I just found out about Doxacon a few months ago from my writer’s group. It’s a “Faith & Fandom Convention,” which I’d never heard of before! I knew that Tolkien was Catholic, and C.S. Lewis was Christian, but there are actually many more ways in which faith and fandom overlap. Doxacon a lecture and gaming based con, with topics such as the “God and Comics Podcast Panel.” My friend/writer’s group comrade Alexi Sargeant is lecturing upon “Theology and Teleology in Magic: The Gathering.” I noticed there weren’t any artists at the con and asked him if I could exhibit. Long story short, now I’m the first sketch artist to participate in Doxacon! There are other vendors too like sci-fi authors. This is a great example of a topic I teach in my Business Basics for Freelancers classes: create your own opportunities! If you see a need for something that isn’t there, make it happen!

I’m very surprised and honored to be at the top of the vendor list on their site! Very happy to participate in this unique convention! In this day and age, I’ll be honest, in the comics world I don’t usually talk about my Catholic faith unless it comes up in conversation (which is rare). As a Catholic artist I often feel like I’m in between two worlds, like a part of each but always having to balance them carefully. But I realized that exhibiting at Doxacon can actually be a great way to begin to dialogue with those who will listen. In light of the devastating shootings this weekend at the Tree of Life Congregation, the First Baptist Church last year, and Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2015, people of all religions need to stand up for our faith and not be afraid.

So, if you’re in the D.C. area, please stop by the Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral 11/2 & 11/3! The con is open to everyone, not just people of faith. If you’re curious in any way, why not check it out? You may have lots of questions or criticisms about various faiths (related to comics or not) that people are happy to talk to you about.