August 7th, 2023 It’s no secret that Ashley Maypole, the main character of my comic The Flying Squirrel, is the Weirdo most like me. He’s an alcoholic comic book writer with Imposter Syndrome and an unhealthy obsession with squirrels. He has a son and a Boston Terrier and a best friend who looks a lotContinue reading “The Weirdos, Part I: The Flying Squirrel”
Author Archives: dennisvogen
“Faribault famous”
August 2nd, 2023 I did a neat thing last week and it’s out today: the Faribault Daily News published a feature on me + my life + my work! You can check it out on their website at faribault dot com and of course I have some behind-the-scenes tea for you! – Pam and IContinue reading ““Faribault famous””
SKP 2023: The Weirdos
August 1st, 2023 It’s August, the season finale of summer, and this month we’re talking my superhero anti-epic, The Weirdos. This story has everything: humble (and prophetic) origins, addiction, rehab, superpowers, bad words, good hearts, watercolor paper, that time I got blacklisted from every local printer, community, connection, more bad words, healing, and four peopleContinue reading “SKP 2023: The Weirdos”
The Words I Needed Then
July 31st, 2023 Today is the last day of Brushfire month, which means I can shut up about it for a little while now. I tell people that I don’t write for an audience, and that is generally true; I don’t sit down and think of a target person, their age or gender or preferencesContinue reading “The Words I Needed Then”
Brushfire Release Party 2: Electric Boogaloo!
July 30th, 2023 I had a truly amazing time yesterday at the first-ever 1850 pop-up; I just want to thank every single soul who stopped by and made my day, and a special thanks to Cori and Dane for knocking their debut event in this space out of the park. Now, if you didn’t makeContinue reading “Brushfire Release Party 2: Electric Boogaloo!”
Brushfire: We Don’t Decide Who It’s For
July 27th, 2023 The best (online) conversation I ever had about my graphic novel The Weirdos was with a fellow dad who let his 13-year-old read it. (The dad and his kid shall remain nameless out of respect for our private conversation, but they are two of the coolest cats I know.) My immediate reactionContinue reading “Brushfire: We Don’t Decide Who It’s For”
Brushfire: Definitely More (Unnecessarily More) Than You Thought It Was About
July 26th, 2023 I’ve been working on Brushfire for over half a decade, and two-thirds of it is out in the wild for people to pick up and read, yet I still have a hard time explaining to people what it’s all about. I usually mention that Brushfire itself is an underground community of wildlife,Continue reading “Brushfire: Definitely More (Unnecessarily More) Than You Thought It Was About”
Faribault High School Reunion ’23
July 15th, 2023 I had a ridiculously good time with these kids last night. We had our [loudly coughs]th high school reunion, and reunions are so stupid, which is why I love reunions so much. The further away we get from who we used to be, though, the less stupid reunions get. You get remindedContinue reading “Faribault High School Reunion ’23”
Fall Out Boy in Somerset
July 14th, 2023 We could not have asked for a better day outdoors than yesterday when we sat down on the grass in Somerset to watch my absolute favorite band, Fall Out Boy. Until a thunderstorm rolled into town and asked: “You sure about that?” After three sets under beautiful weather, cold drinks in hand,Continue reading “Fall Out Boy in Somerset”
the graetness of being human
July 10th, 2023 “Every night you make somebody’s day.” I can’t easily explain why I’m still in the restaurant business after all these years. There are the reasons I keep freely between my fingers like playing cards, displaying them when people ask me to show them a magic trick. As a writer who makes veryContinue reading “the graetness of being human”
The Den 