Projects before me.
With the last wisps of work gone, I spent a good deal of the night staring at a blank white board in my office. The massive board that takes up one of the walls from floor to ceiling, usually filled with ideas.
It was nearly blank and that made me nervous.
Not that I didn’t have any ideas. I was looking for the right ideas. Ones that would take me forward at lightning speed to the first in [hopefully] a series of doors that lead to opportunity to share Wanted Hero.
There are three main projects in motion while time hammers on me relentlessly, without mercy.
The first is the Prelude to a Hero novel. the precursor to the whole series of books, without a pulled punch or missed line. It’s been frustrating in getting this book done, because it should have been published a year ago.
That’s only a mild complaint because I’ve been forced to learn exactly what I needed. To learn what it takes to MAKE a novel, to see options today which I couldn’t see last year…and best of all–to know how critical this working relationship is between my wife and myself. That’s huge.
It’s taught both of us how critical this process is. The better we get, the faster we progress.
So I have the novel being refined my wife and I for the last time. We want to make sure that when it’s read…it will, without a doubt, hook the reader and convert them to the full journey of Wendell, Dax and Chuck.
The second project is the second book (first actual novel, btw) in the Chronicles of Wanted Hero. I found my mind screaming to keep going and not wait to be done with the first book. So I kept going and now I’m more than half way done with the massive book.
The last project is a Wanted Hero mini comic which is for teaching and training. It’s called “Finding Your Why” and it has to do with your inner foundation and drive. Awesome story between Wendell and King Robert III.
So what will I do with them? Well, I don’t know if this is the BEST plan, but for now, it’s a plan nonetheless.
The first two books will be put up for download as soon as they’re done. For the Kindle, Nook and on Smashwords. We are planning to sell Prelude for $0.99 and the rest of the books for $2.99-$3.99 each a download.
Once there’s enough income in a pool, I’ll publish the books in print as well and make them available online at a regular paperback book price. This will be through Ingram Books, and we’ll have each book listed in their database with 30,000+ books stores.
As for the comic book, that will be printed and then be a POD (print on demand) item for $2.65 a copy (or thereabouts). I can sell them through my sites and also through sales people who have already displayed an interest.
What’s my hope in all this…
Honestly? To have something similar happen to Wanted Hero like what happened to Amanda Hocking. If you haven’t read her story, you should. She’s a kind person with a great story to inspire.
Read More1st Kid Review Is A Hit!
The first child review is in. Granted it was by my own children, but I have playfully kept them in the dark on the new changes of the story for the past six months. That’s right, Jaime Buckley CAN keep a secret!
And you thought I could only yodel and pop popcorn…
So I printed out the 181 typed pages, punched holes in them and placed them in a three ring binder. Then I handed the project to Cesilea, who is our resident bedtime story technician. If she can’t read a story to little kids and have them excited, it ain’t gonna happen for the ordinary mortals. Trust me on this one.
So we gathered around the living room nook and listened as she started reading…and I started flinching. I hated it from the third sentence on and I found Kathi holding my hand and smiling. “Just let them have the experience. No corrects this time–just the story and how they feel about it.”
So I gritted my teeth and zipped my lips shut.
Bedtime is at 7pm, lights out at 8:30pm…but there was roaring laughter, tears at times (from the laughter) and a series of boo’s and hisses from the children under 12 when we called it bedtime at 11:12pm. It was a total success. Kathi had to wrestle the binder from Ditto to make sure she didn’t read it into the night or try and get up early to do the same. Jessica also had to be watched like a hawk, for she wanted to know where we would be setting the book down in our bedroom!
My oldest girls gave mountains of feedback, but the best comment I received was from Cesilea. I asked what she thought and when she had stopped giggling, she said: “Dad, I think it’s a HIT!” All my concerns were explained away by my kids, who laughed at all the jokes, even the hidden ones. This included Jami Taylor (age 7) and Ethany (age 6), who didn’t understand the larger words, but laughed at the reactions and dialogue between the characters. What made me smile however, was when Cesilea would laugh so hard, she couldn’t read and we had to wait for her to dry her eyes. The bouts of laughter were usually followed by “Oh my heck dad, Wendell is a MOTARD!”
No feedback from outside readers yet, but Kathi and Ditto have always been my harshest critics. Last night gave me a ton of hope that, well…I don’t actually suck as a story teller. The cover design for the novel is underway as we speak.
Read MoreThe Right Paper
Paper is the most important supply an artist uses. You can have the best ink in the world, but if you have a pitted, coarse paper, that valuable ink will run every which way and cause all sorts of chaos in your creation heaven. This should not be tolerated.
Over the years I have spent thousands of dollars on paper alone, and I’m here to tell you, if you want to create a good work of art—comic book or not, you need the right paper and you should get it from the right source. Many claim to have the paper you need, but most still contain acid in the fibers, which will turn your creations yellow after a time or even from simple exposure to sunlight.
I have found the very best paper source and at the most remarkable price too.
I buy all my paper at Comic Art Supplies.
Just to prove how popular these folks are, we found an old religious revival in Clockworks City, preaching about paper to the congregation of artists!
Have a listen…
Read MoreTools of the Trade
One of the fun aspects of being an artist is using the tools and shaping your new creation, bringing it to life. Going into an art store was one of my favorite places in thew world, walking down the isles looking for the fine brushes, testing ink or shopping for the perfect paper. I could lose myself or hours looking for the right accouterments.
When we were producing Wanted Hero bi-monthly, a series of podcasts were created to help kids understand what they needed to created their own eComics (or other art project they were working on). I was out of town at the time and the Gnomes from Clockworks City were kind enough to fill in when we discussed the ‘Tools of the Trade’.
A heads up: digital information deteriorates over time when it’s not saved regularly. After 2-3 years the quality begins to falter. The actual podcast is old, pulled from our ‘vintage vault’, but the information is still good. Also keep in mind that computer information advances every 6 months…so some of the information in this podcast is good, but better is available, such as the graphics card and WHRN switched to use BLUEHOST Servers (far superior and better service than Ferdiworks.com).
Hope you enjoy and feedback is always appreciated.
Read MoreDo you have an idea for your eComic?
This may sound like a simple matter, but trust me when I say it deserves a measure of time for your consideration.
Do you have an idea for your eComic?
Sure, Brit-Boy is a Superhero from the UK, who has the phenomenal power of mind-over-cheese. He can also flip nunchakus of Leafield at deadly speeds, and slide under doors by transforming into liquid Lincolnshire Poacher…but will that be enough?
‘Enough?’ you ask, flinging your body over your sketches of Cheese-boy, like a protective parent.
What I mean is: ‘Will your storyline hold the interest of your readers?’
Yes Melanie, this even applies to your project, because anyone who draws a cartoon to entertain or convey an idea needs to consider what needs to be conveyed. From a simple one frame comic to a full blown comic book, will it be of interest to your readers. Now that you’ve decided to plug into the electronic center of the Universe (the web), what is it about your story that will set it apart? What have you created which will grab a readers attention…and KEEP it?
This is not a subject to take lightly. This question can actually help make or break your success. Simply being able to draw dynamic heroes, who can shatter meteors in a single blow, will only get you so far. Ok, you can also draw the bodacious babes wearing liquid clothes, but that won’t solve your problem, either.
Wendell soon learns no everyone is interested in "peaceful" negotiations.
In WANTED:HERO, many of the characters were developed over a period of nine years, some even longer. Now, you certainly don’t need that much time…but how well do you know your characters? How detailed is their background? Could you do genealogy on the people in your story? Yes, your Hero can rip apart the world with his bare hands…but what would he say in a normal conversation? Or, how would he react when he finds out his widowed mother, now has cancer and can’t taker care of herself??
In your case Melanie, what is the story about? Do you want people to laugh, cry, or send the author hate mail? Is there a main character that can be used as the center of attention with supporting characters as the ‘landscape’?
That might sound silly to you—but knowing the past of your characters, help you shape a believable future.
Another point to consider–is creating a storyline people can relate to.
Wendell P. Dipmier, the lead character in WANTED:HERO is just an average kid, fresh out of high school, who finds himself mistaken as the last in a royal line of heroes. Many readers write to me and tell me they actually relate to the simple guy who used to live with his mom and was a complete outcast of ‘normal’ social structures (read Wendell’s journal to get an insight into the character). The guy who had an opinion, but was never in a set of circumstances which allowed him to share those views. The guy who loves the band Keane…just like millions of other youth in the US and UK. They watch Wendell’s development through each issue (or reading his personal blog) and see how becoming a ‘hero’ may actually be possible for people like us, after all.
…and yet, all I was doing was telling the tale of my buddy, Wendell.
Asking this question may be a simple matter….but it’s an essential one.
Do you have an idea for your eComic?
Read MoreWhat is an eComic?
Cover #8 of Wanted Hero eComic.
“eComic” stands for ‘electronic comic’ (or comic book), and usually refers to the internet. However, eComics can be placed into two general categories, even though technology and innovation continue to progress:
The first is a purely electronic experience, which means the comic is viewed and enjoyed exclusively on the computer screen. Most are made to fit the parameters of the screen itself (the various resolutions) and are viewed page by page. Depending upon the company and comic, ‘creative’ navigation features are included—one of the most complicated (and fun) is used by Marvel—which lets you read not only page by page, but by each single frame.
This class of eComic can be viewed online, some may be downloaded from online…and a few are even available on disc or DVD, which you can purchase. Regardless, this class of eComic is based upon “on screen viewing”.
The second category of eComics combines both worlds of the growing comic field: digital AND print, of which WANTED:HERO is an example.
The latest title logo used by Wanted Hero.
WANTED:HERO is a traditional comic book in every sense of the word…written, drawn by hand with pencil/pen and ink, and then it was simply scanned into a computer, formatted for print, and then a copy was placed online for purchase. What made WANTED:HERO unique, is that the reader could purchase the eComic, download it immediately to their computer and then print out a high quality copy to hold, sit back, read and share with others.
Can WANTED:HERO be viewed on your computer? Sure. In fact, there were also live ‘links’ in issues, which allowed the reader further opportunities to expand on the storyline experience, by visiting sites connected to the storyline (sites which unfortunately no longer exist—which is a risk you run when working with others). Because the printing cost is non-existent (being electronic), WANTED:HERO was able to keep the price of each individual comic to .99 cents or less—even AFTER PayPal took a major chunk! The price eventually settled at $.97 an issue, and with Paypal’s cut, the house got $.63 each, the whole process once uploaded became automated.
What set WANTED:HERO apart from other eComics in the same category at the time? Once a comic was purchased, there was no limit to the copies which could be made and the publisher actually encouraged the readers to share copies with others! In fact, i even told people to steal them from me!! As long as you did not change the content in any way, or attempt to sell the eComic, your copy could be freely shared with others.
Another aspect which made WANTED:HERO fun and unique was it’s involvement of real-life people in the storyline. People of deep and noble character, which brought aspects of the story to life, as well as making further research a joy to do. The ‘Universe’ of the storyline ended up expanding into other aspects of life and to other sites not normally associated with comics, giving the backgrounds real ‘flair’.
Read MoreMy Latest Book
