Author Archives: Alex Simmons Says

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About Alex Simmons Says

Alex Simmons is an award-winning freelance writer, comic book creator, playwright, teaching artist, and educational consultant. He’s written for Disney Books, Penguin Press, Simon and Schuster, Marvel, DC, and Archie Comics. Simmons is the creator of the acclaimed adventure comic book series, Blackjack. As a teaching artist, Simmons has created and taught creative arts workshops for students and educators in the US, Europe, West Indies, and Africa. Simmons has served on panels and delivered lectures on children’s entertainment mediums, as well as empowering young people through the arts. Simmons founded the annual family event, Kids Comic Con, as well as three comic arts exhibits, which have traveled abroad. He is currently developing a comics and creative arts program for children all over the world. During the past 35 years, Simmons has participated as a member of arts and education boards for several New York State nonprofit organizations, as well as one in Nigeria. As a teaching artist Simmons has worked with youth through the Bronx Community College, the Christopher Barron Live Life Foundation, Apollo Theater In-School Arts Program, Henkel McCoy, Upward Bound, New York Council on the Arts, Children’s Art Carnival, Wings Academy, and NYU Creative Arts Team, to name a few. He has been a panelist at many literacy and arts events, and he has been a guest speaker at numerous colleges and educational institutions here and abroad.

Tell The Damn Story #154: The Dignity of Chadwick Boseman, The Healing Grace of Creativity

In this episode Alex and Chris talk about loss and gain, and carrying on. First they they take a moment to eulogize the loss of acting artistry with the passing of Chadwick Boseman (portrayed Black Panther, Jackie Robinson, and more). … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #153: Seven Plus Top Tips For Besting The Beast of Writing

Hey, hey, Hey!  This episode Alex and Chris dip into our new email Q-Bag (Q = Questions) and answer a few of the the questions you listeners sent in. They range from tackling writer’s block to getting trapped in the … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #152: Can You Survive Night of the Living Contracts?

This week on TTDS, Alex and Chris explore the creatures called Contracts, including how to tell confident agreements from the ones that eat your brain and your rights.   They share how to handle contract elements that make you uncomfortable; why … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #149 – 151: MIA

Greetings! To all of you who may have been wondering why I haven’t posted the last three episodes of this podcast series … well, it’s because I couldn’t. For some a yet unexplained reason, the new BLOCK EDIT feature went … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #147: HOW TO TELL THE DAMN STORY SUMMER SERIES (Part 2) – Getting The Work Done

The Boys Are Back in Town! This week, Alex and Chris are back with Part 2 of their month-long workshop, the “HOW TO TELL THE DAMN STORY SUMMER SERIES.”    Pop culture king Caseen Gaines and spoken word poet and … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #146: How To Tell The Damn Story Summer Writing Series – Part One

This week, Alex and Chris launch a month-long workshop, the “HOW TO TELL THE DAMN STORY SUMMER SERIES.”  Each week in July, we will join with special guests to focus on a different aspect of the creative process.  This episode … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #145: TTDS PRESENTS “BLACKJACK: ONLY SECONDS LEFT TO LIVE” and More …

This week, Alex and Chris present a Blackjack story created by Tim Fielder in the furious wake of Charlottesville, back in 2017. Fate worked against us publishing it at the time, and during each subsequent horrific racist tragedy. But George … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #144: WHAT “IFFING” TWILIGHT ZONE SEASON TWO

And no, we’re not PC cursing in the title.   Alex and Chris enjoy a fun and intriguing episode of Tell The Damn Story with special guest pop culture author, Caseen Gaines ( @caseengaines ), speculating about the upcoming season 2 … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #143: HOW TO TAKE OLD WORLD THEMES & CREATE PRESENT DAY MOVIE and TV GOLD!

For filmmakers and novelist what’s old is new again, and again, and again!   It always has been! And Alex & Chris do a Bill and Ted by going back in time to prove it First, remember long time DC … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #142: REFLECTING LIFE THROUGH ART, OR THE UNCOMFORTABLE ROAD TO PROGRESS CAN INSPIRE

Whatever genre we choose, the stories we tell past, present or future, benefit from what we see, experience, and learn. For all artists time is the canvas and living the brush. This week Alex and Chris record a sequel of … Continue reading

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