Stephan Pastis's Blog, page 19

One Final Batch of Signed Books

I've signed one final batch of books (and drawn a character in each).  For info on getting one, click HERE.

Animated Stephan

You know your friends have too much time on their hands when they start making animated shows about you.

In this case, the friend is Mark Tatulli, creator of the comic strip "Lio." And he has made me the star of my own animated series.

In less than one day, he has produced four separate installments.  At this rate, he'll have 1,200 by year-end.

My character appears to have a singular obsession, which I'll let you see for yourself.  I'd object, but it's so accurate, I can only cry.

To see all...

Signed Books, But Call Soon

Alright, I just signed a lot of the newest book (50,000,000 Pearls Fans Can't Be Wrong) at my local Copperfield's Bookstore here in Santa Rosa. And once again, I drew a character in each one. I believe they ship anywhere in the US and Canada. As always, they tend to go quick, so if you want one, you might want to call now. (707) 578-8938.

Letters, We Get Letters

I got this email recently. Well, I got it in December, but I'm just now getting to December's email, so for me it's recently.

Anyways, here's what it said:

From: (Name deleted)


.

I don't know what it says about me, but I love these emails. Why? Because it gives me a chance to send this:

"Dear ________,
Thank you for your kind words about Pearls. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming...

More Signed Books (While They Last)

I just signed a whole bunch of new books at my local bookstore and drew a character in each.

For info. on ordering, just click HERE.

A Brief, Little Opinion

You can't make snap judgments about people based on their race, religion or ethnicity.

That leaves clothing.

So here goes.

Families that all dress alike for family photos are bonkers.

Help Me Lie to the Tree-Huggers

I guess today is Earth Day.  Didn't know that.

As it turns out, a fair number of cartoonists did know that and incorporated it into their comic, like

So now I'm getting emails asking me why MY strip makes no reference to Earth Day.  Like I'm some guy pouring oil on seagulls and chopping down redwoods so  they fall squarely on baby seals.

So please, help out and give me an explanation for how today's strip is actually promoting...

How I Lived To Today

When I was in grade school, we had these things called "Civil Defense" drills.

The stated purpose of these drills was to prepare us in case of an attack by another country.

The implicit purpose, as we all knew, was to prepare ourselves in the event of a nuclear attack by the Soviet Union.

I don't blame the school for conducting the drills.  It was, after all, the mid-1970's, a mere decade or so removed from the Cuban Missile Crisis that almost ended the world.

Looking back on it, though, I do...

Rat is an Ass, and Now He's On One

The waterlogged, burned and ripped copy of the latest Pearls book, 50,000,000 Pearls Fans Can't Be Wrong (plus, maybe one copy in slightly better condition) is on its way to this extraordinarily dedicated Pearls fan who will now have a Rat on her backside forever more.

She has clearly raised the bar on what it takes to win a waterlogged Pearls book, and more than any other Pearls fan, has best exemplified the meaning of giving a Rat's ass.

Thus, I present the coolest Pearls tattoo to date.

So...

On Tables That Move and Maturity That Stays Stagnant

I'm at a restaurant in Florida with my friend Emilio when the whole table moves.  I look down.

It's on wheels.  As are the chairs.  They all move back and forth together on a little track.

I ask the waitress, "Doesn't this make people's drinks fall over?"

"All the time," she says, "I had one guy last week who knocked his drink over three times."

I look at the stuff on our table to see if the items are at least plastic.  They're not.  Both the salt and pepper shakers are glass.

"Once," she says...