​June 17, 2007. We are celebrating ten years!

In 2006 I was introduced to the local newspaper's comics page, which at the time was much large than it is now, sadly. I often copied or mimicked these strips, or used their titles but with my own "artwork". In 2007, after getting a dog named Casey, I made the first ever T&C strip. Though, ironically, Tanner the character was not around back then, Jonny, Molly, and Casey held spotlight.

Tanner and Casey was influenced by my local comics page, as I stated above, which I used to lay out on the floor and read. It's beginnings really stemmed from For Better or For Worse (another Canadian strip), Garfield (my father owned so many books of the fat cat, which I have stolen!), and sometimes Peanuts. Bizarro cannot be left out as well. There were so many greats!! The island I grew up on for eleven years influenced backgrounds a lot, especially if they deal with nature or the sea. In terms of downtown city settings, I contribute that to Fredericton, NB.

Traditionally, I draw with a graphite HB #2 pencil, lightly. This can be either Generals or Studio. Then I ink with a fine point Sharpie pen (it used to be medium point) and a Studio gel pen. I letter with the Sharpie and sometimes a brush (2015) for bold letters. I colour and format and add taglines in Photoshop. I use certain colours that I preset in swatches to maintain consistency. I just draw on regular paper and not Bristol board; I'm accustomed to it. However, that being said, I am currently drawing on a digital tablet (see recent strips). I have used different tablets over the past couple of years, but currently use the Wacom One! Promotional drawings and select comic book stories will for sure still be drawn the old-fashioned way. No worries there!

During the "early days" (so, December 2013 until December 2018), save for the PEI story-line and those surrounding it, all of the strips were completely lettered by hand using a Sharpie pen. Unlike most comics, no rulers or guides were used in order to give the text character. Starting with our digital era in 2018 when I switched everything over to Photoshop and a drawing tablet, I experimented with a few personalised fonts. One was "TC New," which I used a lot in 2019 and 2020. Finally I settled on the one you see today, a font based on my lettering style called "Riches." You can't find this anywhere, only I have it. (Sorry.)

In the not-so-humble beginnings, my characters looked like a mix between a stick figure and standard-looking drawing. Sort of. Funny enough, the interior backgrounds were similar to how they are today, only with cracked walls. The characters' hair and noses were single straight lines. Later, in 2011, I reformed their look to that almost of how they're drawn today, only with outrageously long noses. The relaunch of 2013 through today has shown the constant evolution of the characters as I update my style and quality. Important instances: Molly II became Sandie in 2016. Molly's looks changed in 2014. The personalities are similar. At some point, Tanner's hair got longer (as it did in real life). And whatever happened to Billy?

In terms of the strip, I usually do everything! Story, layout, pencils, inks, letters, colours, distribution. Ken Riche helped write a few in 2017 (see Ken + my name) and was my main editor who still occasionally approves the art/gag and checks for grammar. Chad Coburn is my current comic editor who oversees basically everything from art and gag approval to overall design. Janie is my co-editor who I see if Ken or Chad aren't around. She has also drawn the background once or twice. For the books? EVERYTHING! Chad and Janie will proofread, but that's that. I lay it out, format it, do the graphics, text, colours, taglines, extra art, marketing. If you see it in the book, even the minimalist of things, I've made it.* Even the ads! As for the time it takes: simple strips take 3 hours from start to finish, while detailed strips take up to four. On good days this time is decreased. Books can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to compile, edit, format, print, launch, etc. *save for the interior cover drawing of Casey in T&C: 10 Years Strong, which was fan art and credited.

I, myself, am Canadian. Though, funnily enough, I originally had Tanner and Casey set in New York city. Why? Perhaps where I lived close to Maine until 2011, and my home island was submersed in U.S. politics. Perhaps NYC dominates media, especially with Trump. Casey, in fact, was originally from the southern States, and I imagined her with a southern accent. Later, I moved them to St. George, the mainland of my home island. But, the island's name appeared once or twice, as well as, still, an American town's name. They are in Canada today! I am working on creating a fake town.

Tanner and Casey has appeared in books and newspapers, and it's been talked about on TV and the radio. You can find the newspaper version of some strips here on the website - simple colours and format. Sometimes newspaper strips would be custom made to suit a public service message carried out by said paper or a holiday, but only occasionally.