American Dreamer is a strip I began shortly before I moved to Seattle in 1991. It’s a strip about this guy, Trent, who moves to Seattle to make it big as a musician, in spite of all the obstacles. Nearly everyone in the strip is based (at least in part) on people I knew back in Athens (especially the Franklin House!).

      I remember while I was waiting tables in Glacier National Park (a two-month job to earn money for my move to Seattle), I was drawing one of these cartoons in the East Glacier Visiting Center. A woman approached me and introduced herself as the editor of a magazine. She saw my work, and suggested I submit it. I remember how thrilled I was at the time: I hadn’t even moved yet to Seattle, and already editors were stampeding to my work! As it was, American Dreamer was not meant to be published at the time. The rejection letter was a kind one, but a let down of course.

      Little did I know that this  rejection letter was only the first of millions to follow during the past several decades. I now have an impressive collection of rejection letters from publishers, editors, and agents for nearly everything I’ve ever attempted to publish. Some of the rejections are cold, ruthless form letters, while others (the Good Rejections!) are hand-written by the Real Editor!  (“This looks great! Sorry we can’t use it at this time, but keep at it!”) I’ve considered using them for wall-paper. (Didn’t Oscar Wilde do that??)

     Anyway, I guess my plan is to accumulate so many rejections that when I’m famous, even my rejection letters will become worth something some day. We’ll see.