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.

Simmons Says … Fight The Fire?

Suppose you come home and find someone has set fire to your house and is running away. Do you chase the fire starter, or do you fight the fire? Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #102: How “Cozy” Can Murder Be?

“…how cozy can murder be?” Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #101: Where Can Writers Find Support? Sisters In Crime!

Alex and Chris introduce another interview from the Deadly Ink Mystery Writers Conference. Today we hear from not one but two local presidents of the national Sisters in Crime mystery writers organization, New Jersey President Linda Rawlins and Delaware Valley … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #100: WHATS THE BENEFIT OF TELLING A DAMN STORY?

No one said it couldn’t be done … So we did it anyway!!! Alex and Chris (and a few listeners) review, revere, recount and revisit their journey of interviews, doubts, tips, issues, and revelations on the way to 100 episodes … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #99: Deadly Ink Interview #2_ DimeSleuth

For the first half hour, Alex and Chris spend some quality time talking about bringing their work to the next level and Chris discusses the Deadly Ink Mystery Conference, he attended two weeks ago, in all it’s glory.   From cat … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #98: Are Writers’ Groups First Aid, Or Blood Bath?

Chris is on a solo mission at the DEADLY INK WRITERS’ CONFERENCE meeting and learning from writers of many genres.  And of course Chris is also interviewing as many of these creatives as he can. So in this episode Chris … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #97: Dreams, Goals and Michael Uslan, The Man Who Owned Batman

Chris is back from the wilds of creative career contemplation, and Alex has returned from panels and presentations at the San Diego Comic Con!  They’re here to share some insight on the challenges of pursuing your goals and dreams. and … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #96: What’s So Great About the San Diego Comic Con?

With Alex attending the the biggest comic con on the west coast, and Chris watching social media report and respond to it from the east coast, the boys offer their own insight into the verbiage and views of commentators, comics … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #95: With Millions of Stories To Compete Against, What Makes Mine Better Or Different?

Many, many students ask the same question, sometimes with subtle variations. How can I come up with a new idea? Why bother, mine won’t be as good? Will anybody even read my story? How can I make mine better? And … Continue reading

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Tell The Damn Story #94: Why Do You Tell Your Damn Stories?

Writers often talk about character motivations. Basically why do they do what they do? Though that is a major question, another equally important one is, Why Do We, the Writers Do What We Do? Alex explores that question because the … Continue reading

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