Happenings 03/09/09

A whole heap of stuff has happened since my last post. I’ve started a new day job which keeps me busy most of the day but more importantly will put some much needed money into my bank account. At the moment my brain is frazzled come 10-11pm allowing for around 2 hours writing on a bad day and 4-5 on a good day. I’m sure one I get used to the new schedule my brain and sleep cycles shall adjust accordingly. Either that or there’s lots of caffeine in my future. Lots.

Next month I begin my studies towards an English degree via Open University which is both exciting and terrifying. Exciting in prospect of all the new things I’ll learn and just the notion of being in education again. Terrifying in the fact that time is going to be a very rare commodity for me over the next few months.

On the comics front, specifically Futurequake, I’ve had both good and bad news. The story I’ve done with Bryan Coyle (Insomnia Comics ‘Babble’) entitled ‘Edge of Creation’ has been delayed until the next round of new issues, which will be sometime early next year. The art for the story looks tremendous. I’m really proud of the way it has turned out, and it was a real pleasure working with Bryan (even though he sometimes, just every so often, sees dead animals. Don’t ask.)

The blow was softened though with the arrival of completed artwork for another FQP story ‘A Hobby a Day. . .’ Admittedly I’d forgotten about this story and thought it was quite some way from completion and seeing print. It was a nice surprise then to open up my email this week and see the finished artwork by newcomer and FQ virgin (we were gentle, honest) Matt Birks. For a debut effort the art is fantastic and I’m looking forward to Matt’s future work and hopefully a chance to collaborate again some time in the future. He makes me look cool. No easy feat.

Also finally, after much persistence on my part (and patience on the part of editor Troy Dye) I’ve managed to get a story accepted for the forthcoming UFO anthology by Ape Entertainment. I’m currently in the process of working with an artist to get the first few pages penciled for Troy’s perusal and approval. Details forthcoming.

So all in all it’s been a turbulent but successful few weeks. The next few weeks promise to be a masterclass in time management as I ease into my new day job, write and start study towards a degree (then of course there’s BICS in about 3 weeks). Of course when I crash and burn and become a hollow shell of a human being, you the ever faithful reader shall be the first to know!