A funny thing happened on the way to unemployment
Wait a minute, that's not fun at all!
Hey there , cool kid!
This week we're up in NJ at my parents’ house, helping them around the house and getting in some much needed swim time. Much needed not just because it's summer, but because once again, only a year and change later, I find myself unemployed as layoffs stuck me down once again last Thursday.
And while I wasn't particularly fond of this job, I was really hoping to leave only once I had found a new position. Life, sadly, had other plans.
You know, I just got laid off last year too (I WAS ON VACATION) so you'd think I'd get catch a break for once.
Alas.
Unemployment means more comics
On the upside, now that I had all this new free time, I can spend it doing what I love to do most - make comics! Not do yard work like I did last time (and my yard still looks like shit).
While at my parents, I had planned to be working on pencils to finish off The Alchemist of Aurillia #4 and potentially start the mini comics as well. And now with my additional time when we get home, I can zero in on finishing all the boo art and handing it over to my wonderful production artist to finish it off while I start putting in the merch orders and getting organized for fulfillment.
It's time for that sweet sweet progress tracker:
Pages Penciled: 36/40
Pages Inked: 28/40
Pages Lettered: 5/40
Little by little, we’re getting there! I'm hoping that once we get home that we'll start seeing those numbers go up real good and fast.
And what's after that?
Can I tell you a secret?
I've been wanting to write a prose book for awhile now!
See, I have some great ideas for stories that I don't think would make for a good comic, or that I don't have the time to draw. Plus, I'd like to try something different, a different way of creating a story.
I've been thinking more about writing since I started working as a Co-writer with Farnan Qureshi on Battle Panda, which if you didn’t know is on Kickstarter right now.
It has been my first time working as just a writer. And while I've been recognized for my art in the past, it never occurred to me that someone might also recognize my writing as being good as well! It wasn't a side of myself that I really explored or thought about since I am always concerned about my art.
However, working from the writing side itself and diving deep into the craft has gotten me really excited about it! I didn't know that I had it in me.
The other thing that's got me thinking about it is the marketing angle, of course. There's a lot of great novels coming onto Kickstarter and doing gangbusters with really cool editions. Outside of Kickstarter, romantasy books are blowing up online and light novels continue to remain popular. So I'm thinking…what if I can make a niche for myself in this space? Maybe start with a digital serialization (hint hint) before doing a full release?
It's interesting to think about…
Check our this Kickstarter
Phillip found his love was poison...so the vampire The Matron drained him of all of it—and filled him with her own poison. Eve, a thrall of the vampire Ash, desperately wants him to drink deep of her, but his dead heart will not have it. When Eve and Phillip meet for a brief encounter, Eve’s destructive behavior tears open old wounds for Phillip—and they both pay a price.
Till the next time,
Melissa J