Without ado, I apologize for being out of touch! Life things had to be dealt with, and life things refuse to be ignored. However, I come bearing news and a gift for you loyal supporters of Moonblimp and the Voyages newsletter!
The news is that there is another title in the works called Emma Saw A Ghost. This is a children’s book, but it should be at the parent’s discretion, like all children’s books. It will be light-hearted but with themes of the supernatural sort. I mean, if you’re okay with The Brothers Grimm you’ll survive this one.
Witches is still being written, and I am leaving for Venice, Italy, in the coming weeks to get energized for Inchi. So there is a bunch going on to be excited about!!
In the spirit of this announcement, I am gifting free digital copies of C is for Cthulhu | The Lovecraft Alphabet Book if you join my newsletter! This is a gorgeous and fun book written by Jason Ciaramella and Illustrated by Greg Murphy. They have graciously donated the digital to my cause, but if you love it, please consider buying a physical on their website or on Amazon. Links below…
If you are already a Voyages subscriber, the link is coming to you shortly in the next dispatch!
First, let me thank all of you who took the time to respond to my questions last month. I respect your time and opinions very, very much! Your answers helped me frame how I will approach the continuation of Inchi and the next few months after this new book finishes. Thank YOU!! Although many responded directly those questions are Open Questions and I’ll take feedback whenever your willing to give it.
I am grinding to get this new book ready for prime time this fall. All of that said, let’s move on to the art reveals! No story spoilers, only commentary.
Mirror I’m attempting to capture the oddity and creepiness of walking onto this scene. You’ve clearly interrupted something of a supernatural kind. The woman in the mirror, hand resting on the shoulder of a young woman, seems only to exist in that plane. However, your arrival is equally unexpected, as all eyes in this image are on you!
The Tower This is my take on a classic Tarot Card called “The Tower.” It requires certain graphical elements which assign particular meanings. Therefore, I followed that established form for the most part and just added my own vision of it.
For the interested, here is an image that explains the different elements and meanings.
The Three Furies I am still working on this piece, but it wasn’t originally my intention to style it after the Three Furies. It just happened that way. LOL. Still, no spoilers.
More updates coming soon. Something exciting this way comes!
I have questions, and I know you have answers about how you consume your read entertainment. If willing, I have a few questions following the update. I would be grateful if you spent just a minute or two answering! But first, art updates!
Witches, another 21 Steezy Snuffs There are no spoilers here on the story, so I’ll let you draw some conclusions. 🙂 As with most of my art updates, this piece still has much to do. I am frustrated by the fur because I couldn’t decide between an ink-rendered version or a painted version at the time. Alas…this is where it’s at.
A close-up of the upper body and headpiece in ink only. I like how it’s come together, but I will revisit the fabric. It deserves better treatment.
Okay, the question… or questions… Thank you in advance for answering this. As you know, illustrated books and comics are challenging to produce in the best situations. Questions of distribution and format increase the difficulty immensely. Obviously, major publishers do their best to hit all channels. Still, as an independent, I want to focus my energy where my fans are. Meet them where they want to be met, so to speak.
1. How do you prefer to read illustrated books/comics?
Even if it’s a layered answer, I’d love to know. Is it physical books, digital books, webcomics, etc.
2. Do you use mobile platforms like Webtoons or Tapas to read serial stories weekly?
If there are others you might be using, I’d appreciate knowing.
3. Would you prefer more regular content (like a weekly serial) over waiting for a finished print book?
Not that your answer would exclude one for the other.
I appreciate any insights you can give me. I agree with “Art for the sake of art,” but I want to ensure my efforts are focused in the right place.
This project continues to excite me as more and more art gets created. The latest piece that is anywhere near completion is this one…
I tried some new techniques on this piece, and I have to admit it’s been very challenging. Although it’s incomplete, I did throw both current pieces with color through the printer to see how the color and composition were coming out. Here’s the result…
Note: The story text is borrowed from the original book for visual purposes. Title is also BOGUS! 🙂
They look fantastic! Even the freckles I played with on this character can be seen in print. Yes, I was worried about that. Sometimes details that are obvious in digital get lost in print, so I’m thrilled and will continue working on that for this character.
Lastly, I’m stepping up the game for you in this book! I want to introduce more advanced composition work on these pages. I will experiment with some supplemental art that supports stories on text pages, particularly in the spreads. For example, you might see something like this I’ve been noodling on…
We will see how it goes, and you know I’ll keep you posted!
Events and Writers Panels
I’m continuing to exhibit with the latest being Dallas Fan Expo. It was a great show! It would have been better if the air conditioning wasn’t down for two days, but still, it now ranks as our best bookselling show to date. I had an opportunity to participate in an author panel alongside some incredible talent. Here’s my view from the stage…
Slowly but surely, we are raising awareness, and it’s having an impact. Just got to keep grinding away! LOL!! We are off to San Antonio from July 7-9th. If you’re local, we’d love to say hi. We have some new graphics and will be promoting the upcoming book!
Officially announcing that “Witches,” a 21 Steezy Snuffs follow-up, is in production. And so, without ado, here is a comp of what a Witches cover might look like!
There’s a lot to do in this particular piece. Besides the color, shading, and more technical aspects of the composition, there are artistic choices. For example, I want to think longer about how I want her tattoos to appear. Some of these I slapped on, although others are from the classical Roman depictions of Pictish tattoos. That’s the kind of stuff I think about and end up being driven crazy by. But it’s the kind of thing I hope you will appreciate when you read the stories!
It’s a full-court press to prepare this “Witch Edition” of 21 Steezy Snuffs for the fall. More exciting and eyebrow-raising news coming soon!
Wait? What about Inchi #02
The last thing I would want to do is throw some business on you, but the reality is that 21 Steezy Snuffsis still outperforming Inchi #01. In fact, I just placed my first-ever stocking order on that title for the Con Exclusive Cover. It’s crazy, and I can’t ignore that. Inchi fans, DO NOT DESPAIR… It’s still being worked on. Just because people are more excited about short-form gothic horror than they are about urban fantasy sequential art doesn’t mean I’m giving up!
One of my favorite parts of doing illustrated fiction and sequential art is the details! For instance, my character Murron who has been featured a few times in the page reveals, is holding and drinking a canned beverage. It doesn’t amount to much concern in the overall story context, BUT what exactly is that drink? I love this kind of detail. So I created this collage of moments and highlighted the can for your reference.
Various Cells From Inchi #02
With that in mind I have to create a “brand”. Of course, I could write COLA, SODA, or some other generic thing on that can, but I couldn’t resist doing this mockup. It’s Italy after all…
Spritz-Oh! Brand Mock-Up!
LOL…well, I have to come up with something. And there’s time. I don’t know if it will end up as Spritz-Oh! but I’m open to your thoughts. Inchi #02 presses on! I appreciate you all so much!
Quick All-Con Recap
All-con is slightly different from most con’s I’ve attended or exhibited. The best way I can describe it is to say it’s about activities. So while many cons focus on celebrity guests, signings, photo ops, and fan merchandise, all-con is about experiences! Every half hour from 11:00a.m. to midnight, something happens in one of the hotel’s various ballrooms and conference rooms. It could be anything from cosplay tips to Cards Against Humanity flash games. There’s something for everyone hence the name “All-con.” So in the moments in between when there is downtime, attendees spend some time perusing the vendor hall or Artist’s Alley, where I was set up. It’s incredible to observe from behind the black-cloaked table! Look! An actual Krampus was there who looked a lot like my interpretation! He got a free book.
Krampus At All-Con
Far and away, my flash fiction book 21 Steezy Snuffs outpaced interest in Inchi. Still, I’m guessing gothic horror will always feel more attractive than fantasy. There’s plenty of reluctance to get involved with a series too! I get all that, and it’s totally cool! My vision remains pure, and I love the way this story is developing. However, it encourages me to move up some other short-form literature I have on the schedule.
I’ve really embraced the necessity of doing book shows. So I’m experimenting more right in my back yard starting with All-Con. It starts today and runs through Sunday. If you are located in or around Dallas or are just happen to be in town I’d love to meet you. Just out there raising awareness!
All-Con 2023
Inchi #02
For Backers of Inchi #01 you may have recieved an update already via Kickstarter or through the Voyages newsletter. I’ve already been thinking about when is the right time to prepare for the next launch. Much of that content you all receive first as Voyages subscribers so I’ll just hit you with the main update! Page 4!
Inchi#02 – Page 4
Nothing has changed as all of this will go through a final edit. Some details I like to leave until the end to make sure the creative flow doesn’t suffer and to have better continuity. One thing I’m sure of, this will be an even better book than the first.
I’ve definitely grown since the publication of Inchi #01, both as a writer and an illustrator. Making comics is hard and takes a lot of dedication to the craft. There is always something to improve upon, so thank you for your support from the bottom of my heart.
It’s a full-court press this spring to get this Book ready for launch. I’ll keep you posted as always.
I’ll say it. It’s been a good year for this project I call, MoonBlimp. Thank you to my fans, who supported me and continue to do so! I hope you have the best and most incredible year to come! On reflection, there is much to be proud of and grateful for, and it’s because of you! So let’s take a quick look at the year in review!
Three Published Books in 2022!
The Hidden Legions 1st Edition Limited Run of 50
Those who have been fans long-term know that this was my pilot book. I made up for what I lacked in knowledge of book production with drama, atmosphere, and moodiness. It was a success in terms of the cinematic effect I want to capture in every sequential art project. It just needed polish.
In fairness, I released this book in the last quarter of 2021, heading into the holiday season. However, I sold it through to the first quarter and then placed it back in the vault. If you have one of these, it is truly a MoonBlimp gem of a collector’s item. Printed in-house, hand-cut, hand-stitched, and signed by the author! 🙂 I’ve got plans for a remake and reprint as part of an anthology. But thats down the road a bit. 🙂
Inchi Part One, Mysterious Beginnings – July 2022
ISBN: 978-1-959458-00-5
Even though MoonBlimp has been around for a long while, this book is the proper launch. It represents years of study in multiple disciplines paired with a unique story concept. Getting this project launched on Kickstarter was no small feat and is a true milestone.
21 Steezy Snuffs – October 2022
ISBN: 978-1-959458-02-9
The concept for 21 Steezy Snuffs was brewing for a couple years. However, I was focused on Inchi and dedicated to finishing it. After the launch of Inchi, I was motivated to get this done in time for the Halloween season.
Between these three books and a successful tradeshow appearance (Irving FanFest, October 2022) it’s been an incredible year. Again, all thanks to your support!
Two of those are for sale on my Etsy site if you have any friends or family that might be interested!
You all voted it up, and it’s already in production! I’ve included some at the bottom for those who have not seen some of the art in past messages or on social media. I’ve spent the holiday modeling and doing studies of the environment that opens book 2. Where interiors are concerned, details matter, and spacial awareness matters! I’m upping the game on every level for this release. Cinematics, depth of story, engagement, drama, action! I can’t wait to get this in your hands!
Illustrated Poetry Anthology (Title T.B.D.)
More information on this is to come, but while sequential art is a passion for me, I will continue exploring art-related titles and publishing partnerships.
Have a great and safe New Year, everyone! Now here are some art panels with brief descriptions!
This is the first of two rough studies I’m sharing. This space lies below sea level somewhere inside the Venetian Arsenal. This room in particular is a research space. As this drawing serves to evaluate space, size, and content, many details are removed. The arches to the left indicate a support structure for a floor above and a separation of space.
From this angle, looking through the arches, you can see the research space from a different perspective. The casual furniture in the foreground indicate the living space. There is a full kitchen to the left!
Have a wonderful and safe New Year! I’ll see you on the other side!
Converting my site into an e-com platform qualifies as a short-lived experiment. Compared to Etsy, Kickstarter, and tradeshows, I got little traction here. So I made the decision to simplify and close shop. But while the channels for getting my books into people’s hands remain elusive, I am optimistic! The voyage continues!
I am full steam into the second book for anyone who is a fan of Inchi. Here is a pre-ink of the book opener. I released this a while ago on social channels and the Voyages newsletter, but as I took a little break from blogging, this is a catch-up.
Opening Panel of Inchi #2
I’m in the process of doing final character studies. The crusaders all have their “cursed look,” which is finally being revealed. These sketches were originally for Rinaldo’s character. However, I decided it’s a better look for a different character (To be named).
Not Rinaldo
I’m starting to experiment with process videos now. If you want to check those out, follow moonblimp on Instagram.
