Frame Restoration II

Mid-November I started restoring old wooden frames I received from my great-uncle. I’ve worked on the same thick, heavy first frame on and off since then, sometimes a little every days, sometimes a little every three days. How’s this for showing your true colors?

FrameRes3

Remember this? It was pretty green–or not so pretty green–last time you saw it. I had to sand off a lot more of the coating than I had hoped would be necessary, but it was important to get as much gunk off as possible. I will have to research whether I need to apply a primer or lacquer to the exposed wood, or if the metallic elements in gold-leaf paint are sufficient protection. 1 frame down (the worst of the lot), 4 to go!

In other news, I got proof copies of Cartage (graphic short story) from the printer last week. I have a few final edits to make, and then the print run begins. Stay tuned for celebratory news in February!

Look, Look, an Ebook!

I spent the last week testing Amazon’s new Kindle Kids’ Book Creator, specifically to convert Racing Pajamas into an ebook (codename: e-RP). It is now available for purchase on Amazon. Huzzah.

Fortunately, you do not have to have a Kindle to read e-RP! Amazon created an application for computers, phones, etc., to view Kindle files. Visit Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing page, scroll to “Kindle for PC/Mac” at the bottom & download the necessary file. It’s free! (And also accessible via the e-RP sale page.) Since I don’t have a Kindle (just a Kindle previewer), I’d love feedback about the real Kindle display in case I need to fix something.

At this time (and largely due to technical complications), there are no plans to sell e-RP through other venues, but I expect to utilize multiple channels for future books.

I’ve also revised my preview of Cartage (printed for the anime convention) for beta-testing/potential audience-building on the web. You can download the PDF on the Coming Soon page. It’s also on Lulu.com to (hopefully) reach a wider, unknown audience. Bread upon the waters.

Further fruitage from KawaKon: Hard to believe that was a month ago! I’m doing new digital character artwork for a visual novel called Detective Butler, created by an independent game developer, Goldbar Games. The new VN (creation in progress) will take place four years after the initial VN on the site (also free). Some credit for my new adventure goes to good ol’ Principia connections–the team lead of GG is a friend of a guy I attended Upper School with. Cue Principia’s unofficial alma mater. I’m sure you all know it. (Hint: It’s sung by dozens of dancing dolls in Disney World.)

It’s a small world after all…

January Jaunt

Greetings, my dear regulars, and happy new year!

As 2015 rolls into fashion, I find my customary holiday hiatus from the web blog much extended. As my Romanian French teacher from high school used to say, “believe you me,” it is not from a lack of things to mention nor from a wish to avoid such charming people as yourselves. Rather, ’tis thanks to that familiar nag called a deadline. Not the kind that creeps up on you, stealing into your chambers and suddenly rattling your bedpost, but rather the ominous kind that looms in the distance, that billows as you realize just how much more you didn’t know you have to do.

But I, like the sunshine on a spring day, am not worried about those clouds. Everything is moving forward in preparation for Kawa-Kon. Yesterday, in fact, I did a test print for the Pandagrams card template. A few tweaks there, then it’s formatting the set & off to the printer–tally ho! Completing Cartage will require a much greater push, but it’s definitely doable.

Now that I have taken and relished the opportunity to wax mildly poetic, I must crack my own whip, return from this little jaunt, and get to work! Until next time, whenever that may be!

4th (update) of July

What an occasion–my fourth post this month! (Normally I update 3 times a month).This weekend I’ll attend a little haiku conference/festival and hopefully sell a few books & network with writers and publishers (not exclusively haikuists).

“Haiku?” you say, “I thought you wrote children’s books!” Yes, those, and many other things. I dabble in crafting haiku, senryu, and other short poetry. Haiku and senryu, as you may know, are genres of Japanese poetry. Subject-wise, haiku generally deal with nature and senryu with people. Both are comprised of 17 syllables (3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables in English, although Japanese poets generally write each poem in a single vertical line). There are freer forms that do not hold to the 17 syllables, such as this cheesy little one by me:

rule of law

parallel parking

before the courthouse

As for ongoing projects, the little farm boy and his goats are coming along–met with the author yesterday to deliver a progress report. I am pleased to say she’s pleased with the illustrations. Finishing Alice is on hold ’til I return next week. Thumbnails for Cartage are in the works, John Churchmouse methinks will soon resume, and some new ideas beg for attention.

Matane! (That’s a Japanese equivalent to “See you later!”)