Happy Halloween!

This isn't really my holiday, but why not wish a happy and safe one to all of you out there that do enjoy this one:


I watched Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown for the first time in years last night, and I have to say, for me, Peanuts never get old. I felt like a kid again and enjoyed it immensely.

And this morning, I scared the stinkies out of my little brother as soon as he woke up. So that felt good. :)


Have a good one, everybody!

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Myth Conceptions

My FINAL Myth Conceptions column is now posted. Check it out by clicking the title of this post.

Thank you to everyone who has at one point or another read my column, I greatly appreciate all your support.

(And btw, in the column I state that I wrote 75 installments of my previous column at another site, and that's not completely accurate. 5 installments were done by fill-in writers).

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Myth Conceptions

This is 6 days late, but here it is (click the title link). This week I talk about knowing when to let dreams go.

I'll also be posting my next and last Myth Conceptions column this week, either tomorrow or Wednesday, so be on the lookout for it!

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UFC

Typically I'm not a sports fan. I can watch them on occasion, but I was never really into them. I played basketball for about half a season in grade school, but that's it. And I do enjoy going to the UK games, football and basketball, when I can. It's exciting being there live. I was never real heavy into anything like boxing either, though I still watched it occasionally.

See, I was always the "fake sport" guy. I love wrestling, and I just can't stop that. But as far as competitive sports go, I have to say that over the past couple of years I have really been taken with the UFC.

For those who don't know, the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is the premiere MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) organization. Over the past few years this sport has really skyrocketed, thanks in no small part to the reality show Ultimate Fighter where the winner gets a UFC contract.

Now, I've always been a fan of martial arts, but this is a bit different. It combines any kind of fighting technique you can think of and puts these guys in a cage to battle it out. But it's not totally barbaric either. These fighters respect each other, and it is a highly competitive sport. Sure, they beat the crap out of each other, and undoubtedly shorten the span of their physical prowess by facing many injuries. But they love it, and it's exciting to watch.

I don't know why it appeals to me so much unless it's the aspect of it kind of being what pro wrestling might be if it wasn't staged. Whatever the case may be, I absolutely love the sport and watch it whenever I can. I'd love to go to a live event sometime.

And speaking of pro wrestling, Brock Lesnar of WWE fame from a few years back has signed on with the UFC. He was one of the fastest rising superstars in pro wrestling, but he was also a top NCAA amatuer wrestler prior to that. He's a big boy at around 6'3"-6'4" and over 260lbs. It will be really exciting to watch him compete for the first time, whenever that may be.

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Mystery Girl

I forgot about this for a couple of days, but just remembered it and thought I'd share.

A few days ago my brother got a call on his cell phone, but he didn't recognize the number, so he didn't answer. The next day the same number called and this time he answered. Turns out it was a girl asking for me.

Now, I have never given my brother's cell phone number out to anyone. In fact, I only know the first three digits of it as it's on speed dial for me and I never pay attention to it. On top of that, I don't recognize the number, and I can't think of one single girl that would have access to Zach's phone number that would be trying to reach me.

I've yet to call the number, but I am very curious who this could be. I guess I'm going to have to eventually break down and call it if for nothing else to satisfy my own curiosity.

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Taking Its Toll

I've had a really "down" week this week. Not emotionally, just mentally and physically. I have just felt burnt out and drained all week and have really had to force myself to get stuff done. And that I have, just not as fast as I'd like, and certainly not with the "umph" I'd like, for lack of a better, more fitting term.

I don't know if it's the change in the weather, recent circumstances, or just plain old burnout. But I can't seem to get on a regular sleep schedule either, and I'm sure that has something to do with it too.

It's just been a rough week in that respect. I still need a vacation. It's a good thing the holidays are coming up as I can take them to just step away and chill for a little bit.

The good news is there's only one more weekday I have to make it through, and then the weekend will be better, won't it? I'll still have some lettering to do then, but my mindset will be better, right? I sure hope so, because I am totally drained right now and I don't feel like doing anything. At all. Except maybe sleeping. :) Of course, I've been up since about 1am and it's now 3pm, so I guess I should be feeling fatigued at the moment. ;)

Anyway, that's what's going on in my head today, and pretty much all week so far. I just thought I'd share...

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Lord of the Rings Inspired by... Kentuckians?

According to the Winchester Sun, the local newspaper here, Tolkien may have used Kentucky reference in his creation of the hobbits and Aragorn. Read the article by clicking the title link above.

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San Diego Fires

It's no secret that I plan on moving to California eventually, but I have to say I'm thankful that I'm not in the midst of what's going on down there now. My prayers go out to all the families who've lost their homes in the wild fires that have been spreading recently.

Click the title to find out more about the fires and see photos.

There are also a lot of comic companies, stores and creators down that way, and CBR has an update on some of them here.

Again, my prayers and thoughts are with the victims and those near the fires.

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Myth Conceptions

More talk about dreams this week. Click the title to read the column.

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Of Poetry, Prose and Non-Fiction

So I had a phone conversation today that was pretty interesting. It was with a comic TPB packaging company. Basically they're a company that puts your team together, helps you guide the book to perfection, and then they find a publisher for you. This particular company has some pretty well known names involved, all of which I greatly respect.

The conversation was a good one. I got some insight into what exactly it is that they do, and I determined I'd like to pitch some stuff to them in the near future. And what's better is they want me to pitch stuff in the near future. So that lifted my spirits and really inspired some more confidence in both their company and in my own talents. Hopefully something fruitful will eventually come out of that for both of us.

Coming off of the conversation I started thinking about other stuff I want to write. See, that company is marketing towards more of a general audience as opposed to the direct market, so while I love comics it also got me to thinking about stuff I want to do outside of comics. I started thinking of the novels I've started and the screenplays I've started, and the poetry book I've been wanting to put together for some time. I just really enjoy writing and creating, and having other people enjoy my work.

For so long now writing has had to take a back-burner as other things paid the bills. But I really do want to be a writer primarily, and even though I've said it here before, I just really want to start focusing on that again. That's not to say I'm going to stop lettering, editing or drawing in the least. I just need to manage my time better is all, so I can get my writing back on track.

Speaking of writing, thanks to everyone for all the feedback on last week's Myth Conceptions column. I was hoping it would connect with people, and from the responses I got I'd say it was successful in that realm. This week's is nearly finished, even though it's already late. I'll post here when it goes up as usual.

On another note, stay tuned to this blog in the months to come because some things are in the works, or soon to be in the works that I'm getting excited about. It's time I take the bull by the horns on some things and stop waiting around for the right time or for confirmation. I just need to move, and thanks to some awesome support by a few people I think I am ready to do just that. So be watching.

Now onto some possibly bad news. We are late delivering Wannabez #0, and by the time the colors and letters are done the pages will be nearly two months late. Because of that we might not be able to get any copies for the Mid-Ohio Con that I was going to try to go to. It's just one of those things that happened. Life got in the way of things here, and so the book might be later than expected. Well, it was due out last month, so it's already late, but it may be a lot later because of the delay, we'll just have to see. I'll keep you updated on the Wannabez blog as news develops on that front.

And I guess that's it for now. I've got some lettering to do before calling it a day.

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Myth Conceptions

Click the link above to find the column below (in the previous post) in its regular location.

If you're wondering why I'm posting at SBC right now all things considered, please ask me privately.

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Myth Conceptions

Until my "situation" is resolved I figured I'd post the column here and then also post it there if the opportunity arises. Plus I think a couple of you out there might get something out of this week's:

Myth Conceptions – The Road Less Traveled

By Brant W. Fowler

I’ve been reevaluating things of late concerning a number of issues. Am I on the right path? Is this what I want to be doing? And if so, am I going about it the right way? I’ve been asking myself those kinds of questions.

Relating that to comics is very easy. I read on a friend’s blog recently as he attempted to reach out to another friend who is having doubts about his own comic related path and it got me to thinking. I’ve contemplated following my own dreams, or not following them many, many times over the years, and I’ve gone back and forth with them.

I won’t rehash the whole story as I’ve done it here before, but I stepped away from comics for several years following other paths, and I came back. Not because I couldn’t let go of what many consider a childish habit. But because I really do have a genuine love for the medium, and there is no other escape like it. Sure, I love movies and novels as well, and I enjoy hanging out with friends and family. But there’s just something in comics that connected with me early on, and through thick and thin it stuck with me.

For me, this not only applies to comics, but to other passions and dreams in my like as well. But this is a comics column on a comics website, so I’ll stick to the comics for now. But like any other dream, there will always be a battle between reality and the dream; the logical and the emotional. It’s not an easy battle, and not everyone survives the struggle, especially when loved ones are involved.

I wouldn’t recommend to anyone to put your dreams and goals above your friends and family per se. But I also wouldn’t recommend to anyone to lock your dreams away forevermore because of them. I have a lot of talented people in my family. Some are athletes, some are musicians or singers, others are artists, and so forth. Almost none of them are living their dreams, and while they do have some happiness, you can see that bit of emptiness left from unfulfilled dreams. It wasn’t always their choice not to pursue their dreams, but circumstances, fears perhaps, and yes, loved ones taking priority, which is all understandable.

As for me, I vowed early on not to be like that, and that was a bold declaration for one such as me. I was a quiet kid who kept to himself and didn’t socialize a whole lot. I won’t give you the sob story behind all that, but suffice it to say that I wasn’t inclined to open up too much, nor was I apt to show off my talents all too often. But I still set in my mind that I would never allow myself to fall prey to the same things my family did, regardless of whether their reasons for doing so were just or not.

But I did.

Other responsibilities, family, church and other things in my life began to take more and more precedence over my own dreams and goals as I grew. I convinced myself I could put them on hold for a while and come back to them, which is a dangerous trap that far too many people fall into. As time went on I had lost some of the passion I had for those dreams and had persuaded myself to follow the advice of others and take a different, more sensible path. The only problem is I was never happy doing so. And that led to problems.

Fast forward several years and I find myself getting older and opportunities passing, and dreams fading away. I began becoming more and more unhappy. I had some people through the years support my dreams and try to urge me to follow them, but the key people I was listening to in my life at the time were not so supportive, rather the opposite actually.

I then began clinging to little pieces of the dreams, but feeling like it was just a way to stay connected, yet never really fulfill my potential, or my dreams. That wasn’t satisfying enough. I then went through a period where I felt it was too late, as we all do when we’ve waited what we feel is too long.

But then it happened. A glimmer of hope. Just a tiny sliver of light that peaked through to let me know it was still possible. Just an opportunity that turned into two, then three, then kind of spread out from there. And I was on my way to at least approaching one of my many dreams: comics.

Am I where I want to be yet? Not even close. Am I enjoying where I’m at though? Immensely. I’m not making as much money as I have at my last three office jobs, nor do I have benefits or a fancy house or anything like that… yet. But I am far happier than I ever was following a path others set before me that I was never completely comfortable in.

I no longer feel like it’s too late, nor do I listen to the people who tell me to be realistic and that these are pipe dreams. Don’t get me wrong, I would do what I needed to do to support myself, I’m not stupid. But I’m one of the idiots who truly believes I can make a good, comfortable living doing what I love to do, using the talents that God gave me. And I don’t care about the statistics or the logic that says I’m wrong. I know great things can happen if you work hard and really have passion and determination to reach your goals. Without getting too preachy on this pedestal, the Bible says “dreams come through a multitude of business.” And I fully intend to keep reaching and keep applying my craft until my dreams materialize.

Bottom line, if you are truly passionate about working in comics, then you’ll find a way to make it work. Don’t neglect your other responsibilities, or your family. But don’t let that dream die. Because maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow, but someday you will look back on that dream and say “what if?” I’ve been there when I’ve missed certain opportunities, and I never want to experience that feeling again. Just to add to my quotes and clichés, “live life to the fullest”. And as my friend’s blog says, “There is no someday, and tomorrow never comes.”

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

...Robert Frost

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on…” ~ William Shakespeare, The Tempest

On Another Note

I finished a few pages of Lightning Squirrel, finalized Fracture, sent off Karma Game for approval, and edited one script, working on another as I type this. So it's been a productive weekend so far. I just don't have much to do at present oddly enough.

I also picked up another lettering gig, though it's a backend profits deal. I know I said I was only taking paying, but the art on this book is gorgeous and I've worked with the writer before. So it's promising. More on that in the weeks to come.

I've probably done a little more that I can't recall at this time. The above just doesn't sound like that much, so surely I've done something else...

We had some drama here this weekend - some pretty serious drama - but I think it worked out for the best.

My other situation is not yet resolved of course, and that still frustrates me a bit, even though I do have a bit of calm about it, mostly from prayer, a little from talking it out with the people involved.

I'm also looking into some other things, so more news if those pan out.

I applied for a couple of lettering jobs the past few days and got turned down by one, never responded to by another, and that one I really wanted. Oh well.

It's been a long weekend, and tomorrow is a holiday. I'm drained already.

I watched The Covenant last night. I don't really like the implications and all, but the movie was fun to watch. It was pretty predictable, but the effects were cool.

I guess that's it. I'm halfway through my second, and last, script to edit today, so I'm gonna finish that up.

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First Ebay Item Sold!

Yep, out of 16 auctions I sold 1. It went for $0.99. So I spent about $10 and made $1. Who knew selling on eBay would be equivalent to playing the lottery... Sigh, oh well.

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Ebay Foibles

Well, one of my auctions went unsold, and 8 more end within the next 20-24 hours. The other 7 in under 2 days. I can't say I'm surprised there's not been much attention for the items, but I was hoping. Oh well, hopefully I'll get something out of this ebay mess.

I won't be able to relist anything for a while given my current circumstances sadly. If anyone out there hasn't checked out my stuff yet, my username is gonzogoose777 so check them out. :)

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Closing Out the Week

For those of you that care to know, things are SLOWLY being worked out in that certain situation. Hopefully things will begin to progress faster soon. I wait with bated breath...

In the wide world of lettering, today I finished up most of Karma Game #1 for FE Comics. I say most because there are a few pages not colored yet, one I'm waiting on direction for, and two I forgot I had. So technically about 2/3 of the issue is done.

I'll be finalizing the Epsilon Realm Raven one-shot today as well and I may get to Lightning Squirrel.

I've also got some editing to finally get to today if it kills me. Things have been pretty hectic on the homefront, so I haven't spent as much time on the computer this week as I normally do.

On another note, I reconnected with an old friend and co-worker from my Lexmark days some 6 years ago thanks to the wonder that is MySpace. Turns out she's a model now who just signed with an agency out of New York. So things are going pretty well for her these days, and that was good to hear. She's a smart, cool lady and I'm happy for her.

I guess that'll do it on this fine (and unfortunately very rainy) Friday.

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Strefrusthauxtioness

Don't you love nonsense words? Well, this one perfectly defines my mood today. I've not had a good day, and things don't look to be getting better at the moment. I've got to figure some stuff out, and it's really getting to me. Have I mentioned that I need a vacation? If only I had the opportunity to take one.

On the lettering and editing front I'm making slow progress. House guests and some family drama kind of brought everything to a screeching halt the past couple of days, but hopefully the rest of the week will be more productive. We'll see.

My "no pay, no play" declaration so far is still in effect, though I'm hoping that will change soon. I just need to see how things go later in the week to know. I'm just not feeling good about things on that front yet.

From what I'm reading, I don't think I'm alone in my crappy mood today. Hopefully tomorrow will be better, as a friend said.

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Rip-Off!

This probably isn't the most visible place to post this, but I needed to say it somewhere. There is a website that charges $5 to convert .docx files (MS Word 2007 default, which is NOT backwards compatible) to .doc files. The problem with this is there are multiple FREE ways to do the same thing as I have just discovered.

First, there's a download from Microsoft.com that will allow you to open .docx files in your older versions of the program. There are also free services that convert if for you at NO CHARGE! So beware this site: http://www.docx2doc.com/ that will try to swindle you out of $5. Click the title of this post to find out about the other methods available.

As an aside, this is my 600th post!

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