Unlike the last two batches, the latest bunch of Xeric Grant winners includes several people with actual track records — including Typer Page (Stylish Vittles), Steve MacIsaac (Sticky, Prism Comics) and all of them were easily Googled. A total of $27,235 has been awarded to:
Ryan Alexander-Tanner – Television #1
Sam Gaskin – Pizza Wizard #1
Tyler Page – Nothing Better Vol. 1: No Place Like Home
Jeremy Smith – ROPEBURN
Erik Evensen – Gods of Asgard
Kevin Colden – FISHTOWN
The press release notes that Colden “serialized his comic book online just before receiving the acceptance letter from Xeric. The feedback has been great! So, he’s decided to continue posting and decline the grant money – not an easy decision – but he’s still a Xeric winner!”
Established by Peter Laird, co-creator of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Northampton, MA based foundation offers financial assistance to self-publishing comic book creators in the US and Canada and to qualified charitable and nonprofit organizations in western Massachusetts. The Foundation has awarded in excess of $1,825,000 to comic book creators and nonprofit organizations since its first grant cycle in September 1992.
The next deadline and review dates for comic book grants are July 31, 2007 and September 1, 2007, respectively. The charitable organization grants are decided annually in June and announced separately.
Good for them and good for Xeric. It’s damn hard to get on in this biz, and no one has to help anybody, but they do. I feel good every time I see new winners. I see good will in this world.