World Famous Author accepts the challenge!

Some say she's crazy, and they may be right (she married me after all). Never mind that she's the mom of twins babies! Forget that she's on a grant driven deadline to write her second novel! This woman can do ANYTHING! She laughs at danger where others cower in fear and this weekend she is taking part in THE 3 DAY NOVEL contest!!!

Now I've attempted the 24 Hour Comic Challenge twice, and grueling as it is, it's not 3 FRIKKEN' DAYS LONG!!!

I have been given a long list of instructions to which I must adhere to for fear of my life. I'll be taking care of the twins for the 3 days and providing the sequestered resident author with meals, coffee, snacks and absolute privacy. It's going to be a big challenge on both accounts but we're a little nutty like that.

So for fun, I will update the Blog here daily with an account of the events taking shape in our modest little home. I will document the muttering and shuffling from behind her office door. I won't be speaking to her about the work; in fact I'll have very little contact with here at all. All I can do is put down my interpretation of events as they happen. The tears. The cursing. The maniacal laughter... All in the name of creative fiction under the most severest of deadlines.

To be continued....

New look to the blog

I've been working on the new Meanwhile Studios website and I figured I may as well update this while I was at it. Start fresh and all that. So with that in mind, this blog will become a bit more of a personal blog (as opposed to a surrogate web space). I've shut down the old "Caffeine & Sleep Deprivation" blog for the obvious reasons.

So the new site is up and running (more or less). There's a few sections like the "Store", "Misc" and "Stuff" that are still under construction, bear with me as I hate building web sites as it is and have done well to get this much done all ready.

Well to break in the "new" blog, let me start by talking about my kids! My twin daughters Alicen & Hayden turned 1 year old last week on August 22 & 23! We had a big party for them on our spiffy new deck on Saturday. Thanks to everyone who could make it, we had a great time! It was pretty exhausting; Carol was up the night before baking 72 cupcakes for the party and the yard had been un-mowed for weeks (months?) due to all the construction going on around here. It was a mad dash to get everything ready but we made it!

(Hayden & Alicen enjoying their birthday cupcake)

New stuff soon!

Man, busy! When it rains it pours around here but stuff is happening! Here's a quick update:

-The Chiaroscuro book is off to IDW! I really had to cram there to get the dust jacket finished but it turned out great. I'm looking forward to getting the proof, it's soooo close now...

-A major Comic Art show / Book Launch is in the works, details in the near future!

-Angora Napkin is still on schedule somehow.

-A new web site is in the works! It's been a few years now I've been relying on 'ol Bloggy here to spread the Gospel but soon that will change. I'll keep the blog going so don't be alarmed when you log in and find yourself at a website, the blog link will be there.

Chiaroscuro HC available for pre-order!!!!

Previews pg. 312, Diamond code :AUG073757

Now is your chance to pre-order the slick new hard cover edition of Chiaroscuro! As much as I wish these puppies would magically be available in every single comic shop and book store, there is a limit to the number available.

Comic shops don't have the luxury or returning unsold books (like book stores) and so may be disinclined to take a chance ordering the book unless it's been requested. Support your local shops and let them know you want a copy by asking them or giving them the Diamond code above. Orders are sent out near the end of August, so don't miss the boat!

No comic shops handy? Head to your nearest books store and supply them with the ISBN number (see ad) and they will hook you up. With a little luck, people requesting the book will spark both outlets to bring in an extra copy or two.

Let your friends know so they don't miss out! Thanks everyone!!!!

Mygrain!

While complaining about our dogs vet bills and his general condition at 13 years of age my friend Patrick (who's building us a swell loafing deck) came up with this suggestion. The idea turned into the first Mygrain I've drawn in over a year! Shadow's having a sleep over at the vet tonight and I kinda miss his annoying whine and dead lobster breath, at least for tonight.

Back on track

I just finished page 70 of the Angora Napkin book so I'm back on track and even slightly on top of my quota for once! I had a nasty bummed out month back in May but I managed to pick up the slack.

I picked up Fantagraphics excellent collection of E.C. Segar's Thimble Theatre strips entitled: "Popeye - I Yam What I Yam" which I am thoroughly enjoying. It's got me all wound up to get the 4 DVD set of Fleischer's "Popeye the Sailor: 1933-1938, Vol. 1" cartoons.


My friend Dave Cooper has uploaded a nice Flicker set of his painting process you really should check out. I remember visiting his studio in Ottawa and just being floored by the scale of some of these paintings, really inspirational stuff!

IDW Press release for Chiaroscuro!

The official press release is now online! Check it out and see the new hardcover artwork in colour!