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Apologies for the delay and brevity on the blog this month – end of June and start of July is one of the busiest parts of the year for me during my day-to-day stuff, so I haven’t had the chance to get much prepared for this post.

It’s fair to say, we loved seeing the sharing of so much LGBT+ positive work last month, and we’re very happy for that to continue – this community is a celebration of diversity, and that’s isn’t limited to a single month. Pride may be over, but the furry community will never stop being queer.

There are a couple of anthology deadlines coming up soon – one at the start of August and one towards the end. If you’re eyeing up these submission windows, then you’re running short of time to get your stories polished!

Furry Femdom Erotica – Deadline August 1st 2024
F/F Non Erotic Anthology – Deadline August 31st 2024
Isekai Me! – Deadline August 31st 2024
Spirit of the Wolf – Deadline March 31st 2025
Indecent Exposure – Deadline When Full
This Is Halloween – Deadline When Full
Children Of The Night – Deadline When Full
Furry/Lovecraftian/Erotic/University Themed Anthology – Deadline When Full
Beyond Their Pale – Deadline When Full

Anthrocon always sees a lot of new books coming out, and this year has been no different!

Sun Runner, by Frances Pauli. Released May 30th.
Squeak Thief, by Kyell Gold. Released July 2024.
The Heavens Within Our Grasp, edited by Maddison Scott-Clary, featuring stories by multiple FWG Members. Released July 1st 2024.
Far Flung, by Utunu. Released July 3rd 2024.
The Eternal Party, by DarkEnd. Released July 4th 2024.
Therianthropic Dreams, by NightEyes DaySpring. Available for pre-orders. Released July 15th 2024.
Legend of Ahya: Broken Empires, by Matthew Colvath. Available for pre-orders. Released October 2nd 2024.

I hope to have a lot more for you next month, with hopefully a bit more time to put aside for some guild plans.

Until then. Stay safe and happy writing.
J.F.R. Coates

Another graphic novel for young readers that we stumbled across: Clementine Fox and the Great Island Adventure, written and illustrated by Leigh Luna. “Clementine is supposed to be on her way to school… but why not go out for a day of adventure and exploration instead? She recruits her friends Nubbins Squirrel and Penelope Rabbit and heads to the beach, where Jesse Otter is preparing to take his giant Turtle, Annabella, to a mysterious local island. Clementine’s great-aunt Marnie lives there — far away from math tests and tutors — so Clementine and her friends hitch a ride to the island as stowaways. What could go wrong?” Check out the preview pages over at Books of Wonder.

image c. 2024 Graphix

Anthrocon 参与者在匹兹堡酒店遭剑砍伤 涉嫌男子待预审

This one has been sitting on our to-write-about list for a while — ’bout time we got around to it! The Dog Knight is a graphic novel written by Jeremy Whitley (well-known for their involvement with various My Little Pony comics) and illustrated by Bre Indigo.  “Frankie knows who they are. They’re a drummer, they’re nonbinary, and they’re… the Dog Knight? One day Frankie is a relatively normal middle schooler, with relatively normal challenges, like finding the perfect outfit to wear during their drum solo during the upcoming band concert. The next, they save a friendly golden retriever from bullies and suddenly find themselves in a giant magical doghouse, with a funny looking helmet, talking to a group of dog superheroes called the Pawtheon about a job offer. If Frankie can prove that they possess the six dog virtues of loyalty, kindness, honesty, justice, stubbornness, and smell, they will be named the Dog Knight and be given the power to fight alongside the Pawtheon and save the world from the forces of chaos. Maybe there is more to Frankie than they thought?” Look for it now from the Feiwel & Friends imprint at MacMillan Publishers.

image c. 2024 MacMillan Publishers

It’s no secret that many of us, myself included, grew up watching The Angry Video Game Nerd on YouTube. Created by James Rolfe and Mike Matei, the series is still going strong and still has fans excited for the future, even though I will personally admit that his recent episodes weren’t the best. So, like all long-running franchises, you know there’ll be merchandise and, today, I want to focus on the video games, in particular ‘The Angry Video Game Nerd I-II Deluxe’, which combines both ‘The Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures’ and ‘The Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures 2: ASSimilation’ into one package, along with a third game ‘The Angry Video Game Nerd in Tower Of Torment: The Final Chapter’. Is this package worth your money or should you spend your money elsewhere (Couldn’t think of a good AVGN quote, sorry!)

Centaurs is a manga series from Ablaze that we recently stumbled across, written and illustrated by Ryo Sumiyoshi. “An epic fantasy adventure set in an alternate medieval Japan, where humans co-exist with the mythic half man/half horse beasts known as centaurs, or “jinba”. The centaur race were long revered as deities in ancient times; however, with the advent of the sengoku (warring states) period, humans started to enslave and use them for military purposes due to their speed, stamina, and ability to communicate in human language. Centaurs living in the plains were rapidly subjugated; in contrast, large numbers of centaurs living deep in the mountains were still free due to their relative isolation.” See what happens when one of them is captured — and now he’s determined to escape back to his mountain home.

image c. 2024 Ablaze Manga

Navigate mysteries, aid others, solve crimes, and dodge pursuits in a serene Victorian-inspired world inhabited by cute puppies in CottonGame's upcoming hand-drawn puzzle adventure, Sunset Hills. The Kickstarter campaign for the first 2 of 5 chapters has launched and is well on its way to being full funded! Keep reading to find out a bit more info about the game straight from the campaign details, or go and wishlist the game on Steam! Check out CottonGame's other published indie titles on their website.

Sunset Hills is a story set in the early 19th century in a fictional world. Nico, the protagonist, is a veteran who adopts a writing career after the war

7 years later, Nico publishes his first novel. Carrying a copy and a notebook with him, Nico starts traveling around the world by train, to seek his old comrades.

During his journey, Nico gets to meet all kinds of people, witness all kinds of things, run into all kinds of troubles, and solve all kinds of problems by all kinds of means. With all these experiences Nico begins to recall his old memories of the war piece by piece. Eventually the player will see the true intention of Nico's journey.

Mantazine 作为东南亚首本兽迷杂志亮相

I have a little bit of a special history with the Turok games as the first two were some of the earliest games I reviewed when I used to work at an online radio station called The Cove Radio. I knew there was a third game from old Nintendo Power articles but, at the time, there was no way to play the game outside of buying a used copy for the N64 or emulating it. However, thanks to the wizards at NightDive Studios, the game has been fully remastered and is available on all next-gen consoles and, for the first time, PC. Was it worth the wait? Well, outside of a few issues I have, this is honestly my favorite of the trilogy*.

From Dark Horse comes Lonesome Hunters: The Wolf Child, a “supernatural fantasy” comic mini-series. “Monster hunters Howard and Lupe are on their way to get rid of a powerful sword, but car trouble leaves them stranded in a small town that is being terrorized by a magical wolf and a mysterious child in a wolf mask. While waiting for car repairs, Lupe befriends the child, and she and Howard are drawn into a war between the townspeople and the deadly beasts.” Written and illustrated by Tyler Crook (Harry County).

image c. 2024 Dark Horse Comics

Jak and Daxter are back in the hit sequel Jak II (Jak II Renegade in Europe!) The series returns to its roots with Platforming, collecting, and puzzles all while adding new aspects like gunplay, dark powers, and a sweet new hoverboard! Our heroic duo must once again save the world, this time against a dark metalhead force! There is one thing I need to know, and that is where can I get a crocodog plushie?

(Read Valraven's Review of the first game in the series, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, here!)

Arrgh avast ye mateys! There be treasure in this game. The latest in The Gentlebros series of cat based adventure games, Cat Quest III has players set sail across the Purribean in an honestly fun and immensely cute pirate themed tale.

The premise is that you are a seeker, a cat with a magic star shaped fur spot and under the guidance of the disembodied ghost cat head Captain Cappey, you set off on an adventure to find the North Star. A magical object said to grant wishes that was hidden by the seekers long ago.

Edenfall: Legacy of the First Wardens is an atmospheric action-adventure with an intricate story combining exploration as human and three different animals, solving puzzles and combat.

Edenfall is set in the world of Eden, a realm high above the clouds and long forgotten by any human being. After a strange dream Venya - a young woman - wakes up in a beautiful, yet strange land just to find that she is completely alone. Soon she will meet Alkina - a spirit fox - who tells her about the great threat Eden is facing. Together they untangle the long forgotten story behind this lands, find their inner peace and restore beauty and peace in Eden.

With the success of Crash Bandicoot: N-Sane Trilogy, Activision is taking us back to the tracks with the long-awaited remastering of Crash Team Racing with Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled and this is easily, without a doubt, one of the best kart racers.

I love Star Wars. I loved the movies, including Last Jedi, the shows, and, especially, the games. I remember all the times I spent playing the original Star Wars on NES, flying X-Wings in Rogue Squadron, being scared out of my wits in Shadows Of The Empire (No joke, the wampas in that game scared me as a youngling) and, the subject of today’s review, fighting Dark Troopers in Star Wars: Dark Forces. The very first Star Wars FPS, the game has now been remastered by the amazing team at NightDive Studios and, once again, it’s another excellent remastering.

We missed this science fiction graphic novel series, and now they’re already up to volume two! But let’s talk about Eve, written by Victor LaValle and illustrated by Jo Mi-Gyeong (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance). “When the ice caps melted, most of humanity was lost to the hidden disease that was released. Now, a mysterious girl named Eve has awoken in secret and must deal with a world that’s nothing like the virtual reality she was raised in. In order to save her father and accompanied only by Wexler, her robotic caretaker and protector sheathed in her favorite teddy bear, Eve must embark on a deadly quest across the country. Along the way, she will have to contend not only with the threats of a very real world that await her, but the lies we tell our children in the name of protecting them.” That’s a lot for one teddy bear to handle! Check out this and more volumes over at Simon & Schuster.

image c. 2024 BOOM! Studios

Pipsqueak! is a Metroidvania starring Tofu, a small mouse exploring a strange and hostile world.

Uncover the truth of this expansive labyrinth through exploration, discovery, combat, and platforming challenges. Bring hope to this dying land and its tiny inhabitants in this grand adventure of mouse-sized proportions!

Pipsqueak is already above its funding goal and has lots of exciting stretch goals to reach for! Support the campaign here!

Time once again to highlight some of the latest and greatest deals on Steam, and today publisher Bandai Namco is having a sale on some of their most noteworthy titles.

Furry relevant games include:

• Digimon Story Cybersleuth Complete Edition - Become a Cyber sleuth in an increasingly digital world when an accident leaves you with more questions than answers. Or become a hacker in Hacker’s Memory. $9.99($49.99)
• Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered - Embark on a magical journey with wondrous creatures in this fantasy RPG with an artstyle inspired by Studio Ghibli. $7.49($49.99)
• Klonoa Fantasy Reverie Series - Play as the furry hero Klonoa in this sidecrolling action series. Fantasy Reverie includes both Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunateas Veil. $9.99($39.99)
• Doraemon Story of Seasons: Friends of the Great Kingdom - Harvest crops and tend to your farm in this cute farming sim. Work with your friends to overcome obstacles. $34.99($49.99)
• Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom - Form your own kingdom and defend it against the sinister forces at work. Prince’s Edition: $11.99($78.98)
• Sandland - Played by our very own Valraven for an UWRP a few weeks ago, step into the sand filled shoes of the fiend prince Beezlebub and lead a mostly band in search of a legendary spring in this magical world created by Akira Toriyama. $39.59($59.99)
• Digimon Survive - Craft your story in this visual novel/rpg hybrid as you get lost in a mysterious world filled with dangerous creatures. $14.99($59.99)

And many more, including several anime titles. Be sure to check out the full event on Steam for some really good deals and act fast! Many of these sales end June 27 

For members who completed an RSVP

Photo by Heather

The San Francisco Pride Parade is Sunday, June 30, 2024 — General info at SFpride.org

The biggest outdoor furry event of the year is back for Northern California. Don’t miss this huge party and statement of progress for LGBT people and allies. ABC7 will broadcast the parade to watch from home, while hundreds of thousands of people line the street from 10:30 a.m. until late afternoon.

The NorCal Furries will march on Market Street, for a mile to the end near the Celebration area at Civic Center. Over 200 are expected to come and be loved more than ever, after being shortlisted for a Best Contingent award last year. They have been in the parade for over 20 years (see the Pride tag). This year they have an after-party at their own club for the first time. Here’s how to participate!

JOINING THE GROUP — RSVP here

If you don’t RSVP, you can’t be guaranteed a spot and may be turned away, so join now!

• Telegram event chat group: The live connection to everyone and best place to get help.
• Telegram off-topic chat group: For talk that isn’t crucial for the event.
• Donations are still accepted: Help pay for the float, because volunteers work hard to make this.
• Volunteers are still welcome (message a group mod).

PRE-PREP AND AFTER-PARTY at Spritz! 181 Eddy Street — RSVP here, must be 21+

Spritz! is 21+ by law, so bring ID for checking at the door. The club is a short walk from Powell BART. You can meet and suit up before proceeding to the start of the parade, and meet afterward to desuit, eat, drink, relax and party. There will be DJ’s, food, drinks, chill space and play space.

• At 9 – 10:30am, you can change clothes and get breakfast before leaving for parade assembly. You can leave personal items and pick up after the parade.
• At 5 – 11pm, dinner is provided at the after-party, and you don’t have to be in the parade to come.
• Donations and volunteering are welcome, message @RelayRaccoon on Telegram.

from Callie Cat

PREPARATION AND GETTING AROUND — Map of parade route and meet spots

This is a high-energy moving event. It requires walking several miles and self-reliance to get around the city. There are 200 members but only 30 spaces on the float, so be ready to walk unless you have a mobility challenge (contact a mod for a rider space). Know your limits and don’t overheat, but expect mild weather. Hydration will be provided. The only bathrooms are portapotties with long lines. Dress right, bring sunscreen or snacks as needed, and a charged phone. Don’t bring anything you can’t carry, cargo items may be turned away.

Know the map and schedule for the full day:

• Streets will be gridlocked with traffic before the parade, so don’t expect parking or rideshare near it.
• It’s smart to ride BART. See the BART info page about their Sunday schedule and tips for Riding With Pride.
• You can start at Spritz! for breakfast and changing, or just start at the parade assembly.
• Parade assembly is a mile from Spritz! and public transit is the best way to get there.
• Give yourself a lot of extra time to get there, because the parade won’t wait, and latecomers get left behind. Don’t cut it close!
• At the end of the parade, marchers split away from the float, and will need to go several blocks through crowds to regroup.
• Regroup (if you want water and a break): Quaker Meeting House, 65 9th St.
• Go with others or get yourself back to Spritz! Any BART station lets you cross Market when the street is closed.

Read on for details by hour.

PARADE ASSEMBLY — Use 155 Main Street for directions, marchers arrive no later than NOON and volunteers by 11 am.

Find assembly area N2 for contingent #132, on Main between Mission and Howard. The float will be there very early, so you can arrive as soon as 8am.

• Coming by car: No cars or dropoff allowed at the assembly. You may find garage space if you’re very early (by 8am) and plan to get breakfast.
• Using BART: travel to Embarcadero station. The south central exit is closest to the assembly.
• There may be hours to wait, but expect to hang out and don’t plan anything except leaving this time open for parade step-off.
• Again, if you arrive later than noon, you may be left behind, don’t cut it close!

COSTUME AND FURSUITING — No hard bins, soft folding bags only at parade.

Fursuiting isn’t required, wear any themed clothing, but for suiters:

• NO HARD BINS at parade, they will be turned away, only soft folding bags will be carried, pack light and avoid bringing extra cargo.
• Suiting on public transit has been fun for many members, and coming in suit is smart.
• Change at Spritz! or you can also change at a parking garage or right on the street (nobody cares at Pride.)
• Consider partialing for comfort, and expect rough streets, don’t wear soft indoor feet.
• Is your costume not safe for TV broadcast? Contact a group mod to discuss and make arrangements.

PHOTOS — Group photo at noon.

Be photo-ready if costuming, and stay alert to assemble because the crowd will be chaotic.

• We want photographers, and if you plan to do photos or video, please tell us and share afterward.
• Join this Telegram channel to collect photos and ask @patchofurr to give you posting power.
• Hashtags for social media: #Norcalfurries, #Furrypride, #SFPride.

WHAT TO DO IN THE PARADE – Show your Pride and stay safe.

When the float starts moving, it won’t stop, and monitors will stop anyone from going on or off. Keep marching pace and listen to the monitors. Monitors please be on the job! It’s about a mile long route that takes an hour.

• While marching, be alert about where the float is. Try not to bunch up as a group, leave gaps or be too distant. The front-facing banner is how watchers see the group first, but going up to the side crowd barriers is good too. Use the whole street between the float and crowds on both sides. Dance, pose, give hugs and high fives. Wave at the TV cameras placed early in the route.
• End at 8th and Market, but don’t follow the float. Marchers continue walking forward towards Civic Center, then loop around for a few blocks to regroup at Quaker Meeting House, 65 9th St.
• You can rest at Quaker Meeting House until 5. Spritz! has dinner at 5 but you may go there right away. Make sure to pick up personal items before leaving.
• Crowds have usual risks, see this street safety page. No glass bottles allowed. For continuing to the festival at Civic Center, bags and many other things are restricted, see the SF Pride security info page.

NEED HELP ON SUNDAY? 

Volunteers will be hard-pressed, so please contact them only for emergencies after using net search, the Telegram group and other members for advice. Contacts: @Zorenmanray, @Patchofurr, @Mr_Disk0, @Superjayhawk, @DidgeDingo, @RelayRaccoon.

SEE YOU THERE! Special thanks to all above organizers and Spottacus for helping make this possible. Art for banners by Kado Husky.

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Otis & Peanut is a new graphic novel for young readers, written by Naseem Hrab and illustrated by Kelly Collier. “A long-haired guinea pig and a naked mole rat may seem like unlikely friends, but Otis and Peanut are a perfect pair! In three stories told in graphic-novel form, Otis and Peanut explore themes of loss, fear of change, and cooperation, while demonstrating what it means to be a supportive and caring friend.” Look for it in hardcover from Owlkids.

image c. 2024 Owlkids