The Orneriest of Cusses

After decades of talking about it and handfuls of false starts and stops, I’ve completed my first book. On June 1st of 2026, Weirdo Du Jour Press releases my debut novel, Ornery Cuss. Not to be confused with the zine printed in 2023, this is the complete and unabridged version chocked full of the working class dark humor you love. A grubby coming-of-age tale about a sharp-edged loner who runs away from a stifling rural community and into the arms of Chicago’s raw chaos. No shortcuts taken nor lessons learned any way but the hard way.

You can pre-order a copy here. By doing so, 100% of the price you pay goes directly to me as the author. I will sign and write whatever personal inscription you wish on every copy you purchase.

Of course, I didn’t do this all alone. I wouldn’t have gone through with any of this, were it not for the support and guidance of Dmitry Samarov. His talent and experience helped refine these pages through edit and design. Most importantly, his encouragement helped will Ornery Cuss into existence. It’s a gift to have someone so thoughtful in my corner. Yesterday we had a conversation on Hu U No about the book, writing, zines, and the like. You can listen to it here.

We Should Close

“We Should Close”

88-page long, quarter sized zine about working in a record store. Complete with silly good times and tales of weirdo collectors of vinyl. Comes with its own playlist on YouTube or Spotify. Only $3!

It’ll be available soon, and I’m STILL sorting out an online store-front. So if you want a copy right away, shoot me an email. weirdodujour@ proton.me

We’re Gonna Do It!

“Make All Our Dreams Come True: 3 Years in Milwaukee”

A 2-buck chucklefuck. Written and assembled in under 5 days, this quarter size zine is 40 pages long. A bitter stream-of-consciousness-like rant about the foibles of moving to Milwaukee from Chicago. Highlighting memories of jobs, apartments, and neighborhoods with a slowly imploding marriage in the background. I wrote this in a flashflood of memories that wouldn’t recede in hopes of being able to finally let some stuff go so I could move on.

I’m sorting out an online store-front at the moment so if you’re wanting a copy right away, shoot me an email. weirdodujour@ proton.me

Cathode Ray Mission #3

Cathode Ray Mission #3 is available now!

Featuring a collection of articles from various writers, including Tim Murr of St. Rooster Book and Robert Zier of Lugosi Theater!

Available at Quimby’s Book Store, Chicago Comics, and online at http://www.behind-the-zines.com

Or! Weirdo Du Jour NOW has an Etsy account where you can pick up zines directly from me! https://weirdodujour.etsy.com

Original Artwork for Lucille Brawl

I’d recently uncovered a time capsule in my storage unit. A dusty shoebox containing the master copies of Lucille Brawl #1, a cut & paste comic created in May/June of 2006. Not knowing what I was doing at the time, I just started drawing my little cartoons with grey watercolors and pen nibs. It was glue stick versus packing tape, and I fumbled over layouts, texts, and dialog bubbles drawn with a ballpoint pen. Then I made the mistake of printing copies at Staples. So many details of the water-colored art were lost in washed out in photocopy toner.

What remains after all these years is an embarrassing and grimy as hell DIY comic book.

What’s more cringe is that for a while I would LARP/cosplay my own character out in the electric Chicago nightlife of the early aughts. Yikes.

There are a few copies currently for sale at Chicago Comics on Clark Street.