Hi Xyliacs! Lots to report today!
First of all, Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2010 and the new decade it ushers in is good for us all!
———————–XYLIATALES NEWS!!————————
Big announcement- Xyliatales will be switching to a WEDNESDAY update schedule. I’m hoping that this move will help me stay on target with regular updates. I have yet to decide if this will be a midnight or a noon CST update- I may not be as hardcore about that- but I will update on Wednesdays. Additionally, I will be adding a Monday blog that will feature a teaser sketch of the coming page, and what I hope to be some content that isn’t too boring! ^_^
Also, Xyliatales On Air will be broadcasting on Sundays. I’m going to try for a regular time- like 5PM CST. I know some of you will find that an inconvenient time in other parts of the world, but hopefully that will work for some of you!. XYLIATALES ON AIR TALK SHOW SITE
Also planning on bringing back the TWC vote box!
We are going to do one or two small shows in the midwest this year, later in the summer when the books are printed. Maybe the Twin Cities, definitely Iowa.
Finally, I have made the decision to create a printed version of Xyliatales Book I Part I! This is the story from the Prologue to the end of Chapter 4. My goal is to have the book available by April. On another note- I’m sorry that the Xylia 2010 art calendar project fell through. I am planning on creating some tee-shirts, and I’m working on some downloadable character cards. I hope to have a new one each week!
The big kickoff of the new year with Xylia starts next Monday, with some layout changes, so please stop by! Remember- comic updates will be on Wednesday starting next week.
With all of these plans, and hopes for a new year with Xylia, I would like to know if you are all still out there, reading this and interested after my sporadic updates the last two months. About six months ago, many of you came forward and expressed your interest and fondness for this project, and those heartfelt comments were instrumental in keeping me going through some challenging times. From time to time, it’s good to know that you are all still out there, and you still want Xylia around. Can you let me know if a book is something you would want? Thank you, Xyliacs!
Remember, you can follow my announcements on Twitter
Or consider friending me on Facebook- just make sure to let me know that you are a Xyliac when you send the request.
—————-TODAY’S PAGE——————
This chapter is winding down, and our hero is finding himself more focused than he has ever been… hopefully my path will continue parallel his. It’s kind of fun to look back on ‘Charlie’ and see how different he is now as ‘Claude’ and yet not so different. The same can be said for me.
EDIT: Please visit Tom Racine’s Tall Tale Radio- interview I did with Chip Skelton of Broken on character development. As always a good time with Tom and Chip! Tall Tale Radio
——————BARB NEWS & NOTES—————–
First off I will announce to all of you in more temperate climes, that at this writing, the standing temperature is a bracing, face freezing -13 F (-25C). 0.o Simply delightful! <-------sarcasm alert.
Any hoo...
I hope all of you had a safe New Years Eve! Me-I celebrated by spending the evening dancing and sipping champagne with some dear friends of mine and seeing some other friends in a band (an AMAZING band) The best part was when my sweetheart called from Iraq at exactly midnight. ^_^ Not the same as having him here to kiss of course, but it was nice, just the same.
Despite a really painful left hip (still don't know what's wrong with it- I can barely walk in the morning, but Advil seems to help) I've resumed my five day a week workout schedule- and now my son and his gal are in the act! Great to have workout buddies. My daughter of course is in basketball training and puts us all to shame.
Got my resolution list made up, and created a new resolution blog in the Xyliacs forum. Will you please join me in posting your personal goals for 2010? Resolution Blog
——————–XYLIA GOODY BAG——————
Please consider donating for the cause! I plan on adding new things in the coming weeks- first I will be creating a series of hi resolution downloadable character cards, with profile images and bio information! In the meantime, browse our existing wallpapers and other things. As always if you don’t receive your download, please email me directly at bji2001(at)mchsi.com.
Most of the other incentives are still available for $2.00 – $10.00 amounts, including the nude faeiries (if you are 18+)! Get em while they’re hot (always)! ^_^
As we head towards three years of Xyliatales, I want to thank all of you for coming along for the ride, and I hope you continue to stay with us in the coming year!
Hugs,
~B
January 3rd, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Count me in as one of the still-here-not-going-anywhere folks.
Told ya before – come to California. We have cookies…and earthquakes.
January 3rd, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Not plannin’ on goin’ anywhere either, Barb!
I live just north of Chicago and remember reading somewhere that the first French explorers that came through here regarded the area as unfit for human habitation… I igure they hit town on a weekend in January or July.
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:44 pm
If Claude can sense Xylia, I hope this means he can find her quickly! I look forward to the book. I live in Tucson and I still wonder how people lived here before air conditioning. Still winters are beautiful. I never have to defrost my car in the morning.
January 4th, 2010 at 12:44 am
Hi there, I also will not be going anywhere! The story and art are worth waiting for. Glad you had a good New Years! Mine was very low key, due to my smallish children, and it was too hot to do much except sleep. When my kids are bigger I am going to take them to see a white Christmas. My husband used to live in Virginia, so he wants them to experience that too. The only white we have here is the sand at the beach.
January 4th, 2010 at 3:59 am
That’s the beauty of an RSS feed. Whenever you update, I’ll be by to see it.
As for the weather, it’s 25 in north Florida. I gotta get back down south. We had a beautiful 70 degree Christmas at my mom’s.
January 4th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Yes Barb, I’m still here (and not only on the forum !). I still follow those news each week, even if I seldom leave a comment. ^^
January 4th, 2010 at 6:57 am
If I’m anywhere, I’m here. Although I can’t feel my fingers, so they may not be. Or my nose, it could also be gone. And I seem to have lost my mind somewhere, but I’m sure it will turn up…
Sweden turned cold the last week or so, and my house is old. 16 degrees inside when I woke up last morning…
January 4th, 2010 at 9:06 am
i appreciate the recent return to updates and looking forward to progression from this scene, but…your updates are not TOO sporadic. all webcomics take the periodic hiatus as you do, and i think people are cool with that – i am. i want to see the story to its end, but
i’m not sure i’ll buy the book – i like the way lora is putting out books, through a publisher at a cheap cost per book. at that price, i’d buy it – have you spoken with her publisher? the value of our currency and salaries to the dollar are not so good, and i have over-indulged in webcomic products already in the last two years, a small part of my current financial ruin – but
i’d like to tell you on what, as part of an informal survey for you on where people like us have laid down slightly bigger money. i’ve paid 60 per page for two pages of cat and girl – if you’ve seen the genius work of dorothy. and 50 for an original page of wigu, by jeff rowland. i’ve also bought signed, limited edition prints from john allison – also his print books are just my price range and so prettily done, it’s a real treat. i’ve bought about 10-12 webcomic t-shirts, but since they all switched to the micro-sized american apparel brand which i despise, i’ve been able to quit that habit – i have maybe 4-5 aa shirts i never wear and cannot put on, though nobody else i know would appreciate them as i do. such a shame, i’m tempted to use the fabric as patches on a dress. instead of asking, would we buy the book, you might consider doing a poll with several price options to see what price people would really shell out for it, because some of these print comic books are costing the creators too much to print and going for $20 – thereby selling less copies. in any case, my point is that i know for a fact that some of us readers (not just me) value original art and some creators are making money, especially when they really need it, by providing this from time to time. some artists only post their work on eBay and everyone bids. anders loves maria, octopus pie, many have done this successfully.
January 4th, 2010 at 9:21 am
Sweet! I’m so glad to hear you’re going to put Xylia out as a book.
Definitely count me in.. and count me in for t-shirts too. Once I get over this dopey cold I’ll be working out again and will definitly need t-shirts. 
That’s pretty cool you’re considering doing some shows. Cons can be a great way to bring in new readers as well as a huge reward for current fans of the comic. Hubby and I always attend Otakon in Baltimore, MD. It’s a blast.
January 4th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Yes, I’m still here lurking, and enjoying any update that comes along. I like the change to Wednesday – my Monday’s are far too full as it is. It’ll be nice having something fun to look forward to in the middle of the week!
January 5th, 2010 at 3:54 am
I’m still here, albeit slightly on an Autistic Teenager Delay!
Some days I just can’t read a whole page of words but I do get to ‘em all eventually!
And I’d totally dig around under the seat cushions of my couch and car seats for extra change to buy a book from you, Barb! Your art is *beautiful* & I’d be proud to own it in a hardware kind of way ^_^
January 5th, 2010 at 8:05 am
I’m still here and my page checking schedule is pretty sporadic too these days, so the new update schedule would not really affect me that much — heck, it might even be an improvement!
January 5th, 2010 at 10:04 am
still reading, still excited, still thrilled!
January 5th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Hey Barb!
I`ve been horribly inactive for the last couple of updates but I`m still lurking!
Great to hear Xylia`s going to be in print!! *is excited* I hope the shipping costs will not be out of proportion though, like it is on some websites…
Speaking of books….I remember you talking about selling sketchbook (or sketchbook pages, can`t remember the details) Is it still in the planning or did I miss something?
And yay for Wednesday updates too!
I like more comic-reading-food on other days than Monday. 
January 5th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
I’m here, I’m here!! Still loving it!
January 6th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Still present, still observing.
January 6th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
(Glides out of the shadowed corner)
Still here, lurking. North Carolina has finally gotten cold…38-45 degree highs and low 20s for the lows. I know it’s not Iowa, but I graduated from Rochester, New York. I joined the Air Force after I graduated to get away from there.
Snow is just a four-lettered word to me now…so please don’t curse at me using it.
(Glides back into the shadowed corner)
January 8th, 2010 at 11:30 am
“With all of these plans, and hopes for a new year with Xylia, I would like to know if you are all still out there, reading this and interested after my sporadic updates the last two months.”
Yep, still around. Although I don’t know if I should say “still” since I found Xylia only this past year. I saw it promo’ed somewhere and recognized the art style from Talismen. -grin-
January 9th, 2010 at 8:40 am
LOVE where this is heading.
January 11th, 2010 at 11:07 am
I’m still here, impatiently waiting for each update. The book would be interesting to see, and depending on my fund at the time, I might acquire a copy =] Happy New Year!
January 13th, 2010 at 5:47 am
Hi B!
I’d like to second Aquila audax – the story and the art are *always* worth it, regardless of wait – and I too am here for the duration, even when I don’t have time to comment.
Ah, poor Claude. Xylia’s so close, but still an unknown distance away…
I second the chorus – Wednesdays work for me too, and I dig the teaser sketch idea!
Very, very excited about the book – put me down for three copies to start – one to keep, and two to give to friends. Also very interested in the t-shirts – I think that’s a great idea! Shweet!
I hope your hip gets better soon, we know how much your progress in this means to you. Try to look back on how much you’ve accomplished so far, how far you’ve come, how much healthier you are now (excluding the hip, of course) than you were six months ago – and realize that YOU did that- and use that as inspiration to find new, hip-friendly ways to keep on keepin’ on.
You rock, B. Never forget that. :-]