Webcomic: The Black-Eyed Pea Party

How it all started and how I eventually sold it

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Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you enjoyed that comic, originally published at the tail end of 2022. I’m pleased to report that my oven is presently in working order. The event continues to morph as my life and needs change. This year we’re hosting an intimate dinner party for eight. If you’re looking for a rager, try Ivan’s!

Originally published in The Austin Chronicle

There ain’t a plot so crooked, you can’t find a lid to fit it

I originally pitched this to my editor at NYT Cooking. I even had the audacity to pitch it to him twice, as though he didn’t hear it in my email the first time. When he politely declined and explained why this story was not the right fit for his paper, that rejection helped me figure out that I should aim for a regional readership.

This led me to The Austin Chronicle, and, after a little googling, to the food editor at the time. I was born in Austin and went to college there, so it was a real thrill to get published in the paper that had previously alerted me to all the cool gigs and happenings in my town.

So I’ll leave you with that suitable moral while we all fish around for resolutions for the year to come – there’s an audience for every story. You just need to find your paper, your publisher, or your tribe. Best wishes for 2025, Substackians!

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Related links

If you’re interested in placing your comics in newspapers and magazines, read my previous post:

How to Pitch Comics to Newspapers and Magazines

An Illustrated History of a Black-Eyed Pea Party on The Austin Chronicle website

My byline page for The New York Times (four food comics and counting)

I have the urge to publish this comic as a zine with my well-honed recipes for black-eyed pea chili, jalapeño cheese cornbread, and spicy sesame kale printed on index card inserts. Hopefully next year!