editing, editing, editing

round and round we go... Still editing on Shards. The fine-tooth comb of second round editing is being dragged over chapter's 8 & 9. Chapters 1-6 are in out to spec readers. I'm pulling together my notes, as I will be expanding the present storyline in Shards to continue the story another 100 or so pages.

errata...

 Dragoncon was a commercial and critical success (I got an award), and I've gotten some great e-mails from attendees. Of course after leaving for a week there's  stuff waiting for my attention when I got back... overall between getting my art show ready for dragoncon, including getting the new online store ( except another update of  products soon including offering Shards Artwork!) and taken care of "real life" business upon my return, It's been about a month since I've  been able to focus my attention on the rewrite. While at the convention though I took a formatted version of the story and combed through some rewrite notes with my trusted creative collaborator of many years. We took a lot of notes.

I'd like to give a shout out to fellow kindred spirit Darin Kennedy who's working hard on trying to get published with an urban fantasy  story that draws upon the game and subject of Chess. We've exchanged some e-mails after dragon*con and i did a quick book cover mock up for him; I wish him all the best!

The light at the end of my desk is there. Now over the convention hump, and things settling down I  can begin to focus my attention on the edit aspect my story. Now that I only have 900 things on my desk it's much more manageable than having a 1,000 things. The editing aspect is nothing short of lonely, demoralizing, draining and daunting, at least for me. But  I press on.

So.. I promise more progress on the book.  That said, Marketing for I-con 29 is starting up....

It's never a matter of biting off more than one can chew, it's a matter of always being hungry.

New Online Store Featuring chesspieces Art

I've relaunched my On Line store with new artwork. Mainly focusing on selling art prints, I will continue to add more products to what is there now ( Featuring chesspieces) But in the future I am planning on also incorporating my artwork from "shards of The Glass Slipper" as well as other art projects AND some of my photography.

Enjoy!
Visit the new Store!

moving my art is very moving.

Sure, I've done the traditional 2d drawing and painting stuff. and in recent years, I've been doing my more popular art in 3d. I finally have a computer that can keep up with me a little bit and now, for the first time ever, I can go back to my 3d files and...

Animate them.


The pictures that were once static images now race across the screen. Not as an image slideshow. Non moving clouds frozen in time now glide across the skies, casting shadows that crawl along my landscapes. I'm not saying I'm some sort of animating genius, far from, but it's satisfying to send the viewer along as the camera flies around, exploring a world once limited tobeing seen from only one side. The animations I am doing will be for a video I will be running at my art display at dragon con over the course of 4 days and well over 30,000 people.
Here's a sample of the work so far:

New chesspieces in the works

After a year long hiatus from Chesspieces, new work is being done to premiere at Dragon*con.
Shortly before that, the chesspiecess website will be revamped and updated along with the store. Some images are brand new, while others are an opportunity to update previous concepts.
Overall, 11 pieces- brand new printing for display, will show at dragon*con, along with a video slideshow.
With a new computer full of crunch power and the abilty to network render images it's become a lot easier to work on the more complex chess scenes I envision.

rewrites

In case any one was curious- I'm still working on rewrites for the book. I am taking my time with this. I'm on Chapter 15 actually. Finding the time and focus to work has been somewhat scattered these days, and Chapter 14 took along to go through.
And This time around it does take a little more paying attention. Going back through the first part of the story, I have to add or correct things that were intially written, and fold in elements that may have become apparent in later chapters, but now need to be referenced or at least kept in mind. The rewrite I find more time consuming than the actual writing aspect.
Once i completed the first draft, I can now attack the whole thing with the overall knowledge of how things acrually turned out, rather than writing based on a basic story outline.

It's alot of fun to now go back and fill in the gaps.
Also what this is helping to generate is notes for the follow up story.

Also As I continue to work on this I am still debating whether to try the traditional publishing route or just go straight to "Self Publish" I've read all the stories about how "gone with the wind and Carrie were rejected a hundred times. Of writers, resubmitting their own award winning published novels, only to be rejected. It seems to me as prestigious as it may be perhaps I don't have to go down that route.
the main appeal for me is I would have 100% control over marketing. which through a publishing house one doesn't always get.
But I don't know really, I'm on the fence about it for now. There a acouple of places I will be sending out to soon, and there are other agents/publishers who will only considered a finished manuscript.

Dragon*con 2009

 Hi all-

I've been accepted into the Dragon*Con art show this year. This year I will be showcasing a new "Series II" for my Chesspieces  art series. I already have a couple from the new series and I'd like to add about 5-6 or more new ones.I'm pretty excited about showing at Dragon*Con again last time was alot of fun. my Friend Pete is joining me this year and it should make for a great time.

anyways,  art needs to get created-  the chess pieces section of the website will undoubtedly get revamped and I need to revisit an on line store again. Then there prints to get made and a display to consider. It would be as extensive as the shards display- but I would like to incorporate some video for chesspieces. Also I'd like to create a calendar for chesspieces that I can maybe sell at dragon-con.

back to it

With I-CON 28 over with I have some breathing room, and I intend to focus on two things. Chess Pieces at the Dragon*Con Art show. ( Going back to dragon*Con!!!!)
And Getting Shards published. I chatted with author Patrick Thomas at I-CON for a little bit and it was rather inspring. So time to get back to it.

photo calendar error

 Hi All.

been very busy on my end focusing on I-Con 28, sorry for lack of posts.

I wanted to give a heads up to anyone who may have gotten one of my photo calendar's. There were errors in the 2009 template I used for the holiday list. 

Sorry for any confusion.

The chesspieces shop has closed

I've closed my online shop at Cafe' press for chesspiecess merchandise.
For now.
I may reopen it once I've launched new promotion for chesspieces.
Thanks to all that have visited and purchased.

Some new art *Updated*

Revisions continue on Shards of the Glass Slipper. There's a big 3 ring binder with the whole story printed out; I'm making notes and marking changes. Presently, my revisions are up to chapter 10 I will hope to get 3 to 5 more chapters done this week.


In the meantime, I hope to further keep myself motivated with some new Shards related artwork. The Snow White character and the Goldenhair character are personal favorites when it comes to the artwork, so I started there. They are my go-to girls. These latest promos ( there will be more) is my attempt to evoke the fairy tale character in Shards by more of a portrait shots rather than full body, and through tones of color.

resolutions

Happy 2009 to everyone! Good health, good luck and much success in all of your endeavors!

I've accomplished my 2008 resolutions. First it was to complete my novel. Done.
and on the last day of 2008 (after some holiday procrastinations) I mailed out my first book proposal ( This was one of my other 2008 resolutions)!!!!!!

My 2009 resoution (one of many) is now to get Shards published in some fashion. I will hit the ground running on Jan 1 as I focus on tightening up and polishing my manuscript etc. I hope to also break ground on the follow up novel.

Happy New Year!