Matthew Dow Smith
@matthewdowsmith.bsky.social
Writer, artist, comic book creator. The October Girl (Book One out now and Book Two coming soon from Mad Cave/Maverick), Amelia Shadows, DC's Misfits of Magic, and others.
Literary agent: Moe Ferrara at TriadaUS.
Literary agent: Moe Ferrara at TriadaUS.
Pinned
On Shelves Now!
THE OCTOBER GIRL Book One from me and @maverickogn.bsky.social!
You can order it here: maverickcomics.com/series/the-o...
THE OCTOBER GIRL Book One from me and @maverickogn.bsky.social!
You can order it here: maverickcomics.com/series/the-o...
Reposted by Matthew Dow Smith
Mail call! I will start with October Girl Book One by @matthewdowsmith.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Mail call! I will start with October Girl Book One by @matthewdowsmith.bsky.social
A must read from one of my favorite Hollywood people, @juliebenson.bsky.social!
🚨New post is up on my (free to read) website writingandwhatnot.com - check it out!
November 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM
A must read from one of my favorite Hollywood people, @juliebenson.bsky.social!
Just a reminder that if you're going to use an online recipe this Thanksgiving, make sure you only use a recipe from a trusted source.
AI slop is taking over the search results for recipes online, so you can't trust any recipes from sources that you don't already know.
AI slop is taking over the search results for recipes online, so you can't trust any recipes from sources that you don't already know.
November 25, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Just a reminder that if you're going to use an online recipe this Thanksgiving, make sure you only use a recipe from a trusted source.
AI slop is taking over the search results for recipes online, so you can't trust any recipes from sources that you don't already know.
AI slop is taking over the search results for recipes online, so you can't trust any recipes from sources that you don't already know.
Had to write the back cover text for a graphic novel that hasn't been announced yet that I did more than a year ago and I genuinely had to go back and reread it to remember what actually happens in it.
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Had to write the back cover text for a graphic novel that hasn't been announced yet that I did more than a year ago and I genuinely had to go back and reread it to remember what actually happens in it.
Tuesday Tip: Comic book scripts are conversations between the writer and the artist (with the editor eavesdropping). The comic book grows out of that conversation. So, write your script whatever damn way you want, provided it gives the artist the information they need to bring the story to life.
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Tuesday Tip: Comic book scripts are conversations between the writer and the artist (with the editor eavesdropping). The comic book grows out of that conversation. So, write your script whatever damn way you want, provided it gives the artist the information they need to bring the story to life.
Reposted by Matthew Dow Smith
I just read this book and found it delightful. I will definitely check out further books in the series.
Personally, I'm hoping to see more of Autumn's mom.
Personally, I'm hoping to see more of Autumn's mom.
On Shelves Now!
THE OCTOBER GIRL Book One from me and @maverickogn.bsky.social!
You can order it here: maverickcomics.com/series/the-o...
THE OCTOBER GIRL Book One from me and @maverickogn.bsky.social!
You can order it here: maverickcomics.com/series/the-o...
November 25, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I just read this book and found it delightful. I will definitely check out further books in the series.
Personally, I'm hoping to see more of Autumn's mom.
Personally, I'm hoping to see more of Autumn's mom.
Wasn't sure what to do for my Patreon this week, so I guess it's the first chapter of an Amelia Shadows Christmas story...?
November 24, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Wasn't sure what to do for my Patreon this week, so I guess it's the first chapter of an Amelia Shadows Christmas story...?
Hey, if you think we should abolish copyright protections to keep huge entertainment corporations from abusing it, just wait until you see what they can get away with without any copyright protections in place at all!
November 24, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Hey, if you think we should abolish copyright protections to keep huge entertainment corporations from abusing it, just wait until you see what they can get away with without any copyright protections in place at all!
This is a whole other complicated topic, but one benefit of making comics as opposed to TV/movies is that it is much easier, cheaper, and faster to just go and make your comic.
So... just go and make your comic. Please and thank you.
So... just go and make your comic. Please and thank you.
Said with love but there is a tone deafness in the "just write your spec!" advice that seems to be totally ignored in the current climate.
It works if you're repped. If reps are taking new clients. If places are buying A LOT. If rooms are staffing unknowns/lower levels. If not? It's a platitude.
It works if you're repped. If reps are taking new clients. If places are buying A LOT. If rooms are staffing unknowns/lower levels. If not? It's a platitude.
November 24, 2025 at 5:44 PM
This is a whole other complicated topic, but one benefit of making comics as opposed to TV/movies is that it is much easier, cheaper, and faster to just go and make your comic.
So... just go and make your comic. Please and thank you.
So... just go and make your comic. Please and thank you.
Oh, good the whole book piracy discourse is back, in which a bunch of people with no money argue about whether a bunch of other people with no money deserve to get paid for their labor or not while a few billionaires hoover up all the money from everybody's labor.
Yay.
Fun.
Yay.
Fun.
November 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Oh, good the whole book piracy discourse is back, in which a bunch of people with no money argue about whether a bunch of other people with no money deserve to get paid for their labor or not while a few billionaires hoover up all the money from everybody's labor.
Yay.
Fun.
Yay.
Fun.
Making Comics Monday: Step-by-step process for a page from the final chapter of TRUTHS & VISITATIONS: An October Girl Story, now up on my Patreon — www.patreon.com/matthewdowsmith
Layouts
Roughs
Inks
Colors
#TheOctoberGirl
#PatreonComics
#YAComics
Layouts
Roughs
Inks
Colors
#TheOctoberGirl
#PatreonComics
#YAComics
November 24, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Making Comics Monday: Step-by-step process for a page from the final chapter of TRUTHS & VISITATIONS: An October Girl Story, now up on my Patreon — www.patreon.com/matthewdowsmith
Layouts
Roughs
Inks
Colors
#TheOctoberGirl
#PatreonComics
#YAComics
Layouts
Roughs
Inks
Colors
#TheOctoberGirl
#PatreonComics
#YAComics
There has never been anyone like him before and there will never be anyone like him again.
Truly one of a kind.
#RIP
Truly one of a kind.
#RIP
Udo Kier, German Actor Who Appeared in ‘My Own Private Idaho,’ ‘Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein,’ Dies at 81
Udo Kier, a German actor who collaborated with everyone from Andy Warhol to Lars von Trier to Madonna, died on Sunday morning. He was 81.
variety.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:06 AM
There has never been anyone like him before and there will never be anyone like him again.
Truly one of a kind.
#RIP
Truly one of a kind.
#RIP
Happy Doctor Who Day!
November 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Happy Doctor Who Day!
In 50 years time, will people be writing fictionalized versions of @stephenking.bsky.social battling Pennywise, the way so many people write stories about H.P. Lovecraft encountering the Old Gods?
November 22, 2025 at 1:34 PM
In 50 years time, will people be writing fictionalized versions of @stephenking.bsky.social battling Pennywise, the way so many people write stories about H.P. Lovecraft encountering the Old Gods?
The comic book business can be brutal and chaotic, but it's also a place where the creators you idolized when you were a kid can become your close friends when you're older.
And that's just really freaking cool.
And that's just really freaking cool.
November 21, 2025 at 10:11 PM
The comic book business can be brutal and chaotic, but it's also a place where the creators you idolized when you were a kid can become your close friends when you're older.
And that's just really freaking cool.
And that's just really freaking cool.
New Comic Book Friday: The third (and final) part of the OCTOBER GIRL tie-in story I've been serializing on my Patreon, Truths & Visitations, is now up for all of my paid subscribers!
#TheOctoberGirl
#MakingComics
#PatreonComics
#TheOctoberGirl
#MakingComics
#PatreonComics
Truths & Visitations part 3 | Matthew Dow Smith
Get more from Matthew Dow Smith on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:03 PM
New Comic Book Friday: The third (and final) part of the OCTOBER GIRL tie-in story I've been serializing on my Patreon, Truths & Visitations, is now up for all of my paid subscribers!
#TheOctoberGirl
#MakingComics
#PatreonComics
#TheOctoberGirl
#MakingComics
#PatreonComics
One of the nicest things about my class of creators who all broke into the industry around the same time through Caliber Comics in the early 90s is that a lot of us are still incredibly supportive and friendly with each other.
We don't have a secret handshake or anything, though.
We don't have a secret handshake or anything, though.
November 20, 2025 at 7:32 PM
One of the nicest things about my class of creators who all broke into the industry around the same time through Caliber Comics in the early 90s is that a lot of us are still incredibly supportive and friendly with each other.
We don't have a secret handshake or anything, though.
We don't have a secret handshake or anything, though.
Some advice from a couple of years ago that I still think most creative people need to hear --
November 20, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Some advice from a couple of years ago that I still think most creative people need to hear --
One of the cruelest tricks society played on creative people was planting the idea that being proud of your work is somehow unseemly and egotistical.
You made a thing! You like it! You SHOULD be proud of it. Brag all you want!
You made a thing! You like it! You SHOULD be proud of it. Brag all you want!
November 20, 2025 at 12:54 AM
One of the cruelest tricks society played on creative people was planting the idea that being proud of your work is somehow unseemly and egotistical.
You made a thing! You like it! You SHOULD be proud of it. Brag all you want!
You made a thing! You like it! You SHOULD be proud of it. Brag all you want!
Hands down my favorite 'About The Author' I've ever gotten to write.
(It's for a thing we'll be announcing here pretty soon.)
(It's for a thing we'll be announcing here pretty soon.)
November 19, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Hands down my favorite 'About The Author' I've ever gotten to write.
(It's for a thing we'll be announcing here pretty soon.)
(It's for a thing we'll be announcing here pretty soon.)
Hey! Hollywood!! Make this happen!!!
I'll work on anything, give it my absolute all, but please, please can I work on a girl-centric drama or fantasy, please? I've worked so hard. It would be so nice to get to work on something like this, just once. Or forever would be nice. Hit me up if you're hiring directors or storyboard artists.
November 19, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Hey! Hollywood!! Make this happen!!!
Sketchbook: Amelia Shadows, the not kids version
For some reason I had the urge to draw the original adult version of Amelia this morning, so... you know... here you go!
For some reason I had the urge to draw the original adult version of Amelia this morning, so... you know... here you go!
November 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Sketchbook: Amelia Shadows, the not kids version
For some reason I had the urge to draw the original adult version of Amelia this morning, so... you know... here you go!
For some reason I had the urge to draw the original adult version of Amelia this morning, so... you know... here you go!
Reposted by Matthew Dow Smith
If you haven’t already picked it up, I recommend adding @matthewdowsmith.bsky.social’s The October Girl – Book One to your autumnal reads. It’s a fantasy-world-existing-alongside-our-own tale with an art style that’s honed to its simplest shapes. @madcavestudios.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:12 AM
If you haven’t already picked it up, I recommend adding @matthewdowsmith.bsky.social’s The October Girl – Book One to your autumnal reads. It’s a fantasy-world-existing-alongside-our-own tale with an art style that’s honed to its simplest shapes. @madcavestudios.com
You know, just when I thought I couldn't be any happier about how THE OCTOBER GIRL Book One has gone over with people, I see this...
All of Edmonton Public Library's copies are out and 4 people are waiting to read it and it just makes me absurdly happy.
All of Edmonton Public Library's copies are out and 4 people are waiting to read it and it just makes me absurdly happy.
November 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
You know, just when I thought I couldn't be any happier about how THE OCTOBER GIRL Book One has gone over with people, I see this...
All of Edmonton Public Library's copies are out and 4 people are waiting to read it and it just makes me absurdly happy.
All of Edmonton Public Library's copies are out and 4 people are waiting to read it and it just makes me absurdly happy.
Reposted by Matthew Dow Smith
Big thanks to Matthew for checking out our latest episode. 🙂 Like we mention during the DR. FATE chat in the first third of the ep, we absolutely encourage everyone to check out DC'S MISFITS OF MAGIC (and go pick up THE OCTOBER GIRL too)!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/782939...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/782939...
November 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Big thanks to Matthew for checking out our latest episode. 🙂 Like we mention during the DR. FATE chat in the first third of the ep, we absolutely encourage everyone to check out DC'S MISFITS OF MAGIC (and go pick up THE OCTOBER GIRL too)!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/782939...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/782939...