Slag Heap Books is a bookmaking collaboration specializing in handmade artist books, sketchbooks and zines.

The duo behind “the slag” are Karen McClanahan and Steve Lauman. Karen has fine art degrees in painting and drawing and has exhibited her work nationally and internationally since 2001. Visit karenmcclanahan.com to view her work. Steve has a background in precision machining and boutique manufacturing, and he recently started an online lapidary shop called dopwax.com. Their studio/workshop is in historic downtown Clarkdale, AZ.

A shared interest in books, repurposed materials, and quality handmade goods led them to design a series of sketchbooks which will debut at this year’s comic expo. They are advocates for an analog approach to drawing and writing: a writing instrument in hand, on paper, is a direct connection to the brain which has the potential to unlock cognitive superpowers.