May-hem
Hello friends,
Woof. March was hard. Really hard.
I know, that was two months ago, but stay with me—April didn’t exactly pull any punches either. I won’t belabor it. Sometimes the season asks you to keep moving, one foot in front of the other, even when the path feels like it’s made of loose gravel and question marks.
And somehow… you do.
So let’s shake it off as best we can and step into something new.
On to the May-hem.
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April Show-ers
(Yes, I know. That one strained a muscle on the way out.)
The main event in April was a free, public show at Papillion Landing, put on by the Papillion Public Library.
Despite a dreary day and a calendar packed with competing events across the state, it turned out to be a solid show with a great turnout. I made some meaningful connections—including folks from the Omaha Public Library, which just opened in a new location.
And I got to experience one of my favorite small victories: selling my original work.
I moved copies of Tank-Monkey and my poetry chapbook, and that always hits a little different. Don’t get me wrong, I love fandom, I love fan art, but there’s something deeply satisfying about seeing your ideas find new homes.
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Poetry Month (…Mostly)
April was also National Poetry Month, and I showed up for it.
Not perfectly, but honestly.
I wrote 19 out of 30 days, which I’m counting as a win. The remaining poems are still rattling around in my head like coins in a dryer, and I’m determined to get them out. Looks like May gets to inherit that mission.
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Life Stuff (The Unwritten Chapters)
The rest of April was… domestic.
A lot of time went into training Apollo, along with navigating the usual slings and arrows the month had to offer. Nothing glamorous, but necessary. The kind of work that doesn’t make headlines but quietly holds everything together.
But we closed the month on a high note:
A Barns Courtney concert that easily ranks among the best live shows I’ve ever experienced.
The energy. The connection. The way he pulled the audience into the performance. It felt less like watching a show and more like being part of something alive and electric.
If he’s touring anywhere near you, do yourself a favor and go.
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May Day!
Happy May, folks.
As a teacher, the finish line is in sight, which somehow means things are about to get even busier before they calm down.
But first:
Free Comic Book Day is May 2nd!
I’ll be at Krypton Comics in Omaha until 6 PM, drawing free sketches for kids all day. Come by, say hello, and support your local comic shop. There’s also a new Greatest American Hero comic dropping that day, and yes, I am absolutely hyped.
After that, it’s head down, eyes forward until the school year wraps.
I’ve got a commission I’m eager to finish, and a handful of ideas quietly gathering momentum. Not quite ready to share, but soon. I can feel it.
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However, April treated you: gently, roughly, or somewhere in between. I hope May gives you a little breathing room.
A little room to make something.
A little room to be.
Until next time, take care of yourselves.
And if you can…
make a little noise. Make a nerd racket.
—Jesse Kiefer