Met up with some writer friends last night, and they helped by tearing apart the intro of the comic-to-replace-One-Way-due-out-around-new-years. Overall it’s coming out great and I’ve been getting good feedback, I’m just working now to make it even stronger.
But most of the night was just cracking jokes and eating cookies until midnight. Which is about as close to perfection as I know it.
Writing, inking, racquetball, a bountiful CSA week, stretching canvases. My week: the usual.
A bright spot in the news (in contrast to the horror of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO and the losses of both Robin Williams And Lauren Bacall, and the Middle East, and on and on), the first female ever won the Fields maths medal! Glad to see things shifting.
That title’s for you, Coyoty. 😉
I’ve been madly editing my novel, which is a crying shame because today was freakin’ gorgeous and I should have been out skipping around in it. But the editing is going very well and I’m REALLY excited.
Went over a friend’s last night for cookies, chips, storytelling and talking about writing. It was worth braving the torrential rain.
So, yes. Minneapolis. There was this thing. Convergence. An annual SF/F convention in Minneapolis on 4th of July weekend. Four days of costumes, panels, movies, more costumes, strange drinks, music, House of Toast, Art Show, and of course where I was stationed most of the weekend: The Dealer’s Room. Since this is my third year there, I know a few people, and got to say hello which was quite nice. But mostly I worked hard, had some good conversations, and then walked around for a few hours after amongst the chaos of the convention before finding a tiny corner to hide in and putter on my laptop. Only after the weekend was over did I realize that Marina Sirtis had been a featured guest (Counselor Troy). I am not very good at these things. But, anyways, if you’re near the twin-cities, like SF/F, like costumes, you should find yourself a place like this. You will feel at home. Plus, toast.
After the weekend, I spent a couple days enjoying the twin cities (Minneapolis and St Paul). I first went there around 1990, and it’s one of my favorite cities in the US. If it weren’t for winters, I’d even consider it a place one could move to. Anyhow, my friend (who put me up) and I got good food, had food with family, and went to the sculpture garden and the art museum (the cherry spoon bridge is the sculpture garden’s signature piece, btw). A lovely time.
Brushing up (and learning more) on drawing backgrounds, this one done by studying the works of Walt Kelly — tools which I might use to little-or-very-great-degree with the “Little Dee” graphic novel (script approved, layout has begun).
Apologies for server issues earlier this week. Should be mostly taken care of.
TCAF was fun. Got to hang out with Don Ahé of Road Apples Almanac, Jeff Couturier of Hordes of Neurons, and Kate Citron of katecitrin.com, (and Brian!). Audra of Nemu*Nemu stopped by to say hello (hi!). Chatted with Jess Fink, (of NSFW Chester 5000, among other projects) and who lives so close, its embarrassing we haven’t hung out. Got to sit between Nicholas Gurewitch of Perry Bible Fellowship, and Sam Logan of Sam And Fuzzy, which was delightful.
The most exciting thing was to get to spend some time talking with Christophe Blain, whose art and story pacing have been a huge influence of my work (especially Spacetrawler). Check out Isaac the Pirate Set Vols.1-2
Oh, and he drew me a sketch. Not only is it always a thrill to watch other people illustrate, but what a lovely drawing. Thank you, Christophe!
Yes, I will be at TCAF Comic Fest, in Toronto this weekend. You’ll find me with the TopatoCo people, with Little Dee and Spacetrawler books for sale. If you can’t make it, know that all of my books and merch are also for sale online at TopatoCo. See you there!
Tonight (Thursday) went out to see a lovely mandolin duet from Portland, OR: Mando Planet. It was really good. 
And I got a little bit of work done on the new painting the last two nights. I get the feeling this one’s going to take a good long while.
Ah. A nice weekend. My sweetie and I had drinks Friday night at the flat of some new friends. Saturday, went and saw the band William Hale at a dive bar in town. Puttered away at the pencils for a new painting. Fun!
I think something happened since Wednesday. Mostly just drawing and eating I think. Took a slew of reference photos trying to get something to work from on my next painting (the first one isn’t done, but it can be a couple weeks between days i can work on it in order to let it dry).
