Hi Xyliacs! Monday blog time! Please remember that comic updates are on Wednesdays, now!
Today’s teaser shows that we may be introducing some new characters….
———————–XYLIATALES NEWS!!————————
The Comic Creator’s Alliance continues to be a huge success! If you haven’t had a chance to donate for this worthwhile charity to get the wallpaper please click on the link!
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Xyliatales coming in print!!
Currently in full steam progress setting the Xyliatales Volume 1 book set up for press. This week I got through page 70! I have a rough idea for the cover, and I’m readying extra content that will include concept sketches and fan art.
Once I have an idea how long it will take to get the proofs, and the cost of the books, I will be posting the release date for the book and taking reorders. The first fifty preorders will receive an original sketch of one of the five main characters similar to this! :
A new Xylia contest is coming in February! Watch for it!
Xyliatales On Air will be broadcasting on Sundays! Most recently, I created a Livy speed paint. You can check out the video on the On Air site! XYLIATALES ON AIR TALK SHOW SITE
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.
——————BARB NEWS & NOTES—————–
Wow- is January going as fast for all of you as it is for me? I think it’s basketball. Basketball ALL THE TIME. Practices every night of the week (sometimes twice) games two-three nights a week, and then tournaments every weekend. I enjoy it, but it will be nice when it’s over too! ^_^
The weather has improved so much here, I got all of the ice out of our driveway, and it felt like a small victory against Old Man Winter. ^_^ We’ve had a few days above freezing, and that was great!
Getting more caricature bookings for the year and that’s great too. One of the things I need to get done is create my 1000 caricatures site. I hope to do 1000 caricatures in one year! I did 34 this weekend at a company Christmas party! Just 966 to go! ^_^
This week I did very poorly in my fitness/ diet regimen, and tomorrow I will be hitting it HARD. No snacks, and back to 60 minutes of cardio at least four nights a week! No cheating! How are all of you doing with your resolutions?
——————–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.
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 18th, 2010 at 4:49 am
Woo! First comment! ^_^
WooHOO – 70 Pages!! You go, Girl! Mmm; Extra Content = Goodness. Congrats on the progress, and the head of steam – keep up the great work!
34/1000 Caricatures = 3.4% … Not bad for a day’s work! If you can target 9% per month, you will pass your goal before the year is out.
Sorry, I am One With The Math today.
Good luck with the exercise regimen, I know how it is to get side-tracked on that sort of thing. I am behind on my own fitness resolution too, so I feel your pain. I count myself blessed to have a very supportive girlfriend, who is a positive and energetic cheerleader. I’d say she’s quite indefatigable. ^_^ (And tough and able.)
We are looking forward to Year Three, B – thank YOU for letting us join you in this adventure – it has been quite a ride so far, and we can’t wait to see what comes next!
But we will wait.
Patiently.
More or less.
;-]
January 18th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Thank you for your comment, OctoDude. I needed that today- I’ve been feeling the effects of waning interest and that people are pulling away from this project; someimtes it’s not easy for me to see the reasons for keeping on with it sometimes. Thank you.
January 18th, 2010 at 9:56 am
The new characters look interesting, I look forward to Wednesday’s page. I also look forward to the graphic novel, I’m glad that work is going well. I haven’t done so well on my resolutions so far. I’ve had a bad case of the January blues. But hopefully, things will be looking up now that I’ve dropped one of my classes. Grad school is unspeakable sometimes.
January 19th, 2010 at 9:19 am
If you draw it… they will come…
^_^
March 17th, 2010 at 8:15 am
Barb – Been reading ‘Xylia’ for some time now, & thoroughly enjoy it! You’re artwork is superb & the story keeps me guIessing. Read your comments on your review today. I agree that there wasn’t any constructive criticism offered in the review. That tells me the reviewer just doesn’t care for this type of writing. That is exactly what I got out of the review. The reviewer stated “is there really a place for old fashioned silly romance?” Well, for some people, there is! The light balances out the dark. I personally like it all! One positive is, the review does let non-romantics know ‘Xylia’ may not be for them. I do think it’s interesting that’s all he got out of your work, though. As an artist in several mediums myself, I’ve had to learn to take reviews for what they are -a review. And it’s ok! We are what we are, & we do what we do. Some reviews have been helpful, some not. Again, that’s ok! In the end, none of them mean squat, ’cause I can only do what my body, eyes & brain tell me to do. It’s taken a while to learn this, & I keep learning, but I no longer let myself “live” (if you will) in what some one else thinks. Remember “Those who can’t do – Teach. Those who can’t teach – Critique” (hee hee!! My favorite) Anyway, enough readers love your work – art & writing – to keep you going. “Bad” reviews (& that is subjective, they all are) keep you honest. “Good” reviews keep you inspired. “No reviews” – Well, guess they’re computers are down. Take 5 minutes to be or feel what-ever emotion you want, then let it go. Know there are people out here that care, however vicariously, and keep up the excellent work! Your work is good. If it weren’t, you wouldn’t be here.
Lovingly, Tracy Smith
P.S. I realized a while back that YOU are Xylia! hee hee!! How cool is that???