June: The Thumb Month
Dear All,
This is the latest episode of Don’t Press That Button, a newsletter about books and music and movies and cats and baseball and whatnot. As the name would indicate, we are very cautious about buttons around here. We want to understand what the button does before we smack that thing.
But the button below simply subscribes you to this newsletter. That’s it. And it’s free! If you’re new here, and you’d like to stick around, you can safely do so by clicking on it.
Ouch!
I had thumb surgery last week to take care of the chronic pain that I had been dealing with for the last few years. Now I have some fresh new pain, and an uncomfortable bulky cast, and the occasional feeling like ants are running up and down my wrist. But I’m glad I did it, and the long-term prognosis is good.
I don’t know why certain things are unsustainable. I once had an ear itch for two years and stubbornly carried on until it went away. I was absolutely fed up with this thumb, though. It was getting difficult to open jars and, worse yet, it hurt like hell to catch a baseball in the pocket of my baseball glove. Also, it was my left thumb, my second favorite thumb, so that made it an easier decision. I can still type, just not for too long, which means this is going to be a short newsletter.
I can also still sign copies of Self Help #1 and that’s exactly what I’m going to be doing at October Country in New Paltz, NY on June 26 from 3 to 5 p.m. If you can’t make it but live in the area, I’m sure they’d hold one for you if you gave them a call. If you live somewhere else and want one, contact them, and they will see what they can do about shipping you one.
It’s been exciting to have Self Help out in the world, and we appreciate everyone who has reached out to say they enjoyed it. The reviews have also been very kind. Here are a pair of lovely considerations by Chris Coplan and Zack Quaintance.
Meanwhile, my co-writer, Jesse Kellerman, put on a brilliant event in Oakland at Dr. Comics and Mr. Games, which I attended via computer screen. What a terrific store!
We’re aware that there was a bit of a snafu with the distribution, and quite a few shops won’t have the comic on hand until this week, so I just want to add my thanks to everyone who has been patiently waiting. If you don’t know if there’s a comic store near you, here’s a helpful tool.
Last of all, Self Help is available digitally if that’s how you prefer to read your comics.
Otherwise
For thumb-related reasons, I’m going to skip some of our usual features such as the Psychic Benefits, and wrap this up. However, I do want to make two quick recommendations before I sign off:
I rewatched Michael Mann’s Manhunter. Among other things, the eighties-ness of the movie is uniquely unsettling. The synths, the clothes, the whole ambience. Because the Lector-verse has expanded so much, and there have been so many books and movies that have been influenced by Thomas Harris’s novels and their adaptations, certain aspects may seem a little worn to first-time viewers, but for me, it’s just great, and well worth checking out. And Brian Cox is terrifying!
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan is an ideal one-night read. It deserves all the praise it’s received. The portrait of Ireland and, specifically, of her protagonist Bill Furlong, is indelible.
In case you ever have a question or a comment or just want to say hi, if you reply to the email, I will see it. I’m over on Instagram, too, if you’d like to follow along there.
All Best,
Owen