Ziggy Zig-Zags the Light and Dark Fantastic, Volume 1

"Ziggy Zig-Zags the Light and Dark Fantastic, Volume 1" is a fantasy graphic novel with a story about Ziggy, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Ziggy's great quests include helping characters in Neverland, Oz, Wonderland, and even the "Out World" including with a figure fictionally attached to World War II.

Publisher Marketing: FIVE-STAR REVIEW: Ziggy Zig-Zags The Light and Dark Fantastic is a graphic fantasy novel written by Ron Baxley, Jr., with illustrations by Vincent Myrand and lettering by Ali Tavakoly. Few people know, in this day and age, the epic history of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed. These stalwart and intelligent big dogs in small bodies were used as battle steeds for elvish warriors. But their utility was not restricted to times of war. Elves and other small magical creatures found the Corgis to be the perfect partners for everyday tasks and journeys. Some say that the white markings Welsh Pembroke Corgis bear to this day are the places where the elvish saddles and stirrups left their marks. Ziggy is such a Pembroke Welsh Corgi; one who was entrusted by the elves with some vital and important missions. The first was to rescue a Lost Boy from Neverland. Armed with pixie dust carefully packaged by the elves, and with his inimitable buoyancy and good cheer, Ziggy followed the star signs and landed in Neverland, where he found Tiddle, the lost boy who was now found. Ziggy Zig-Zags The Light and Dark Fantastic introduces a new canine hero of truly epic proportions, and I'll never look at Corgis in quite the same way again. Baxley's admiration for the breed, after he adopted his rescued Pembroke Corgi, shines out on every panel of this enthralling two-story graphic novel. Vincent Myrand's marvelous illustrations really capture the dog's facial expressions as he considers his challenges and gets past all manner of obstructions and dangers. I loved revisiting Neverland, and a quick trip to Oz was a rare treat indeed. Baxley's stories are well plotted and exciting, and Myrand's line and wash illustrations are superb. Each drawing is a visual feast and works so well with the story line. I had the grandest time reading this book, which offers the daring reader fantasy, evil elves, helpful monkeys and even an arch villain or two. Ziggy Zig-Zags The Light and Dark Fantastic is most highly recommended. Jack Magnus Readers' Favorite LLC Publisher Marketing : "Ziggy Zig-Zags the Light and Dark Fantastic, Volume 1" is a fantasy graphic novel with a story and scripting by awarded author Ron Baxley, Jr., art by renowned Oz artist Vincent Myrand, and layout and lettering by Ali Tavakoly (who has also done work in the comics industry). Ziggy, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi based on Ron's shelter-adopted emotional support dog of the same breed, is one of many steeds of the elves in Wales and is the elves' chosen champion for great quests. (According to Welsh mythology, in fact, the markings around many Pembroke Welsh Corgis' heads and around their necks indicated that small saddles and stirrups were once on their bodies and that the Corgis were used as horses by the elves and faeries). As a steed, with his saddle like a super hero cape, Ziggy is chosen by the elves to rescue various characters in different fantasy worlds, including Neverland, Oz, and Wonderland. He even has adventures in the modern reality of the "Out World" including with a figure fictionally attached to World War II. During Ziggy's quests, he is pursued by the Dark Elf, a fallen elf from the Welsh woods, and other foes. Like Baxley, Jr., he contends with anxiety during his quests. Ziggy wears a silver dog tag with the elven runes for valor and even anxiety written there. Whether he can evade his foe has to do largely with how he contends with his anxiety and holds with faith. Contributor Bio: Baxley, Ron, Jr Ron Baxley, Jr.'s Southern background figures in his work, as does his love of Oz and his faith. He received a lifetime membership from the International L. Frank Baum and All Things Oz Foundation in 2016 in Chittenango, New York for his work as an author related to the Wizard of Oz, work which dates back to 1999 when the First Edition of his book "The Talking City of Oz" was published. Ron has been a special guest, guest, and visiting author at Oz festivals and cons since 2010. Ron also likes most anything related to Disney, fantasy, and science fiction which he has also published. He, in addition, helped his late father with a side satellite dish business when he was a youth and was encouraged by his father, a techie, to get interested in computers; he equates all of this with furthering his interest in science fiction. He lived in Columbia, S.C. for most of his life outside of university but also lived for a few years in Groton and Charlton, Massachusetts while working for an outdoor education program and for a few in Charleston, S.C. and Prosperity, S.C. After working on his certification and being an educator for 15 years in various capacities away from his home-town, Ron returned there in 2015 to become a care-giver and to work as a part-time correspondent for the Orangeburg, S.C. Times and Democrat, returning to an earlier career which he had for two years as a reporter at The Aiken Standard upon graduation from USC-Aiken in 1998. Eventually Ron began selling different types of Disney vacations through a travel agency on the side. In 2016, he and Vincent Myrand, the artist for this graphic novel, had a tour for a preview version of this graphic novel in Massachusetts and New York, and later in Michigan at two Oz festivals and other locations. "Ziggy Zig-Zags the Light and Dark Fantastic" by Ron Baxley, Jr., a published author for 27 years, is the second book published by YBR Publishing. His 2018 novel "O.Z. Diggs Himself Out", which combines Southern literature with Oz fantasy, was his first through YBR. He considers his rescued Corgi, Ziggy, to be his child and even a fur-angel, and the dog figures largely in a lot of his work, being a minor character in "O.Z. Diggs Himself Out" and the title character in this graphic novel. For more information on Ron, see his author page at http: //rbaxley37.wixsite.com/ronbaxleyjrofoz or do a web-search for "WIX" and "Ron Baxley." Contributor Bio: Tavakoly, Ali Ali Tavakoly is a graphics designer with 16 years of experience, having worked for two of the largest comic book franchises, DC Comics, and Marvel, including the U.S. and U.K. versions of Masters of the Universe (2003-2004). He has been a regular exhibitor at Comic-Con International in San Diego and Anime Expo in Los Angeles. Tavakoly is a graduate of Irvine Valley College's paralegal program and has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. He can demonstrate an interpretation knowledge of six languages, English, Farsi, French, Hindi, Japanese, and Urdu. He is a fluent speaker of two of them. He resides in Laguna Hills, California with his dog Puppy. Contributor Bio: Myrand, Vincent Self-taught fine artist, illustrator, and art instructor Vincent Myrand has loved Oz for as long as he can remember. Vincent's "The Wizard of Oz" and "Return to Oz" paintings have gathered worldwide recognition. He has devoted his life to the arts. Vincent was inspired by the movie "The Wizard of Oz" as a youngling, and shortly after discovered L. Frank Baum's "Oz" books. He fell in love with the characters and started drawing them constantly. He dreamt he would one day become and author or illustrator of Oz books. Membership in The International Wizard of Oz club helped fuel his passion for Oz (he joined when he was only 12!). Vincent's passion for the Arts was recognized in high school when his teachers nominated him for The Haystack Art & Craft Institute in Deer Isle, ME, scholarship for that year. Also, Vincent was involved with the Bates College Gifted and Talented writing program. After Haystack, Vincent explored more art at Bates through part tie art classes arranged by student outreach clubs. In his early 20s, Vincent started to work for Arts After School as an Art Instructor. Later on, he decided to open an art school of his own: the nonprofit Myrand Art Institution, which was opened on Forest Avenue in Portland, ME, in the 1990s. In 1997, Vincent traveled to Italy on an artistic tour of Rome, Venice, and Pompeii, amongst other notable cities. Vincent already had a vast knowledge of Italian art and history. He has also been involved with the local music scene as a front man in bands. Lastly, he has painted many album sleeves for countless bands. He was delighted to discover a famous artist in his family tree: Charles Howard Hodges, an 18th Century English portraitist to the Netherlands, and celebrated throughout Europe. Hodges was also Vincent's great-great-great-great grandfather on his mother's side...and a delightful discovery for Vincent, as he long been an admirer or Hodges' work before he learned of the family connection! With "ZIGGY", Vincent has come full-circle to the land of Oz that started his career. "I wouldn't be an artist if it wasn't for Oz," he says. Vincent lives in Maine.

Format: Hardcover | Pages: 56 | Publication Date: 2019-04-27