a new Dino based stationary collection (and more!)
In it to win it!
Through all of June (it’s my birthday month!) newsletter subscribers are entered for a chance to win art, drawn by me, of your favorite oc or character, or portrait, or pet or whatever (within reason)! It’ll be in the style shown below. It’s a small thank you for subscribing, and for reading, and for generally supporting my artistic endeavors.
Winner to be announced in next month’s newsletter!
For everyone else, at the start of July all subscribers will get an exclusive downloadable print of one of my original characters (TBD) as a big thank you! I couldn’t be more grateful. Without you, I can’t do what I do, which is drawing gay people kissing, and live as an artist full time. You’re so cool and sexy.
Somewhere, In the bathroom of an Orville Peck Concert…
Peter(Pecan) Dowling is missing most of the show, but it’s not entirely his fault. He may be thirty[REDACTED] years old, but he can still get it, and does, in the men’s bathroom with a hottie in skintight leather pants. This spectacular hookup ends with Pecan ghosted after the show, and it shouldn’t mean anything, but he can’t stop thinking about the sexy stranger who blew his mind (and other things).
Lucky for him, a chance encounter at the Safeway brings said sexy stranger back into Pecan’s orbit. The only problem? Sexy Stranger is still in college.
Roses are Falling is a short novela written by Grace Widows, with cover design and spot illustrations made by me, featuring Joenie and Pecan in a sexy hook-up-turned-romance erotica. The story has age-gap themes, so if that’s not your cuppa tea this won’t be the read for you (our leads are between the ages of 22 and 31 btw).
Somewhere Deep Down in the Basements…
With Auckland Zinefest just around the corner, I’ve got a brand new zine for you to enjoy!
This Severance themed zine is packed with original characters suffering in the bowls of Lumon, all for our amusement! It will debut at Zinefest as a physical A5 booklet, and will be made available online thereafter. I’m happy to share some of the pages with you here!
I’ll Draw That OC for You!
Have an OC you want to see drawn in a cute art style? Want a comic page centered around your favorite ship ever? Or how about a PNGtuber for your next art stream?
Find these and many more services on my VGen! I’ve been knocking out commissions there for a few months now, and I’m excited to get more!
Comic Page Commission for the lovely @riasaur
My verification is just around the corner, which will allow me to list many more services and build up my digital storefront there! Be sure to give me a follow there to be notified of new services! Speaking off…
LAST CHANCE COMMISSIONS!
As a final special goodbye to my unverified status, I’ll be offering a limited number of commissions at their current prices. THIS WILL BE THE FINAL CHANCE to get commissions at my introductory price!
But for you, my lovely newsletter subscribers, you get an extended grace period! Simply provided the promotional code at the bottom of this newsletter to request any one of my commission services at their original rates!
Upcoming Events
Catch us in person at…
AUCKLAND ZINEFEST - this FREE event is open to the public and hosted at the Auckland Art Gallery! It takes place over two days, with different vendors each day! Find me and Kale on Sat. July 5
MOONLIGHT ALLEY - Join us at the Mt Albert War Memorial for the first ever MoonLight Alley! It’s small but mighty, with lots of amazing local vendors, makers, and artists selling their goodies in one place! This event is also completely free, so make a day of it and check it out! 25th of July 4pm-8pm.
From the Pastry Cabinet
If you get the chance, check out CJtheX’s latest video on Kiki’s Delivery service and why the English dub sucks major ass and how mutual aid will save you (or something like that).
Why is no one talking about Mary and George? Like srsly, it’s everything I want out of a period drama; gay kings, old woman yuri, sicknasty evil queers doing crimes and murder and being gay. If you like that fucked up kind of story, I highly recommend.
Aucklanders! If you want to try AMAZING American style bbq, go to the Hobsonville Market on Saturdays. Really all the vendors are good, and we also found some MEXICAN SALSA!!!
Been reading Manufacturing Consent, and though it’s a dense read, it’s pretty uh, prescient now. Highly recommend getting a library card and finding it if you can!