Have enough Horror in your Life?

As of this writing, we're siting in the middle of a pandemic, so I figured it was about time to rise like Pennywise and update this poor ye bloggy.

As you can clearly see, this blog has been an on again off again project. But! I wanted to update everyone with our latest project: The Zombie Game!

You can follow us here at: https://www.instagram.com/thezombiegame/

 We have assembled a dream team to work on this graphic novel project! It will be a full color, full length, self contained story.

A group of college students attend an End of Year party only to find themselves hunted by the rich in a live-action zombie apocalypse video game.

Stay tuned for more updates and here is a sneak peek at one of the pages!

Update: Now Comes More

I have been involved with so much since the creation of Ties. My next big adventure awaits me and I will be bringing the book to a whole new market!

I can't wait for others to meet Ira.

In the meantime I met with one of those Hollywood types about developing the treatment I co-wrote for Ties into a movie. I thought Alex Pettyfer would make an amazing Ira. Luckily they represented him.  I live for the day Ira comes to the screen!  What do you think? Is he the right choice?

Neglect

Poor Ira has been neglected here for quite some time!
I was able to take him to SDCC 2013 with me but I guess I should update you on what else is rockin'!

I have my second book out on Amazon: Dead Stinky Animals

Please do corrupt your children with it.... and teach them their ABCs, of course.

I am also working on the next Book.

I am starting a gallery with my business partner: Illumination Gallery  Which has been a frightening process. It will be ultimately rewarding but as with most grand plans, things have not exactly been smooth.

I am also writing for Biff Bam Pop  I did some great coverage and got to talk to a bunch of people at this year's San Diego. I was almost crushed to death twice but it was well worth it!

Ira is still my baby and I carry him like a talisman wherever I go. I will see him made into something and the next book is rattling in my head.  Unfortunately, all the scenarios I see Ira in start veering into Oldboy territory and I have been a bit more upbeat as of late.  It's a massive amount of energy to go to dark places like that and try and protect your psyche. Not to sound too granola, but it's true.

So Things move forward and I am always taking the next step in this grand journey!

A New Year Update!

A new year and time to ramp up the comic making again. Every year I'm excited to get started on new projects and finish old ones. Sketches like this one in Ira's style keep me going. I should color it, yeah?

The ABC book is also coming along. Yay! Yes. It's dead, stinky animals.  Don't you want to teach your kid's their letters this way?! What could be more fun!

But Ira is not forgotten. There's a smart little girl out there named Alison who's ready to make trouble out of Ira's penchant for letters. More on her later.

Happy New Year!!

Beyond the Looking Glass

Happy Holidays, all!

Ira will always have a first and foremost place in my heart but I have been hard at work on other projects as well. This includes a pretty hilarious ABC book, Illumination Gallery and my next graphic novel, 4 Hire.

Ira's drawing style is still the most natural for me. Who wouldn't want to get away with not drawing noses?! I think I found a great balance between cartoony and realistic figures. I still like to sketch and doodle this way to get my ideas down.

Many people have asked about a sequel to Ties. I would like to do something more with the friends I've met in Ira's world but so far Ira hasn't had anything to say about it. Honestly, after working on the idea for over 8 years I think Ira's pretty satisfied .... for now. You never know when that imp will start demanding more stories to be told.

I hope all of you are having a blessed Holiday season. I know Ira didn't get you anything!

Crazy for Comikaze

It's time once again for LA's most awesome convention Comikaze.  This year it's Stan Lee's Comikaze and I can already see how much it's grown in just a year. I'm so looking forward to seeing what they do this year.

I will be chatting with one and all about the new book 4-Hire at www.four-hire.com

I will also be helping out master of the dead, Rick Marson, in his plans for world domination through the cutest zombies you've ever seen! www.zoms.com

Of course Ira will be there in full force with Ties and some brand new stickers!!! I will be tweeting everything is sight so be sure to follow me @EMcGuiness

So come on out and make it a grand old time!

The Press Comes to Town

This fine morning I was interviewed by the gracious gentlemen over at The Comic Book Pitt. See my long winded answers here:

The Comic Book Pitt

I have enjoyed the marketing process just as much as making the book. I can see why people get addicted to fame. It's nice to hear people ask your opinion and care about the answer.

The Convention of Doom!

I am in the throws of preparing for the biggest event of the year! San Diego always brings joy and fear into the heart of every comics lover. I am no exception.

Though I will not be going with my art collective this year, I will be at San Diego Comic Con with Flesk Publications at booth 5019. I get to hang out with my old professor Mark Schultz, a true pleasure. I will be signing books on Saturday and Sunday so come get a copy and tell me how awesome Ira looks in person!

I'll be walking the floor and greeting all the fellow starving artists and strugglers out there so pop me an email if you want to meet up!

It's Up now!

By a miracle of friendship my trusty editor, Megan made sure to lend me her awesome new computer and finish up my book. Now it's up on Lulu.com, you can follow the link up there. It's available for sale with all of the bells and whistles. How I love seeing it for sale!  Go and enjoy it now!

Crawling Forward Inch by Inch

I got my computer working again for a decent period of time and got almost all of it done before it exploded again. I was so close to finishing it! I had numbered all the pages and got in all my extras. My cover is finished and I even have a new cover, complete with ISBN number. I am so proud!

So stay tuned. I am inching toward the finish line.

In the mean time I am taking over The Comics Industry Dinner. We will be meeting June 30th this month at Swingers Diner. If you're a comics professional email me for details!

The Aftermath of Raising Money

As you can see on my side bar there I have successfully funded my book! Now I have to get the most for my money. I have already pre-sold 50 copies and so I have to make sure I cover that and can get them out at the most effective price. I know my model is a bit backward. I'm supposed to build myself up online before I ever attempt a physical book, but I can't help wanting it in my hands!

I want to feel my accomplishment and be able to physically hand it to someone when they ask about it. Trust me if I wasn't unemployed I would be revving up my marketing engine to go full blast with this thing. The sad truth is that my star has not reached the epic level needed to live off my art. Shocking I know. So I must husband my resources carefully so I can reach the people that really matter.


I'm working on a new cover, and I have a sticker design in place, if I can get the scanner working I will have a sneak peek for you. I am also working on all of the commissions for the Kickstarter campaign! They gave me a bunch of fun requests for their art.

More later!

Give Me a Kick On Kickstarter

As you can see by the widget next door I have started a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the printing of Ira's story. You get to watch a hilarious message from me pleading for your help.

The great part about Kickstarter is you get great rewards for donating!  So check it out today and help Ira's dream come true.


You can also now friend Ira on Facebook and get all his witticisms for free.

Rock out Seattle. I hope it will be another great day tomorrow at the emerald city con.

A Sweeter Flavor of Sample Pages

I wanted to share some sample pages with you. With the book almost done I wanted to get you a taste of what the final pages look like. Very Exciting!

Ties is Floating on Cloud Nine

Ties is finally going up on Cloud Nine Comix. It's the first of many digital publishing deals to come for Ties. I was able to put up a sample of the first chapters and then publish the whole book when it's done. I am so proud to see it all coming together. Ira will have his day.

It's super important to use and abuse the new digital market for first time creators. You don't have a huge publishing house behind you so it's even more important to use every resource you have. Digital publishers are relatively new to the game too and they have unlimited publishing potential so they are even more open to accepting your content.


For some eye candy I am posting up the art I used to make some awesome coasters. Find them at a bar near you! Or email me and you can take them to a bar near you!

Ties Returns From Longbeach A Success!

 

Many stopped by the Latchkey Studios booth and picked up Ties. It was a complete success for Ira Anderson and his quest to get people to feel sorry for him. I recruited my new young friend up there to show off the cover. Don't worry. I didn't expose him to Ira's more seedy  exploits. 

It was a great show with great people. We really got the word out. Now by the next convention the whole book will be done and all will be able to read Ira's full story!

An Introduction From Our Protagonist

In putting together the teaser book I wanted to have something different. I think it's fun to interact with your books and be able to take things apart. To that end I have discovered a letter from Ira and will include it in the preview book for all to read. I wanted to share below, so you could get a first look at it. You will be able to pull it out of an envelope if you get the preview book. It's like the old days before an iPad let you flip pages!

A Shiny Cover Means....

Awesomeness on the inside of course!

Here is the cover for Ties.

It went through a couple incarnations as you can see here.

But I felt it was too dark. Ira is dark enough in this book.  I wanted to show him drowning in his own messy life, while at the same time reaching for it. This "mess" creeps in again during the low points in his life.

Photoshop really is my only friend. I would love to learn more about Painter and Illustrator but I find I can do almost anything in Photoshop. I also cannot give up my plain old pencil and paper. I just can't ink with a tablet the way I ink with a brush.  I'm old school because I'm better at the old school.

Plus Megan showed me a Photoshop technique for getting the line work super clean. Thank you! You can see her super clean lines as well HERE!

The Hydra Speaks!

In addition to working full time, running an art group and keeping body and soul together, I have also managed to start work on my own graphic novel.  After graduating school and then subsequently receiving my 10,001st rejection letter, I am embarking on the self publishing circuit with my Latchkey group. Not an easy road, I will grant you.

Speaking of which I will be applying to the Xeric Grant with Ties again because you can't give up when they say no the first time!  This time I have much more of the book completed and I'm hoping that counts towards me getting the grant next time. I take for granted that they were blown away but just couldn't wait for me to submit again so they could see more for free!  HA!

So thank you fans for reading my first post. I will be attending Long Beach Comic Con over Halloween weekend and I hope to see you there and ready for the preview book of Ties!

More actual art coming soon.