Getting a little more creative with my #tbt contributions. In the mid '00s, I followed a Soldier to Virginia and got a job selling plots in a local cemetery. The business of Death was of morbid fascination for me then (still is, really) and I learned quite a few things--some lessons I'm usually happy to share at cocktail parties, and some lessons about how to be a better human being. In 2006, I started a collection of short non-fiction essays, There's a Girl on My Backhoe, but never did manage to finish more than three. So far removed from the experience, I think the stories will have to be recycled into a collection of fiction rather than essays as I fill in (or even invent) details I can't completely recall. I did, though, finish this piece.
All names and places have been changed, except for the most generic, as there are, in fact, many, many, many Lamms in Virginia, alive and dead.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Cover for THE HOUSE OF MONTRESOR
So excited to finally be able to show this off....
This is the new cover for THE HOUSE OF MONTRESOR, my new graphic novel with art by the stupendous Jason Strutz, and a sequel to Edgar Allan Poe's Cask of Amontillado!
HOUSE OF MONTRESOR is a full-length graphic novel, continuing Poe's classic story, beginning 50 years after the villainous Montresor claimed the life of his hated enemy, Fortunato. For more info about this new book, please visit RedStylo.com.
Also, as I'm writing this, I realize I never posted the announcement for my Cask adaptation on this blog, so I'll go ahead and include a link to that here too.
Happy reading, everyone!
This is the new cover for THE HOUSE OF MONTRESOR, my new graphic novel with art by the stupendous Jason Strutz, and a sequel to Edgar Allan Poe's Cask of Amontillado!
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| written by me, art by Jason Strutz |
Also, as I'm writing this, I realize I never posted the announcement for my Cask adaptation on this blog, so I'll go ahead and include a link to that here too.
Happy reading, everyone!
ANGEL WITH A BULLET, my new collection
Posted at Redstylo.com on 4/23:
Enrica Jang here, excited to announce a new collection of comic stories by....me! ANGEL WITH A BULLET is a 4-part series of short comic stories, each inspired by a song from American music legend, Tom Waits.
In keeping with RSM tradition, this series is not an adaptation of any Tom Waits song. Rather, all of the stories are original, stand-alone titles, with their own characters and histories. Readers readers should recognize inspiration born out of lyrics or performances from Waits. Hopefully my fellow Waits fanatics will enjoy my homage to this great American master.
The stories will be released throughout the year, and we'll make announcements about artists and pages-in-progress as time rolls on. For now, stories include:
ANGEL WITH A BULLET: inspired by "Romeo is Bleeding." Gut-shot and betrayed, undercover Agent Angelo Carlos has one last chance to make his case. Art by Robert Grove.
DOWNTOWN TRAIN: 8-page story, inspired by the Waits song of the same name. Stevie is a New York street-performer with big dreams, singing for her supper in the subway. But dreams don't always come true in the dirty underground. Art by Lora Innes.
YOLO: inspired by, "Tango Til They're Sore." Meet Artie--undertaker by day, Dead Man Beauchamp, pachuco player, by night. There's a jazz club under new management in New Orleans, and Artie will do just about anything to get in.
HOLD ON: inspired by the song of the same title. A long time ago, Trina's mommy went away to live in California. But Trina's still likes to talk to her on the phone...even when her mommy isn't there.
Posting WIPs from the first story this weekend, and hoping to debut the first of the collection at Special Edition: NYC this summer! Keep your eyes here...
Enrica Jang here, excited to announce a new collection of comic stories by....me! ANGEL WITH A BULLET is a 4-part series of short comic stories, each inspired by a song from American music legend, Tom Waits.
In keeping with RSM tradition, this series is not an adaptation of any Tom Waits song. Rather, all of the stories are original, stand-alone titles, with their own characters and histories. Readers readers should recognize inspiration born out of lyrics or performances from Waits. Hopefully my fellow Waits fanatics will enjoy my homage to this great American master.
The stories will be released throughout the year, and we'll make announcements about artists and pages-in-progress as time rolls on. For now, stories include:
ANGEL WITH A BULLET: inspired by "Romeo is Bleeding." Gut-shot and betrayed, undercover Agent Angelo Carlos has one last chance to make his case. Art by Robert Grove.
DOWNTOWN TRAIN: 8-page story, inspired by the Waits song of the same name. Stevie is a New York street-performer with big dreams, singing for her supper in the subway. But dreams don't always come true in the dirty underground. Art by Lora Innes.
YOLO: inspired by, "Tango Til They're Sore." Meet Artie--undertaker by day, Dead Man Beauchamp, pachuco player, by night. There's a jazz club under new management in New Orleans, and Artie will do just about anything to get in.
HOLD ON: inspired by the song of the same title. A long time ago, Trina's mommy went away to live in California. But Trina's still likes to talk to her on the phone...even when her mommy isn't there.
Posting WIPs from the first story this weekend, and hoping to debut the first of the collection at Special Edition: NYC this summer! Keep your eyes here...
Monday, February 24, 2014
Eileen Picture
We were in my mother-in-law's kitchen the day after Thanksgiving three years ago, using leftovers and some other quick items D had picked up from the store for a breakfast casserole. Eileen had been bustling around and active since 5AM. Something about folks of a certain age, sleep comes less easily, I guess. We were bunking on the couch in that little apartment, though, so if she was up, that meant we were all up. I perched on the counter while she put it all together, nursing a cup of coffee, one eye still closed and sleepy, and the other tracking the ingredients for this family recipe she assured me the men in her family raved about.
Among the items I remember: two tubes of crescent rolls, a dozen eggs, a pack of cream cheese, god knows how much more cheddar. And then that box of butter.
"Hand that to me, will ya?"
"Sure. A stick?"
"All of it."
"You use it all?" Awake now. Checked the box. "Eileen, this is a pound." I started laughing. "I have never seen anyone use twelve eggs and a whole pound of butter in anything before."
She shook her head at me in that mother-in-law way and said, "Well your virginity's just gone now, isn't it girl."
Eileen, you grieved your husband until your very last day, but I know there were signs at the end that you were coming back to us. At least trying. And all the pictures and family keepsakes we've found in boxes and boxes tucked away, spread out for acres, I'm sure. That's your fortune, and a beautiful legacy for all of us. So much love.
Thank you for everything, lady. For sharing your family, and for forgiving and loving us all at the end. Kisses to John from us when you see him. Rest in peace. So long.
"Hand that to me, will ya?"
"Sure. A stick?"
"All of it."
"You use it all?" Awake now. Checked the box. "Eileen, this is a pound." I started laughing. "I have never seen anyone use twelve eggs and a whole pound of butter in anything before."
She shook her head at me in that mother-in-law way and said, "Well your virginity's just gone now, isn't it girl."
Eileen, you grieved your husband until your very last day, but I know there were signs at the end that you were coming back to us. At least trying. And all the pictures and family keepsakes we've found in boxes and boxes tucked away, spread out for acres, I'm sure. That's your fortune, and a beautiful legacy for all of us. So much love.
Thank you for everything, lady. For sharing your family, and for forgiving and loving us all at the end. Kisses to John from us when you see him. Rest in peace. So long.
"So
we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the
body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body
and at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
The Doctor's Wife
Hi! Sometimes I forget I even have this thing, and yet it's in my bio for work.
Everything I do is 99% Red Stylo Media and someday I may point this URL there for the sake of convenience. I may also revisit some old resolutions and begin posting here again. (That would be the better choice, yes.)
I am the editor of Red Stylo's yearly anthologies, but I have not yet included my own work in the books...until today.
"The Doctor's Wife" is a short comic I wrote for Unfashioned Creatures, A Frankenstein Anthology, a collection of original comics inspired by Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus." I wrote my story after a particularly brutal binge on all the seasons of Nip/Tuck via Netflix, so don't be shocked if my little Bride of Frankenstein is both racy and mean.
This short comic is illustrated by City of Walls artist, A.K. Lovelace. Color by Sara King and letters by Emmy-nominated Mark Mullaney (he loves it when I call him that.)
I hope it creeps you out.
P.S. Got some more comics with my name on them in the works, including a new adaptation of (and a pending sequel to) Edgar Allen Poe's Cask of Amontillado. Do go visit my company page. And drop a comment below if you like The Doctor's Wife or any of the stories in Unfashioned Creatures!
I am the editor of Red Stylo's yearly anthologies, but I have not yet included my own work in the books...until today.
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| Available for digital download now, or in the printed collection of "Unfashioned Creatures, a Frankenstein Anthology" |
This short comic is illustrated by City of Walls artist, A.K. Lovelace. Color by Sara King and letters by Emmy-nominated Mark Mullaney (he loves it when I call him that.)
I hope it creeps you out.
P.S. Got some more comics with my name on them in the works, including a new adaptation of (and a pending sequel to) Edgar Allen Poe's Cask of Amontillado. Do go visit my company page. And drop a comment below if you like The Doctor's Wife or any of the stories in Unfashioned Creatures!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
John
Family has been a serious point of contention in my house of late. The little and big issues, old and new injuries. But we got that call late in the night last week. He wasn't breathing. They couldn't get a pulse. They brought him back, but he's in a coma and the doctors don't know yet. The CAT scan came back negative for brain activity. We're going to let him go.
I remember John asking me to dance at the wedding, and smiling up at him. I have a great picture of the man with a lantern on his head, joking around with the girls there too. John and Eileen called me often, especially that first year, to check on me and say hi and keep me from getting too lonely while David was in Iraq. John always asked, "How you doin, girl?" and made sure I knew he was thinking about David and me. He asked after my work, always said, "I'm fine," when I asked--even when I knew he'd been sick--then nattered on about home. Never complained, always interested to hear more about the house or the books or the girls. And he made it a point to say, "Love you" and "So long," never goodbye.
John, you were all the great things a father-in-law could ever be, and one of the sweetest men I have ever known. I'm going to miss you, laughing and kidding around with you most of all. Be at peace and do not worry about anything. We'll take good care of your lady, and I promise to try to take good care of your son.
Rest in peace, John Picture. We love you. So long.
"Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." Psalm 139:7-10
I remember John asking me to dance at the wedding, and smiling up at him. I have a great picture of the man with a lantern on his head, joking around with the girls there too. John and Eileen called me often, especially that first year, to check on me and say hi and keep me from getting too lonely while David was in Iraq. John always asked, "How you doin, girl?" and made sure I knew he was thinking about David and me. He asked after my work, always said, "I'm fine," when I asked--even when I knew he'd been sick--then nattered on about home. Never complained, always interested to hear more about the house or the books or the girls. And he made it a point to say, "Love you" and "So long," never goodbye.
John, you were all the great things a father-in-law could ever be, and one of the sweetest men I have ever known. I'm going to miss you, laughing and kidding around with you most of all. Be at peace and do not worry about anything. We'll take good care of your lady, and I promise to try to take good care of your son.
"Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." Psalm 139:7-10
Saturday, March 31, 2012
February, march!
Status of resolutions:
I still can't do a pull-up. And I totally skipped posting writing for February and just in on March. However, to prove that I did in fact get writing done...I present to you, World, my thesis, "Riff Writing."
Fun fact! M.F.A. stands for "Mother*ucking Awesomeness." And now I am an M.F.A. because this puppy was accepted "in partial fulfillment for the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Professional Writing." I don't know why they accepted it, but they did. Which makes me a master of fine arts. And a mother*ucking awesome.
I still can't do a pull-up. And I totally skipped posting writing for February and just in on March. However, to prove that I did in fact get writing done...I present to you, World, my thesis, "Riff Writing."
Fun fact! M.F.A. stands for "Mother*ucking Awesomeness." And now I am an M.F.A. because this puppy was accepted "in partial fulfillment for the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Professional Writing." I don't know why they accepted it, but they did. Which makes me a master of fine arts. And a mother*ucking awesome.
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