While we’re in this strange new place, let’s talk about strange new things. First off, I recently requested a commission from one of my favourite artists Aaron Alexovich, creator of the wonderfully spookycute Serenity Rose. He kindly drew this:

You have permission to bathe in the awesomeness.

I can’t even begin to describe how much I love this (and how much I love Serenity Rose. Seriously, read it now) so instead, onto different matters…

After reaching 3000 hits recently, it seems we are well on our way towards 4000 already. So I thought I’d get in early and remind everyone what happens to celebrate a thousand hits. You suggest something, I draw it. I’ve added the past few “Grand drawings” to the Extras page. Just follow the link above to see them.

So, how can you suggest ideas for the 4th Grand drawing? There are three ways to do it; firstly, you can leave a comment on this post, secondly you can sent a tweet to @francescadare (that’s me) with your suggestion and #penny4000, or thirdly you can make a suggestion on the Penny Blackfeather facebook page. There should be a post that you can reply to right now.

What can you suggest? Literally anything*! Want to see the characters in a different style, in a different setting, as different people, doing different things? Well why don’t you say so? Once we reach 4000 hits I’ll combine the best suggestions to make a bizarre new monster mash-up drawing. And then you, dear reader, can sit back and say with pride “I was a part of that. I helped bring that abomination to life.” Isn’t that what you want? Isn’t it?

*Not literally anything.

Comica Comiket yesterday was brilliant! Hello to anyone visiting who took a card and a big thank you to you lovely Rengencypunks (or maybe, as mentioned here in the comments, Blackolytes?) who bought a book or a postcard. I had the pleasure of sharing a table with Andy Poyiadgi (check out his stuff here) who makes awesome comics with tea and about tea, and we were next to Zarina Liew and Richy K Chandler, creators of Le Mime and Lucy the Octopus respectively. I met many lovely people during the day, on both sides of the tables. Comics people are the best people.

That'll be Andy's beautifully colour co-ordinated tidy stuff on the right, next to the rat's nest

Eagle-eyes readers may notice that I am still relying on hurriedly hand-made business cards, because I am an idiot. They may also notice that we were offering delicious marshmallows, and that I had to make a comic-shield to save myself from them.

In exchange for a marshmallow I got given this awesome present from one talented visitor. It is my new favourite thing:

And I did a comic for a CASS ART competition:

I won a prize too! So excited, can’t wait to go to the Soho CASS ART and buy ALL OF THE PENS. Triiiaaaaassssss…

Afterwards we all went for some food and enjoyed the lovely bar at Central St. Martins. It was a good day. Now, today is a day for recovering, so it is time for a nap. Hooray-zzzz…

This week, we do not find out what Mim knows about the family Blackfeather. You’ll have to wait for that (mwaa ha ha). What we do have is a lovely chat between our heroine and a friendly dryad. Next week, things get, well… vivid.

Next Saturday is Comica Comiket, where I will be selling part 1 and 2 of Penny Blackfeather. Come to Central St. Martins by King’s Cross and say hi. Also buy some comics so that I can eat.

We saw a spike in viewers last week, but weren’t able to see where they all came from, so if you have been spreading the word about Penny Blackfeather, thank you so much! I’d love to know who you are. Penny Blackfeather was the small press book at the lovely comic reading group Comic Gosh!p on Wednesday, where I babbled about parrots and the Bechdel test for too long, but got some brilliant feedback from people who enjoyed the comic. All in all it has been a good week for Penny, so here’s hoping that it continues to be so. Thank you all!