That's me exhibiting at MoCCA Fest in NYC at the Paper Rocket Minicomics table, 2023. I managed to throw my mask off just in time for the photo. Pictured are two early, short zine versions of Moving Day and Exodus to Orlando.

For those who are new to the story, The Group tells of growing up in the ‘70s-‘80s as part of a psychotherapy cult known as the Sullivanians.  Because the nuclear family was seen as inherently damaging, cult therapy dictated that I be separated from my parents and sent away to boarding school at a very young age. The first chapter, Moving Day, painted a picture of my boarding school environs with flashbacks to my earliest days there.             The cover of Moving Day, a 36-page comic booklet Crowdfunded in 2023

Exodus to Orlando, the second chapter that I am currently Crowdfunding for, continues the story of my childhood in the late 1970s, divided between rural life at boarding school and communal life in NYC. The chapter focuses on the cult’s reaction to the Three Mile Island disaster in the spring of 1979. Fearful of nuclear fallout, 250 members of the community fled New York City for Orlando, Florida. As a seven-year-old, I was brought along and spent two weeks in a Howard Johnson’s motel where the group had secured rooms together. The experience was pivotal for the community. As everyone returned to NYC, the leadership tightened its control, leading to the group becoming more cult-like.

I am offering a few different reward levels: digital or physical copies of the new chapter and/or the previous chapter Moving Day; a bundle of self-published minicomics; original studio art; and a selection of archival giclée prints.

The risks of backing this project are minimal as the chapter is already close to finished, with just six pages left to draw. The money raised by this Crowdfundr will go towards making, printing, and shipping the booklet. The booklet will be sent out to supporters in January or February of 2025. If I get beyond my target goal, any additional funds will go towards supporting further work on the memoir.

Too often cult stories are objectifying, sensationalist, and in the worst cases, exploitive of the people involved. Memoir has the unique ability to center the subjective experience and dignity of survivors. By backing this project you not only become a supporter of it, but also a vital contributor to its making. Your support raises up my voice, encourages me to keep on going with a demanding in-progress project, and gives me a connection to my audience. It will only have meaning if read, only be relevant if it spreads compassion, understanding, and relatability. Thank you for your interest and generosity!