[Insert Duck Pun Here]

For the new year: A redemption story with plenty of laughs

I was going to open this with a pun, but puns are not all they’re quacked up to be, so.

Guys! I am just so jazzed that my brand new graphic novel, Beaky Barnes and the Devious Duck, is now on shelves! Please order a copy for someone in your life ages 7 and up from your local bookstore or just Amazon, where it is a selection of the month! Ordering the book now really helps the book gain traction. Thank you in advance!

And folks, I am really proud of how this book came out. I love that it’s funny and silly and goofy, but also deals with the theme of finding your place in community and in the world. As Kirkus Reviews says:

Duck’s misdeeds are handled with compassion—an early lesson on community-based, restorative justice. To deliver that message while still infusing the book with zany, chaotic humor is nothing short of masterful.

In this book, a duck who is a con-man comes to town and starts tricking people to earn his bread—I mean, literally bread!—he loves bread. The poor townsfolk are taken in, all except Beaky Barnes, intelligent chicken! She is the town librarian, and sees through Duck’s chicanery. (Chickenry? Haha.)

With a firm wing, she helps him find his right path. I love that the bad guy is redeemed in the story; I got the idea from many Hayao Miyazaki movies where even bad guys are people and are able to come around and be seen and understood and have a second chance.

And, people! This duck does just that. He gazes into his own crystal ball and sees his future, and he decides to change his course in life. I love how the ending came together. After a long process of writing, drawing, and editing, the resolution eventually grew out of the duck’s character and his tricks, and I always get a little teared up at the way he gives back to the community in the end.

Remember to order your copy here!

THANK YOUS

I want to thank editor Rob Valois for opening the door to creating this series, my agent Holly McGhee for helping me achieve the dream of making comics, designers Lynn Portnoff and Jay Emmanuel who put so much care into this book, and assistant editor Rachel Sonis who encouraged the restorative justice angle—it worked! Thanks also to Artist’s Way teacher and creative coach Maxima Kahn whose class helped get me back on track to create this big book after I suffered burnout during the pandemic.

And thank you all for your care and support. May you gaze into your crystal ball and see a bright year ahead! Spread love, and share books!

Love,

David