Andy Fluke
Book & Publication Development
Hi folks! Thanks for stopping by. I'm a freelance writer, copyeditor, publication designer, comic artist, weekend wanderer, cupcake aficionado, friend of felines & advocate of good talk.
Back in 2002, I co-founded NCDD.
My Work
My current freelance work consists of book & publication design, editorial oversight, copyediting, writing, and project planning.
My Rates: I follow EFA guidelines when preparing quotes for clients.
My Skills
With over 30 years experience in copy editing & publication development, an academic background in education, and 15 years as Creative Director of a small, national nonprofit dedicated to civic engagement, I have assembled a unique toolkit of talents useful to any small nonprofit, campaign, or publishing endeavor.• Publication & Media Design - Adobe Creative Suite
• Project Management - MS Office & Google Docs
• Community Engagement - Online and Offline
More: Work Samples • Project: Relaxation Rabbit
MY COMICS
My comics are primarily a hobby, though they tend to pop up in the unlikeliest, and often silliest, places.
Comics: 90s Faves! • Mini-Story: Jacobson & Gardener • Book Review: Calcifer
My Focus
As a life-long writer and designer with 30 years experience in print media as both editor and artist, book development is more than a job to me, it's a passion. From the planning stage to publication, I am at home advising, editing, and designing books, journals, and educational material.At NCDD, I loved using modern technology to publicize, grow, and manage diverse communities and innovative programs. The experience I gained there translates nicely to publication projects, allowing me to offer my clients skills few publication developers have.I'm always interested in connecting with like-minded folk to talk shop or trade advice, either online or off…
Let's Connect
Looking for creative support for your program? Looking for a writer or editor with years of experience in community engagement? I'm always looking for new and exciting projects. Let's connect!
SAMPLES
DESIGN & COPYWRITING
A small selection which provide examples of both design and copywriting, collected from recent projects.
• Redefining the Future of the Economy (Amazon Link)• NCDD Promotional Booklet (7mb PDF)• Transpartisan Voice Promotional Booklet (3.5mb PDF)• Connecticut Collaborative Introductory Menu (.5mb PNG)• Transpartisan Review, Issue 2 (25mb PDF)• Website for poet Wendy Willis (LINK)• 2019 Rates & Services Guide (archive)(1.5mb PDF)
COMICS
1990s Faves
Two of my favorite early comics from the mid 90s.
Caves in New England are kind of small.
I don't know what it says about me but this is my kind of humor.
Project
Relaxation Rabbit
Origami has been a relaxation tool for me since I was a child. My favorite simple fold is this rabbit and I've been known to secretly leave these bunnies all over town. Clicking on the link below will take you to a PDF I created for friends who work with children.
Instructions for folding an origami Relaxation Rabbit.
Flash fiction
Jacobson & Gardener
by Andy Fluke
From inside the pale, old house – with windows closed and faded, flowery curtains drawn – the sounds of beeping trucks and barking dogs and shouting neighbors were muffled, but no less annoying. The stressful clamor mingled awkwardly with the forlorn shadows within“Listen,” Jacobson said, trying hard not to sound patronizing, but failing miserably.Gardener, surprised, tightened his tattered bathrobe, turned towards the voice, and frowned.“I’m not in the mood for one of your lectures.”“I don’t have... I don’t... I’m not lecturing you.”Jacobson, outfitted in dusty tweed and faded slacks, crossed the barren kitchen to a dining table covered with piles of old newspapers and took a seat opposite Gardener on one of the wobbly chairs.“You know I have concerns.” Jacobson’s fading patience showed in the wrinkles of his long, dour face and beak-like nose. “You shouldn’t do this blindly. There are people you could talk to.”Gardener took a sip of tea from a chipped mug decorated with a drawing of an annoyed cat.“People,” Gardener responded with a shiver; his hairless, dried-apple head sinking deeper into his knobby shoulders. “To you there’s always ‘people’. When did you ever bother to talk to ‘people’.”“That’s not the point.”“Then what is the point. You’re quick to criticize, quick to tell me I’m wrong. Where is the practical advice? Huh? Are you even capable of giving practical advice?”“If we...”“We? There is no we. There never was. Only three decades of voyeurism and lectures. Hell, I still don’t know who you are.”The tea finished, Gardener reached for the battle-scarred, aluminum walker parked alongside the table. Tied with a wilted strand of gold ribbon to the front crossbar, a birthday balloon declaring ‘Happy 90th’ languished sullenly above the old man’s arched back.Gardener slowly retreated from the kitchen; old feet in worn slippers shuffled across a dirty, linoleum floor.“I have papers to sign. The nursing home awaits.”Jacobson stared at the mug, trying hard not to draw meaning from the aloof and uncaring look on the cat’s face.“Everything is going to change.”With a heavy sigh and a quiet sniff, Jacobson began to float a little and then faded away through the chair and into the discolored wallpaper lining the kitchen walls.
– from my daily writing, April 14, 2021 –
©2021 • All Rights Reserved
Book Review
Howl's Moving Castle
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I've been feeling like I want to create a comic again. This is a quick, little experiment I recently did with the idea to draw book reviews.
MS. HONEY POND
Literary Explorer & Adventure Cat
Street cat by nature, muse by choice, Ms. Pond is a survivor of the hard, scrab-apple alleyways of Harrisburg, PA. Now content to lounge in window hammocks and chase dust bunnies (and her tail), she still yearns for a life of adventure, harboring the secret of literary exploring behind her mild, chartreuse eyes.
THANK YOU
Happy New Year to my
Amazing Family and Friends!
As this new year begins, I'm filled with gratitude for the amazing people who journeyed alongside me as I faced so many challenges over the past months. Your kindness has been a constant source of encouragement, and I'm thankful for each and every one of you.Looking back, I realize I would not have fared well without you; your support made all the difference. Whether it was a listening ear, a helping hand, or just a kind word, you were there when I needed you. I'm very fortunate to have so many wonderful people in my life.I've found myself regretting the distance I've allowed to grow between myself and those around me. I suppose not understanding my neurodivergence played a part in this. But I'm not one for excuses. This year I intend to make myself available to others as others have been to me.I wish I could say the ship has been righted, but my life continues to be overwhelming. The world can be unforgiving to an aging man adrift, but it is still a remarkable place, and I continue to search for my purpose within it. I hope I can count on some of you for guidance.Many things are much better. My health improves daily; I've returned to creative projects with enthusiasm; and I'm seeking meaningful work, whether as an editor, or project manager, or community educator. Job hunting in a world of algorithms has presented its own daunting challenges, so if anyone has thoughts or advice – or even a project that needs my skills – I would love to hear from you.I end this note with the best of wishes for you and yours, and a thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the support, encouragement, and love I received throughout the past year.Happy New Year!Andy (and Honey, too!)
I'm still looking for a little help: GoFundMe