WHAT IS COFFEY HOUSE?
Serialized self-illustrated & narrated fantasy stories:
Once upon a time serialized fiction was the way to go for writers to debut their new stories.
Books like War of the Worlds and The Count of Monte Cristo were released in incremental chapters via magazines before they became novels.
The subscribers of those magazines got first dibs at reading these new stories. And those rascals had the gall to leave you on cliffhangers, having to wait until you received the next issue to see what happened next.
I not only believe serialized fiction will make a comeback, but also that Substack is the perfect vehicle to accommodate weekly releases for subscribers to Coffey House.
I’m trying something similar here.
I write, illustrate, and narrate serialized old-school fantasy stories.
WHO MIGHT ENJOY COFFEY HOUSE?
My stories are told in the spirit of beloved classics like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Chronicles of Narnia, Pan’s Labyrinth, Watership Down, Coraline, etc.
If you’re also into Poe and Lovecraft, 19th-century-style gothic art, Dungeons and Dragons, Fiend Folio, and the one-off creature episodes of the X-Files, this is probably an interesting place to hang out!
If I’m waiting on edits, suffering the wrath of my Clark Kent job, life, etc., I’ll post things like one-off funny life stories.
COMING SOON: I am about to start audio and video podcasts that will deeper-dive into classic fantasy stories like the ones mentioned above and stories of strange but true stories.
MY ILLUSTRATION STYLE:
My preferred medium is black and white charcoals. My style of choice is chiaroscuro: this is an Italian term that literally means 'light-dark,' which employs the use of strong contrasts to create an impression of the three-dimensionality of the subjects and intended to produce an emotional effect.
EVERY STORY IS NARRATED BY ME:
Most of my posts will be accompanied by my narration.
The Substack app provides an easy way to access my content and discover high-quality Substack creators while on the go.
Who... are... you?
Caterpillar : Who... are... you?
Alice : I- I hardly know, sir. I've changed so many times since this morning, you see...
—(From Alice in Wonderland, 1951)
I am a fantasy geek with an art and theater background, and an avid reader with more ideas that I know what to do with. So I consider Substack the perfect playground to “work out” my material.
This story-letter is intended to be family friendly and likely caters to fantasy fans ages 8 or above, but safe for all with parental guidance. When I post something more adult, I’ll give fair warning.
4 SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS:
FREE MEMBERSHIP: Full access until otherwise noted
MONTHLY: $5 per month, cancel anytime = full access
YEARLY: $50 for a full-year = DISCOUNT + full access
Join the ‘A Mad Tea Party’ group: $125/ year = all of the above + (1) original signed illustration*. This is if you really, really like me, are enjoying the content, want to be involved in the shaping and direction of Coffey House. You’ll also have direct access to me via quarterly Zooms, special meet-ups at conventions, etc.
(*The first 250 Mad Tea Party members will get a signed, original piece of art directly from yours truly! I’ll sign limited edition prints after announcing the 250 marker.)
I can’t thank you enough for supporting me, whether it’s just being a fly on the wall for free to keep up with all of my doings or directly investing in my creativity—all are welcome!
As Kermit the Frog once said, my ultimate goal is to entertain and “make millions of people happy.”
Hopefully my storyletter proves to be a portal to help you escape, even if only for a little while.
Pleasant Dreams,
Kevin
