Going on retreat.

August 14, 2019

I’ve been out of touch for a while, out of the online realm and very, very present in the real world.

Last week my father passed away. (This was my biological father, as opposed to my stepdad.) Ernie Colón was a cartoonist and graphic novel/historical artist with a sixty-year body of work including Casper the Friendly Ghost and Richie Rich for Harvey Comics; Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld and Arak, Son of Thunder for DC Comics; Damage Control for Marvel Comics; horror comics Creepy and Eerie; and many, many others. He drew the art for the New York Times bestselling graphic nonfiction The 9/11 Report and was commissioned by Anne Frank House to draw The Biography of Anne Frank. (For more, see his Wikipedia page.)

I’ve lost people close to me before, but not a parent, and I feel the grief emotionally and even physically. This while being very, very grateful for all that I do have, of course. But you can’t lose someone, especially a parent, and not feel downright contemplative. And like you need some time.

That’s why I’ll be taking some time away from blogging and posting on social media for a while. I’d intended to take off a few weeks in August anyway, and now seems like a good time to do that.

To those participating in the #MeditationsOnWriting group, my apologies; I’m not able to continue the program at this time. I’ll hope to resume some time in the fall. My best advice is to keep writing. Then let your projects sit while you go do something else. When you go back to them (a few weeks later), read with fresh eyes and revise away. Be gentle and firm with yourself.

As for me, I’m not writing at the moment. I’m drawing a lot; it helps reconnect me with my father, who did this bird painting on the inside of his closet door. It was a lovely surprise each day when he opened it, and then he’d close the door, and the little bird would go into hiding for a while.

This little bird needs to go into hiding for a while. Thank you for understanding. I’ll see you soon.

xo,

Suzan

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