About Me:

I am a communications professional, currently enhancing my skills in the publishing sector. My background includes extensive experience in developmental editing, marketing, and graphic design, complemented by leadership experience in pioneering art direction projects. I am passionate about writing and transforming the publishing industry by creating compelling narratives and impactful visuals. Additionally, I love collaborating with professionals with a shared vision of crafting inspiring and engaging stories and putting new work into the world. 

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NEVERENDER ACQUISITIONS PROPOSAL - Presentation Available upon Request

NEVERENDER ACQUISITIONS PROPOSAL Since its founding in 1999, IDWP has long been supporting original, powerful, creator-driven titles. We have published several amazing titles, such as 30 Days of Night, Earth Divers, Dark Spaces-Dungeon, Sonic the Hedgehog, and our most famous, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The newest title in the proposal process for acquisition is an independent graphic novel titled “Neverender,” written and drawn by Devin Kraft and published by Sumerian Comics. Neverender is an original concept sci-fi title with a strong plot and fully developed characters, as stated below. “A Cosmic Duel of Destiny - In the farthest reaches of space, where the stars whisper secrets of the cosmos, an electrifying tale unfolds in “Neverender." It's not just a sci-fi comic; it's an odyssey of survival, rebellion, and the human spirit's indomitable will. Two astronauts, trapped in the cold embrace of the void, are pitted against each other in a duel to the death. Their battlefield: the endless vacuum of space. Their audience: a society shackled under the iron fist of a spacefaring dictatorship, thirsting for a spectacle. Amidst this cosmic gladiator arena, we meet Merrick, a young rebel from the riot-ravaged streets of a terrestrial city. His journey is more than a fight for survival; it’s a battle for freedom, identity, and the essence of humanity.” Neverender is a fantastic concept and will be a great addition to our catalog because it falls squarely within the IDWP mission and business scope. In addition, Devin is a fully rounded artist, capable of producing single editions or a complete omnibus. Devin is quite accomplished for being undiscovered. In addition to being a graduate of the Fine Arts program at Baylor University, he is currently the Art Director at the White Unicorn Agency. He has over fifteen years in the comics and graphic novel fields. For Neverender, we will focus on profitability as a primary concern. However, we should strive for other goals, including winning several awards, such as a Harvey or Hugo, as it would garner recognition for talent and IDWP. We should also focus on establishing and maintaining the talent relationship since Devin has multiple titles in the pipeline, allowing for continued success. The format I would like to use is a 200-page hardcover edition with full-color pages of Devin’s original artwork and a high gloss cover showing the broad range of the story within. We should utilize the standard hardcover size of 10.25 inches by 6.625 inches. This will make the cost more manageable and account for printing issues should we switch printers during a production run. The main reason Neverender did not fare well during its initial launch is that Sumerian refused to budget into marketing or creator engagement. Because of that, I want to plan for a modest budget of $50,000 for marketing upon initial release. This budget will be divided between sending Advanced Reader Copies to top-rated influencers, social media campaigns including Instagram and TikTok- and conventions with speaking engagements. Though positive, this release has its challenges. First, Devin is a relatively unknown talent, so the sell-in will be much harder. Second, the distribution for this title requires higher up-front production numbers, and we will have to rely on the comps from “Paper Girls” as the only comparison. Lastly, more trust-building is required, which will equal a higher sell-through rate, which is why marketing at conventions and speaking engagements is crucial to our success. The current publisher, Sumerian, will lose the rights in Q1 2024, and Devin has already expressed a desire to switch publishers and not renew contractual rights with them. The following are the projected numbers for Sales Estimates and production costs: SALES ESTIMATES Cover Price: $34.99 Sales Estimate: 85K Based on comps from “Paper Girls” By Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, Matthew Wilson, & Jared K. Fletcher Estimated Revenue: (45% of $34.99 x 85K) = $1,338,367.50 Author Advance: (10% of 85k x $34.99) = $297, 415.00 Author Advance at Cost Per Page (CPP): $120 per page x 304 pages = $36,480 PRODUCTION COSTS Printing Costs: (85K + 25 % X 10% of $34.99) $370,812.50 Marketing Costs: $50,000 - The previous publisher didn’t budget for any marketing and did not allow the title to be seen by its target audience. • ARCs • Social Media • Influencers • Conventions • Speaking Engagements
Apples to Apples Marketing Plan •

Apples to Apples - Basic Marketing Plan

“Apples to Apples” is a picture book for children describing the differences in humanity through the lens of the many varieties of apples. The best month to approach this marketing plan would be September, which is usually the back-to-school month for most states. Since the book is about diversity and acceptance, these values will be reinforced after the children return from summer break. In addition, Fall is usually prime apple season -especially in the Northeastern United States- and they will be readily abundant in local grocery stores, again reinforcing the theme and message of the book. When choosing to advertise on social media, I wanted to break from the traditionally held venues of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. While they have their place, the shorter format currently being instituted by TikTok is the better option as it would provide the most coverage with a minimal indent in a marketing budget.
Hobby Magazine •

Conlyfe Magazine Issue 001 FALL 2020

First of all, let me take the time to thank you for taking the time to pick up and read our inaugural edition. Conlyfe Magazine is the culmination of years of love and passion not only for the comic con convention circuit but for all of the artists, cosplayers, and organizers who work so diligently to make them happen year after year. I fell in love with Comicons when I started working the artist alley at The Heart of Texas Comic Con in Waco, Tx. Like Thanos, 2020 has come along with the intent to break our spirits and force us to hide away in our homes. Since the pandemic started, countless people have not only lost loved ones but are grappling with the loss of their income in part due to the lack of conventions taking place around the country. What was becoming an over- saturated market has now become a faint hope that one day we will all be able to see one another in person again. Until then, Conlyfe Magazine will be here to help you reunite with your fandoms and keep the Convention Life Alive!
VLA Covid- 19 Letter •

VLA Covid- Press Release

Press Release—Vive Les Arts Theatre FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: VIVE LES ARTS WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS COVID-19 CONCERNS. Killeen, TX (MARCH 23, 2020) – VLA would like to take this time to thank you for your support of the theatre. Recently the news of Coronavirus has caused much concern and worry across our nation. We have spoken with many of our patrons and members and place confidence in the fact that you want us to continue to bring high quality theatre to Killeen and its surrounding communities.
The 39 Steps Press Release •

VLA The 39 Steps Press Release

“You wish to be –involved?” Vive Les Arts To Premier The Hilarious Comedy The 39 Steps. Killeen, TX (MARCH 20, 2020) - Vive Les Arts Theatre and Executive Director Jami R Salter are proud to announce the theatre’s production of The 39 Steps, a spectacularly funny comedy about espionage love and murder most foul. The 39 Steps is based on the beloved 1915 Adventure novel by James Buchan and adapted for a feature film in 1935 by Alfred Hitchcock. The story was then later written as a stage play by Patrick Barlow, with Nobby Dimon and Simon Corble realizing the original concept.

5 Tips for Buying a Used Car This Holiday Season

It’s that time of year again when holiday shopping can drive you into a maddening stupor. Nowhere is that truer than when you are out holiday car shopping. Those looking to save big money on used vehicles have been comparing deals all year long. But how do you know that you are getting the best deal for your dollar? Here are five tips to look for when you’re out braving the holiday season in search of the perfect used car. Sadly, the stereotype of the swindling used car salesman evolved from a

Killeen Auto Brokers Meet Santa Community Out Reach Event

What Do You Want for Christmas? Local Dealership to Hold Pictures with Santa Event. Killeen, TX (December 2, 2019) - Local car dealership Killeen Auto Brokers will be holding a free “Take a picture with Santa” event on December 14th, 2019. The Pictures with Santa will be the first event in a series designed to reach out to and better connect with the local community. The event will be held at 805 E. Rancier Ave., in Killeen, TX, from 12 pm-4 pm and will be free to the public. The estimated attendance for the event is 500+ people from all over Central Texas. Killeen Auto Brokers will be handing out free cups of hot chocolate as well as cookies and candy canes for the children. There will be several free small raffles for gift certificates and oil changes, and Killeen Auto Brokers has partnered with Buddy’s Home Furnishings, who will be holding an additional raffle where one participant will receive a free laptop.
Russ Barger Feature Story •

Russ Barger Feature Story

When Russ Barger turned sixteen, his parents fostered an agreement with him. If he saved up half of his money for a car, they would give him the other half he lacked. Having some initial cash, Russ went to task thinking of ways to get more. Since he was doing 4H in high school, he had a couple of cows and decided to sell them. With that Jack and the Beanstalk inspired maneuver, he had the rest of the money he needed, and he purchased the 1964 Chevrolet Impala for $700 from a young college student at Colorado State University.
Personal Blog •

Print Your Own 3D Light Saber.

We all have our favorite memories of playing with that expandable toy lightsaber that we had as children. Do you remember the joy of flicking your wrist, and the sound of the lightsaber’s fake plastic blade pieces solidly clicking into position? Once upon a time these toys were a rarity, sold exclusively at giant toy retails like the now-defunct Toys-R-Us. Since then, Disney has sold the marketing rights to pretty much anyone who can afford them, and now those retractable lightsabers are everywhere. Because of those rights purchases as a consumer, you will be paying those premium rights prices unless you can find a working one-second hand at your local thrift store. Enter John from 3D Printing world. Through a mix of old school carpentry tricks and new school 3d modeling, John has created 3d printed retractable swords. In the video uploaded to Youtube and shared on Thingiverse, John started with a simple hanging basket design before moving on to creating a very basic collapsable cup. While the cup itself wasn’t able to hold liquid, it did, however, stir the imagination of his young daughter who prompted him to turn the design into a sword. John struggled two times with the preliminary design and was about to give up when he decided to tweak his settings, and huzzah, a sword was born! As stated in his video, John discusses the two versions of the lightsaber and shows off how they work. The first one is a print in place file, where you can print the entire sword with the collapsible blade, in one sitting. But then he realized that to be more accurate the blade needed to have a different color, so he redesigned his prototype to allow the end cap to unscrew allowing for a separately printed, different color blade to be inserted. In the end, John has created a solid piece of engineering that will be giving Star Wars fans joy for many years to come. You can check John’s amazing story as well download the .stl files at the links below. The Full Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN0H9npkkP4 John’s Thingiverse page: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3597069
Medium •

The Hidden Bias Behind Gender Roles In Public.

A couple of weeks ago, while on social media, I came across a peculiar meme. It was that of a Koala changing station, and the caption read “Things you hardly ever see in a Men’s room.” For most of society, this image is just scrolled past without a second glance. But for a stay-at-home dad, this is a genuine and very complicated problem. A problem that stems as part of a more significant issue. For centuries the mother has been the foundational support in the home. She yielded her career goals
Personal Blog •

Thanks For the Memories Stan!

Growing up impoverished sometimes made me feel as though I were never suitable enough to fit in this world. Although my mother worked tirelessly to provide for us, at times, she could only afford the essentials. Food. Shelter. Utilities. (In that order). So anything outside of that triad was considered excessive. When I turned thirteen, the universe gave me a break. I had the opportunity to take over a paper route for a friend who no longer wanted to do it. That paper route meant that once a month I would receive a $77 paycheck. Today, that barely covers a dinner date out. At the time though, it was a small fortune for a kid who wasn’t old enough to work full time. So every month I had plans for that money. First, I would take my mother and family out to eat at the local Pizza Hut. I cherished seeing the joy in her eyes knowing that I could treat her and my brothers and sisters without my mother having to spend any of the money set aside for bills. Secondly, I would walk up to the comic book store the Saturday morning after being paid and buy my monthly copies of Captain America, The X-Men, The Punisher, The Amazing Spiderman, and any other Marvel comics issues that I hadn't yet read. These comics weren’t merely a monthly treat. For me, they were a way to escape my sometimes drab reality. They helped to shape my imagination. But, most importantly, they taught me how to draw by imitating what I saw on those pages. Since I couldn’t afford to attend art school, these comics taught me how to be an artist and a storyteller. In those pages, I was no longer a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks but an avid participant in the Marvel Universe. Long before the movies brought new fans to this world, I was already intimate friends with Cap, Peter, Logan, Professor X, and all of their adventures. I can remember friends and family telling me that I was wasting my money by buying comics. They would insist that I should spend what little money I had on something less frivolous. This disconnect even extended to school where some of the other kids would call me “weird” or “a comic book nerd." For a long time, I was left feeling misplaced and misunderstood. I would sit alone in the library and read and reread until I could quote every story line from memory. Most people I encountered didn’t understand the sway that comics had on my life, and that was ok. They had their preferences, and I had mine. Through all of that strife, Stan Lee was still just a name on the credits page at the time. He was merely the guy who wrote “Stan’s Soap Box” at the end of the issue I was reading. It wasn’t until I watched the movie Mallrats by Kevin Smith, that I was able to put a face to his name. Sure, his image was everywhere, but this was the first time I was able to see the actual man behind the curtain. I could watch his strong swagger as he walked. I could hear his iconic scratchy voice. It was then that he was no longer just an editor at a comic book company, he became like family. Stan was the uncle that I waited anxiously for so that I could hear his fantastic tales of heroes, villains, and morality. That’s why, when I heard of his passing, I couldn’t believe it. It felt like a truck hit me and the news of Stan only rivaled that of the loss of my mother. So while my social media feeds exploded with images of him, and people stating things like “R.I.P.,” and “you will be missed,” I refrained. I needed time to understand and cope with the loss of a man, whom I’ve never known or had the opportunity to meet, yet who changed the course of my life indelibly. So now I say thank you. Thank you, Stan, for writing in a way that allowed me to see myself differently. Thank you for bringing friends into my life, when I had none. Thank you for teaching me that everyone is different, and that’s a good thing. Thank you for introducing other artists to me and showing me how to appreciate style. Thank you for shaping the lives of countless people like myself. Goodbye Mr. Lee, and thank you for the memories. “Excelsior” (Ever Upward)