It's time to plan your summer getaway . . .

Consider a stay with the Hocus Pocus Hotel.

Happy Anniversary to My Library!

I love all libraries, but the one I love most resides in Saint Peter, Minnesota. It is a beautiful facility with fireplaces and comfy reading chairs. And this library has a story of its own. It was built after a devastating tornado in 1998 destroyed the existing one, along with 2,000 homes and 17,000 trees.

I moved to Saint Peter in 2002, the same year the library opened. When I first visited the library, I had no idea what it meant to people who had lived through the tornado. I simply saw a big open space filled with books, a train table for my toddler to play at, a rocking chair where we could read. It was the most beautiful library I had ever checked out books from.

Yesterday, the library celebrated its 10^th anniversary, and I was honored to take part in a pair of author events and my favorite: a pajama story time. I was able to discuss the craft of writing and the business of publishing with avid readers, educators, and fellow authors. Then I headed over to the children’s area to read about a naughty cat and a sneaky raccoon.

The library was filled with readers munching on popcorn and eating red velvet cake. It was as happy a scene as I’ve ever seen. Forget Disneyworld: The happiest place on Earth for me is anywhere with lots of books and lots of library lovers!

The first time we visited this library, my son couldn't even walk.
Now he rides his bike there by himself and the
librarians refer to him as one of the library rats. 

Happy anniversary, St. Peter Public Library! I’m so glad to call you mine. 

We're flying high after our first Free Comic Book Day!

Superheroes of all types and sizes were out in full force on Saturday, in honor of FCBD.

What’s that up in the sky? A bird? A plane? No, it’s Capstone on Free Comic Book Day.

As many of you already know, Free Comic Book Day this past Saturday was a soaring success. It was the first time Capstone participated in FCBD, and it has garnered us rave reviews (from hard-to-please fans and websites) and glowing praise. Paste, an online and print magazine on everything pop culture summed it up:

“It’s depressing that an educational publisher makes kid-targeted superhero comics that are smarter, funnier and better than anything Marvel or DC are doing in the same sphere."

Smarter and funnier! What’s even better -- this innovative new project has paid for itself. We gave away nearly 25,000 comics in bookstores and comic stores across the country. It was part of a special grab bag for kids or was a giveaway for any fan who walked in the door.  

Two young readers with their grab bags of fun!

It took lots of people to achieve liftoff. From being spearheaded by Donnie Lemke and Bob Lentz, our own comic book nerd savants, to Ashley Andersen Zantop’s push when we needed it most, to Paul von Drasek, Shannon Zigmund, Jennifer Glidden and Heather Kindseth, it takes a village, and this village was sweating, planning, phoning, emailing, writing, designing and editing up to the final countdown.

Art Director Bob Lentz happy to experience FCBD, complete with his Rockhead/Zinc Alloy issue. 

We were even shown on the Today show! And on the MSNBC website. When they needed an image to show what FCBD and comics for young readers was all about, they featured our glossy Rockhead/Zinc Alloy cover. Two super heroes for the price of none.

At Capstone, one of our exceptional goals is to meet young readers where they live. And with the amazing success of FCBD, we have done just that. After the weekend, one fan told us that his friend’s four-year old son loved our comic. In fact, after the dad read it out loud, the boy turned to him and said, “Dad, comics are awesome."

Mission accomplished. For now. Our Capstone comics team is already geared up for next year, and is currently following up the giveaway comic with paperback trade editions of Rockhead and Zinc for those fans who got a taste on Saturday. Things never slow down here at Capstone. It’s just too awesome to stop. Up, up, and away!

Look at the crowd at The Source Comics and Games in Roseville, MN!

Editorial Director Michael Dahl, lifelong comic-book lover

Michael Dahl, Editorial Director
Capstone Fiction

24 Hours and Counting . . .

Tomorrow, more than 3.5 MILLION comics will be given away in North America and Great Britain. It’s FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!! If you haven’t heard, FCBD takes place the first Saturday in May each year (5/5/12), and thousands of comic book shops give away special, limited-edition comics from today’s top publishers. . .for FREE! This year, Capstone is proud to take part with our 2012 Silver entry . . . THE ROCKHEAD & ZINC ALLOY 2-FOR-NONE!

You seriously can’t miss the super spectacular FREE-VIEW! Inside, you’ll find two awesome adventures (for the price of NONE!), and you’ll get the DL on our brand new CREATE-YOUR-OWN-COMIC CONTEST (guaranteed those kiddos off the couch and into their desks)!

But if you simply can’t wait until tomorrow, visit our website. There you’ll find more information about these characters, this contest, FCBD, and a totally rad trailer for your viewing pleasure!

So by now, you’re totally stoked about this fun-filled event, right? Then to find participating comic shops, visit the FCBD website, type in your zip code, and plan your route carefully because tomorrow...IT'S ON!


Donnie Lemke, Managing Editor 

A REALLY Young Reader...

This young reader already has wonderful taste in books, 

and he isn't even four months old yet!

I recently spotted this little guy on a friend's Facebook page. Check out what he's reading! It's Hippo Says Excuse Me, by Michael Dahl. If you haven't seen this book yet, rush and find yourself a copy. It is adorable . . . almost as adorable as the little reader.