I don't know what I would do...

Following is a letter from Gail Simone:

Early this morning, the Texas home of award-winning writer/artist Lea Hernandez, my friend and co-creator of the graphic novel Killer Princesses, caught fire and burned. Half her house is now gone, and the rest is smoke-damaged. In addition, she lost at least six of her family’s beloved pets, two dogs and four cats. If you knew Lea, you’d know how devastating that is.

She’s lost a great deal of her family’s possessions, including irreplaceable art. She doesn’t yet know the full accounting of what’s been lost at this time.

Most know Lea as the brilliant creator of such works as Rumble Girls and Cathedral Child. She drew the Marvel Mangaverse PUNISHER book, and has drawn for TRANSMETROPOLITAN, among many other accomplishments. She is also the co-founder and original editor for GIRL-A-MATIC, one of the most important venues for female-friendly comics created to date.

She’s also my friend, and it’s entirely possible I wouldn’t have a career in comics if she hadn’t asked me to write Killer Princesses for her to draw.

And finally, Lea is one of the last great firebrand hellraisers in comics.

Lea has two (wonderful, amazing) special needs children and right now they need a place to stay and some clothes to wear. More than that, they need
some help, and fast, in the form of donations to her paypal account. Lea’s a proud person so I’m going to ask FOR her. This is important, and a great chance to do a wonderful thing for a creator who has consistently enriched this industry we all love so much. Please, take a moment and send WHATEVER YOU CAN to Lea’s paypal account and help make this time a little bit less painful for someone who would do the same for you if the positions were reversed.

If you’re a retailer, I ask that you set up a donations jar. If you’re a creator, I ask you to think of how devastating this would be to your career and donate what you can. If you’re a reader, I’m asking you to take a moment and hit the paypal link. You’ll be doing something heroic and you’ll feel great about it, I promise.

Read what Lea had to post on a neighbor’s computer while wearing her pajamas at: Livejournal.com/users/divalea

Donate (PLEASE) to her paypal account at: divalea@gmail.com

Finally, if I understand the story correctly (as told to me by Lea’s good friend and current Girl-a-matic editor), it was Lea’s daughter hearing the smoke alarm that allowed the family to get out in time, so for God’s sake, do everyone you love a favor and CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARMS.

Thank you so much for helping. Really, any amount you can send will make a difference. That’s all I can say.

Sincerely and gratefully,

Gail Simone

I honestly don't know what I would do if something like that were to happen to me. What has really impressed me is how quickly the folks at the Bendis Boards have rallied around the cause to help out one of their own. It shows that we are more than a bunch of comic groupies but an actual community. We make a difference.

Just 3 Days 23 Hours 34 minutes 55 seconds 54..53..etc

I have myself a little countdown clock on my computer that is now keeping track of how long before I land in Baltimore. Yes. I have a vacation planned. An actual trip going somewhere outside of the tri-state area. I'm freaked. I haven't been anywhere by myself before. Sure, I am meeting folks I know there but still. It is a bit intimidating.

11 months...

I have been a full time employee for 11 months, almost a full year. I have been doing the same job for far longer then that. I temped in the call center for 8 months before I got hired. People who have only worked there for 5 months are complaining about getting burned out. I wonder what will happen to them after a year! I have wonder how some of the folks in my unit have been able to do this for 3-5 years without snapping but still, only 5 months and burnout? Crazy. I do need to take a real vacation though. I have a ton of vaca time left and no idea what to do with it. Maybe I will just spend curled up with a pile of comicbooks. I do need to catch up.

Keep meaning to post...

I keep meaning to write up about Wizard World. And I will. I promise. I just need to gather my thoughts. It was a wild weekend. Here is just a bit:
Tonia decided to attach jewels to someones head. Fun stuff. This is one of the few photos taken at the convention itself. This is at the Dorothy booth, one of my favorite comic books.

Home.

I am home. I like it here. It was an amazing weekend at the convention but I am glad to be home again. I am so exhausted. Don't worry. I will post details but not today. I am far too tired to even know where to begin. Much love to Jeff and Tonia, The crew at Dorothy, Rafael, Lily, Kari and Noble, and oh hell I am just to tired to do this. I have to be at work in less than 12 hours and I feel like I am falling. Good night to all.