Hello, Xyliacs!
———————-TODAY’S PAGE————————-
I want to say a couple things about today’s page. It’s all kinds of disturbing. First off, I know not ALL nuns are mean. Some of you may even yell at me for the stereotype. I want to say that I had many very nice sisters that were teachers at the Catholic College I attended. I just want to get that out there.
I realize that this page is upsetting, and it should be. Feel free to discuss.
—————————TWC————————–
Thank you EVERYONE for getting us up the rankings on the Webcomic List. We started out in the 130′s and ended up in the 70′s. To kick off the new month, today’s TWC incentive is a look at the cover of the upcoming Xyliatales graphic novel Volume I! I’m leaving it up for a couple more days, just because I think I can. I plan on changing this up on Friday, so check it out! PLEASE VOTE EVERY DAY! 
———————–XYLIATALES NEWS!!————————
Once again, I want to remind you that Tall Tale Features is kicking off our new web design today (February 1!)! Don’t miss it!
Irma Erikkson of Imy is cooking up a fantabulous site design! A few of us do a review of Rival Angels! Come see the hubbub!
———————-Barblog———————————-
Thank you EVERYONE for your kind words about my last blog, but mores for sharing your personal stories of courage with me and all the Xylia readers. Like Josh said, “I don’t think I can say this enough. Xyliacs are by and large the most awesome set of people ever. I am consistently floored by them.” I wholeheartedly agree.
Today’s page is a bit late because there was more going on around here in Barbland that is not something I can discuss, but it’s been a rough couple of days, and I appreciate your patience with me.
In other news, I took my annual “Barb Falls On the Ice” moment on Monday, and I’m feeling every bit of my 44 years because of it. I reeeeally want to get out of Iowa.
Soon, I will be visiting the Austin Texas area! I’m really looking forward to that. Any Austin readers out there?
Also, thank you to all the Irish readers who approached me willing to help with Irish dialect. Thank you!
————————Odds and Ends————————-
Xyliatales On Air will be broadcasting on Sundays, along with the occasional last minute broadcast! (Just had a fun one last Thursday night!). I’m going to try for a regular time- like 7PM CST. I know some of you will find that an inconvenient time in other parts of the world- hopefully it will work for some of you! XYLIATALES ON AIR TALK SHOW SITE
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.
——————–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
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:40 am
Hello! I’ve never posted here before, but I’ve been watching your comic for… wow, a year, I think? I love it! Your artwork is so beautiful!
re: the new chapter – I miss Livy already, but maybe little April will find herself a puppy somewhere along the way.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:18 am
Just an FYI, I still don’t see the image when the page loads. I get the top navigation arrows, then a missing image icon right under, then the bottom navigation arrows. I have to click “Back”, and then “Next” once that page loads to see the current page. I’m running Safari 4.0.4 on Mac OS X 10.5.8.
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Holy crap…..that’s some intense hair you got going on, B. And the comic is pretty heavy too… o_0
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Co-sign with Brent about the gorgeous hair.
Sweet, sweet, sweeeeet graphic novel cover. <3
Indeed a disturbing page but it seems the gals are better off for it, barns and all.
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Dont worry, we all know there are good nuns and bad nuns, just as there are good penguins and bad penguins…blasphemy! There are no bad penguins! Getting back on track, just look at the Blues Brothers. Or indeed any Catholic school. It’s the Granny Weatherwax situation; just because you’re ‘good’ doesn’t make you nice.
Anywhere’s better than what these two appear to have left behind. They’re on their way! (Cue the theme music.)
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Yikes! What happened to the parents of these poor girls? I like the graphic novel cover, especially Livy holding the book in her mouth.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:42 pm
gorgeous work
I am glad I found this site more than a year ago 
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Oh boy did my mom have horror stories of the Nuns when she went to Holy Angels Academy. She respected them, but mostly feared them. Super-tough love types, I suppose. D:
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Soooooo…is the guy at the bottom the foster dad person at the top? If that’s even a foster family… Whoever he is, he looks really creepy. Good job on drawing the creepiness. And the feelings that are conveyed in her eyes! That’s fabulous. I have a feeling I’m going to really like December
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:03 pm
I dunno what it is about Ireland…Oh wait! Yes I do!The Church had too much power, and the Government was too damn cowardly to do anything but kiss their assrings.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Darn! “a**” is supposed to be a strike-through.
February 4th, 2010 at 1:37 am
This page is really creeping me out. Poor girls, but I love that December, at least from this page, seems to be a strong girl who is protecting her little sister wherever she can. I wonder what their role in the main story will be.
February 4th, 2010 at 6:02 am
Is it me, or are your using pictures of yourself to set the tone of your blog?
The one regarding depression was a perfect illustration of someone in that state. Amazing!
And today’s seems to be the realization that we aren’t as young as we believe ourselves to be most of the time. If that is what you’re doing, then very apropos. If it is serendipity, then it’s still amazing and uncanny.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:17 am
I agree, it’s a very intense page. You’ve done a great job of conveying the hardships of their past in just a few panels. I love December’s eyes at the bottom. They portray such determination. You’ve got an amazing knack for putting such depth into what for some artists would be just a set of eyes!!
As much as I enjoy spring / summer I also dread wearing anything that exposes my legs or arms because then everyone can see what a god-awful klutz I am… either that or they think Scott abuses me. I bruise horribly easily. O_o
And yes, I love your profile picture, Barb! It’s a perfect summary of how I feel some days. LOL. Sorry to hear about the fall.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Hey all! I did a video response to most of these comments over at UStream (you can see it here: )
But for those of you who don’t want to watch a rather rambling video – and I can’t say I blame you- here are my responses!
Jennifer- thank you for reading! I appreciate the comment and the kind words about my art. I think a lot of people will miss Livy, but I promise she will return! ^_^
Joan- I hope you were able to get the issue working with the page. I haven’t heard any other issues with it, but thank you for the heads up.
Brent- LOL! Like that hair? Ha. That’s called ‘Iowa Winter Static’. Yes, this is a rather heavy page, but the tone won’t continue… It’s rather a passing dark cloud on a sunny day…
Alan- thank you very much- I’m glad you dig the cover. I tried to get Tychia in there as much as possible.
Yes, these girls are definitely a product of their past.
Sarah- yes they are on their way! Just where, you will have to see.. ^_^
Tinkerwrks- This sequence was going to start with a flashback to answer your question, but I cut it out because of time. I will tell you that their parents are deceased, and one day the story will be told.
Anda- thank you very much, and I’m glad you are enjoying it!
Kez- Yes, Super Tough Love.® LOL!!
Reynard- I actually had read those articles before I started this sequence. Yikes.
Henrike- It is a creepy page, but it really needed to be. December is a fierce young woman. You’ll see.
Skewered- Ha! It is serendipity really- I just grab photos and post them- I do look for pics that sort of have a vibe for how I’m feeling at the moment, so that may be why it fits in so well!
Christine- Thank you very much, I’m always happy with the emotional undertone is conveyed correctly in my art. I worry about accuracy too- both in the characters and the setting, but my biggest goal is to convey the emotion of the scene. Thank you!
And thank you everyone for reading and VOTING! We are #42 on TWC, PEEPS! WOO HOO!
Hugs,
B
February 4th, 2010 at 9:31 am
Karstrel- I’m sorry, I missed your comment! Didn’t miss it last night in the video… No, the creepy dude at the bottom is not the foster dad in the top panel. I didn’t convey the sense of time very well…These two have been bounced around. A lot.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Barb, as you know, it was under somewhat similar circumstances that I gained custody and legal guardianship of my two daughters. Was your ‘toon disturbing? Yes! Sadly, there are things like that that happen.
February 5th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Just because part of a story is disturbing doesn’t mean it’s not worth telling. It’s a disturbing page, but also a powerful one, and very well done.
February 6th, 2010 at 10:20 am
I just discovered this comic last night and have read through all the archives…the artwork is gorgeous, and the story is so engaging! I’m a faerie tale lover, and this is turning in some tried-and-true, some unexpected, ways. LOVE IT! Thanks so much.
February 6th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
I had a wonderful childhood in Ames, Iowa. I remember it with extreme fondness.
Austin is probably my favorite place in the whole U.S. Be sure to check out the music scene if you can. It’s incredible.
This new page is one of my favorites. Why? Don’t know. It just feels… raw and honest. Real.
Great work, B.
February 8th, 2010 at 6:03 am
I couldn’t get my act together and comment before now – let’s see if it posts!
I love your hair in the “shocking” picture. ^_^ Remember, you ain’t got a thing, if you ain’t got that cling…
(dang it, now that song is stuck in my head… I guess I deserve that…)
I second Chip – I lived in Austin for around 7 years all together, and highly recommend it. If you ever decide to move away from the Ice Age up there, you should totally move to Austin – I think you and the family would love it! ^_^
I also love the new page, and I thinkI will love December, too – she has sacrificed herself for someone she loves, and I have a lot of respect for her for that – she seems to be a very intense and fiercely determined young lady.
I also second ChristineA – B, you do the most amazingly job of conveying emotion through your character’s faces!
This page does a great job of not only revealing December’s character and some of her and April’s history, but of setting a somewhat ominous, yet determined undertone for what is to come. Sort of a base-coat upon which the story to come will be painted. If that makes any sense.
Anyway, great page, and watch your step – no need to go for a second fall this winter!