Picture a sharp-witted cartoonist whose pen skewers politics and spins thrilling tales—meet Dana J. Summers! This Massachusetts-born storyteller has delighted readers for decades with his syndicated comic strips, biting editorial cartoons, and gripping suspense novels. From lampooning politicians in the Orlando Sentinel to crafting murder mysteries, Summers’ versatile creativity captivates audiences worldwide.
With a career spanning over 40 years, Summers blends humor, insight, and suspense, earning awards and a loyal following. Ready to dive into his world of cartoons and crime? Let’s explore the man behind the ink!
The Making of Dana J. Summers
Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Dana J. Summers grew up with a pencil in hand, sketching his way through the Northeast. After graduating from the Art Institute of Boston in 1971, he dove into editorial cartooning, freelancing before landing gigs at The Fayetteville Times and Dayton Journal Herald. By 1982, he joined the Orlando Sentinel, where his conservative-leaning cartoons became a staple. Summers’ early experiences, including a chilling death threat from a reader in Ohio, shaped his bold, unflinching style and later inspired his pivot to fiction.
Dana J. Summers’s Unforgettable Stories
Summers is a master of dual crafts: cartooning and novel-writing. His comic strips, Bound and Gagged (created solo) and The Middletons (co-written with Ralph Dunagin), deliver clever humor syndicated globally. These strips showcase his knack for witty, relatable gags, often poking fun at everyday life. His editorial cartoons, published in the Orlando Sentinel and syndicated by Tribune Content Agency, tackle politics with a conservative edge, earning accolades from the Overseas Press Club and Sigma Delta Chi Society.
In 2017, Summers ventured into suspense with Drawn and Buried, a novel that won the Florida Writers Association’s Royal Palm Award and Mystery Writers of America’s Sleuthfest Freddie Award. The story follows Tim Ryder, a cartoonist entangled in a murder investigation after his drawings inspire real-life crimes. Inspired by Summers’ own brush with a threatening reader, the novel blends humor and tension. His follow-up, Dark and the Dead, a finalist for another Royal Palm Award, explores a retired cop’s quest to clear a convicted man’s name, cementing Summers’ flair for gritty, fast-paced mysteries.
Summers’ style shines through in both mediums: sharp, irreverent, and unafraid to provoke. His cartoons distill complex issues into incisive visuals, while his novels weave witty dialogue and local Orlando flavor into thrilling plots. Whether sketching or storytelling, he captures human quirks with a keen eye.
Why Dana J. Summers Matters
Dana J. Summers’ impact lies in his ability to bridge humor and hard-hitting commentary. His cartoons have sparked debate, earning praise from figures like Ronald Reagan and a White House lunch with George H.W. Bush. By tackling politics and culture, he shapes public discourse with a conservative lens, challenging readers to think. His novels, meanwhile, offer a fresh voice in the suspense genre, proving cartoonists can craft page-turners. Summers’ versatility inspires aspiring artists and writers to defy boundaries and persevere, as he advises: “Don’t give up.”
Living in Orlando with his wife, Mary Jane, and dog, Gracie, Summers continues to draw, write, and engage fans. His daughter, Sue, designed the cover for Drawn and Buried, and his son, Patrick, created its trailer, making his work a family affair.
- Born: Lawrence, Massachusetts
- Key Works: Bound and Gagged, The Middletons, Drawn and Buried, Dark and the Dead
- Awards: Overseas Press Club, Sigma Delta Chi, Royal Palm Award, Sleuthfest Freddie Award
Snag Drawn and Buried and dive into Dana J. Summers’ thrilling world of wit and suspense!