This week's strips feature a visit to the library by Owen and Desmond from my new comic strip Not Invented Here, which launches Monday.

Since Gene Ambaum and I first created Unshelved, a comic strip drawn from Gene's experiences as a librarian, people have asked me why I didn't start a comic strip based on my two decades in the software business. After several false starts it's finally ready.

This time around I wanted to write, not draw. It would be pleasantly symmetric if Gene could draw, but how-shall-I-say-this he can't. I was lucky enough to snag one of my favorite cartoonists, Paul Southworth. Paul is one of the most talented and respected artists in the business, and also a really funny and sweet guy. Paul wrote and drew Ugly Hill for four years and currently makes a weekly panel about videogames called You Are Dead. Earlier this year he contributed this book club of The Road. And yes, that's him guest-drawing this week's Unshelved.

Not Invented Here by Bill Barnes and Paul Southworth runs Monday through Thursday every week. I hope you enjoy it as much as you enjoy Unshelved, and I also hope you'll tell your friends about both strips.

(Speaking of which, don't worry: Gene and I will continue to make Unshelved untli the heat-death of the Universe or until it stops supporting us, whichever comes first.)

Feb 20 morning Spartanburg, SC
Spartanburg Public Library Staff Day (staff only)
Keynote (Gene & Bill)

Feb 20 7pm Columbia, SC
USC LISSA event
Program (Gene & Bill)

Mar 13-17 Philadelphia, PA
Public Library Association
Booth (Gene & Bill)

Mar 30-April 1 Seattle, WA
Emerald City Comic Con
Booth (Gene & Bill)

April 13-15 Chicago, IL
Chicago Comic Entertainment Expo
Booth & Talk (Gene & Bill)