Food, fun and — if Mother Nature cooperates — good weather await those venturing out to Hickory Creek’s free Family FunFest from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at Arrowhead Park.

Among the featured people at this year’s festival will be Jake Tinsley of Whambang Comics. Jake, 14, garnered fame after writing and publishing a comic book about Amber Hagerman. Amber Hagerman Deserves Justice promotes — to readers of all ages — understanding of the Amber Alert plan and details the unsolved murder of the Arlington 9-year-old.

Jake, a high school freshman, will be on hand to sign autographs, sell his comics and speak to the crowd.

Courtesy photo

Jake Tinsley, 14, holds one of his comic books that has attracted national attention. He is set to sign autographs and greet fans during Hickory Creek’s Family FunFest today.

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“For some time there’s [been] a councilman in Hickory Creek who is a very big fan of Jake’s,” said Ben Tinsley, Jake’s father. “They wanted Jake to premiere and promote the Amber comic at their fair. It gives him a different audience, focusing on the public safety side.”

The critical success the comic book gave Jake was a taste of how he could use the medium to make a difference, Ben Tinsley said.

“Jake’s idea is, if you can really tell a story, that entertains people and teaches you something,” he said.

The idea for the book was his father’s, and Jake said he took it the rest of the way.

“We thought it would be good for our image to have our superhero trying to solve actual crimes and have stuff to tell kids,” Jake said.

The plan is a series of Deserves Justice books as an informative tool for people, especially young people, to stay away from danger, he said.

Last year’s Family FunFest was attended by 2,000 people.

“Wow,” Jake said about the turnout. In thinking about today’s crowd, he hoped “it’s not one of those things where I practice my autograph and no one asks.”

Jake is glad to do the appearance all the same, he said, and hopes to be an inspiration to the kids who come out.

“If they do like to write, I want to be the catalyst that sets their career in motion,” he said.

Other attractions include the Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train, Critterman, Jolly the Clown, Dance Fusion of Lewisville and a classic car show.

For more information, visit www.hickorycreek-tx.gov/2009_fall_funfest.

BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com.