I’m sorry to say that the last of the three-book Bundle Packs has sold out.
Hoping to get one, but didn’t get to the store in time? There are still Two-Book Bundle Packs available. Getting the bundle pack saves you two smackers off the normal price…and saves on shipping, too!
While moving to the new Sheldon studio in February, my wife discovered a box of “A Well Balanced Meal” books.
“A Well Balanced Meal”, if you remember, was my first collection of comics, and features the first appearance of Sheldon.
We had sold out of these books a good while back…so finding a box o’books kind of took us by surprise. (Ah, the joys of clutter.)
After thinking about what to do with them, I’ve decided to keep three for myself, and offer up the rest as a bundle pack. Sheldon newsletter
readers got first crack at ’em…so now there are only 20 left.
This book will never be printed again, so if you’re interested,
pick up a bundle pack.
In one throw, you’ll own the entire three-book collection: “Pure Ducky Goodness”, “The Good, The Bad and The Pugly”, and “A Well Balanced Meal”. And if you already have one of the books, you can give the gift of Sheldon to a loved one, get on their “Awesome” list, and still pick up something cool for yourself.
These last copies of “A Well Balanced Meal” are ever-so-slightly scuffed on the binding edge, but in such manner as may not even be noticeable. All three books will be signed and dated, wrapped in collector’s plastic, and shipped with love.
An interesting note from Sheldon reader Doug regarding “dead as a doornail”:
Want to know what that phrase means? Ask your friendly neighborhood blacksmith.
I’ve been doing living history for years at a reconstructed 1820s military fort. The doors to my quarters are made from thick planks held together by cross and diagonal planks. These are secured by large square handmade nails. Doornails to be exact. The article is correct concerning the way the nails are bent. They are then actually driven back into the surface of the door (buried) so that nothing remains to catch clothing, fingers, etc. Thus the nail was referred to as dead.
Until the late 1800s nail were all handmade by blacksmiths, one at a time. So it wasn’t unusual for old nails to be salvaged, heated, straightened, and used again. But the technique used to set doornails rendered them both immobile and forever after unusable.
This information was all imparted to me by our blacksmith one day while I was watching him make nails. Ain’t history cool!
Thanks, Doug — that is pretty neat.
Also, thanks to the 58 people who e-mailed me to let me know that my *snif* long-cherished origin story for “saved by the bell” was *snif* incorrect. It’s NOT connected to the Black Plague.
“Learning! It’s not just for students anymore!”™
Growing up, my folks always encouraged us to learn by looking up any word or phrase we didn’t understand. There was always a nearby dictionary, bible, and encyclopedia at the Kellett house, ready to solve arguments over word usage or phraseology.
As I’ve aged, that’s an impulse that’s served me well. But it’s transmuted into a weird interest in word and phrase origins.
Today’s use of “dead as a doornail” got me wondering how old that phrase is. Turns out, it’s from the 14th Century! If you’re interested, here’s a good description exploring the possible origins of the phrase.
(Want another good one? Look up the origin of the phrase “saved by the bell” from the Black Plague days. That’ll leave you terrified for a while.)
You probably know by now that the original art for each day’s comic can be purchased using the blue “Buy Today’s Original Art” button under the strip.
And I’m sure you already know about the Sheldon Store where you can pick up book collections.
But today I’m trying something I haven’t done before: putting an original piece of art up on eBay…
You can check it out HERE. It’s one of the best drawings I’ve ever had with these three, and that’s no joke. It looked good in the “Pugly” book, on page 100…but the original artwork looks awesome on 12″ paper.
I’m starting the bidding at $0.01, because I’d rather leave it up to you to decide what it’s worth. But if you’re a fan of these three — and a lot of you are — check it out and drop in a bid.
You may want to read this two-week story arc from a year back, where Sheldon and Arthur go to the “Lame Sci-Fi Characters & Sidekicks Convention”.
It’s all the Sleestaks, Ewoks, Tom Bombadil, and original Cylons you could ever ask for…all standing side-by-side.
This is my favorite one from that storyline, I think.
I am really excited to be travelling up to Seattle this weekend for Emerald City Comic-Con.
I’ve already had a dozen or so folks drop me a line to say they’re coming out specifically to say hi, which is great. Were you among them? If so, we are now bestest of friends.
This convention looks like it’s going to be pretty awesome. Webcomics in the house include Sheldon, PvP, Penny Arcade, Starslip, Schlock Mercenary, Real Life, Unshelved and Evil Inc.
I’ll be in booth #306 with the Blank Label Comics guys…signing stuff, selling books and originals, and generally being Mr. Funtime Goodlaughs. [Important note, though: I’ll only be there Saturday, so make sure you come out then.]
To offer extra enticement, Sheldon original comic strips will be on sale for $25 off. So if you were thinking about getting one — now’s you’re chance. (Have a specific one you want? I’d strongly recommend
you e-mail me to make sure I bring that one with me.)
See you at Emerald City Comic-Con!
Usually, when reporters write about webcomics, it comes off as “Bang! Zoom! Comics on the Web?!?” Coming from the print world, they have no clue how people are making a living online.
But Time magazine actually wrote a fairly insightful article on the future of comic strips. Check it out
.
