On Being a Canadian Author

I've been thinking a lot about being Canadian lately. The Tragically Hip are no more, Gord Downie has gone home for a well-earned rest. And I have a book to illustrate.

(In case you missed the update on Facebook, I've decided to finish The Ash Garden first as an illustrated novel,  and it's coming along nicely).

Canadian publishing works very differently in comparison to American publishing. In fact, you really can't compare. They're two different worlds. It's a different country, which I say with a shrug. Canadian publishing is all about you know in Canada, what you do that's Canadian, and where you're from. Literary fiction by an author born in St. Catherine's, Ontario, who writes about trees native to Eastern Canada, for example.

Don't get me wrong. I love Canada. I'm proud to be Canadian. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world. I'm glad we have tons of support and funding for local Canadian arts. But the truth is, Canadian publishing is limited to, essentially, the Canadian landscape, in whatever medium the creator chooses (books, poetry, etc, etc). As a result, I've never felt any confidence to publish my work in my own country. Sad? Perhaps. But that's just the reality of being the kind of person who marches to a different drumbeat. I wouldn't be surprised, and I have seen evidence, that similar struggles exist for many different creators, in many countries all of the world.

And I'm tired. Since social media was introduced and became popular, I've lost count how many times I've apologized for my Canadian-ness. (Oh, sorry, that wasn't a typo, we spell "centre" with an "re" not a "er.") I'm tired of being treated as if I'm stupid, naive, a bad speller, and I couldn't possibly know what's going on in the country that's right next door. Yeesh.

I'm tired of omitting the "u." I'm tired of being un-Canadian.

Okay, so I'll never make it big in Canadian publishing. I'm cool with that. It's something I accepted a long time ago. But, really, in an online world where any two-year-old can Google that shit, I don't think I should have to work so hard at being un-Canadian just in case there's one person out of billions who doesn't immediately get that reference.

I have a point. This isn't a mindless rant post. Really. Thank you for your patience.

The Ash Garden had a lot of Canadian references. A lot of those referrences were edited or deleted, mostly by The Publisher That Shall Not be Named. I would like to attract an international audience, but I don't think deleting Canadian references was the best thing to do. I feel removing those references has just created a mess. I wrote the first draft in Canadian English, and no matter how The Ash Garden is published, there will be Canadian-ness woven throughout the story. And I won't apologize for that.

I also won't apologize for the fact I'm creating, with help of an artist, a comic book set in Tennessee. That's the story of Cottonseeds. I have a vivid imagination that's more of a curse than a blessing, and so, I can set story in Tennessee, with references to Tennessee. (Another shrug).

I will, however, say sorry in casual conversation. The word sorry is in my Canadian blood. I can't help it. If I cut you off in line or pass by you in a doorway, I will automatically say sorry.  (No, no, I'm sorry, please, after you).

Buy Now! Cottonseeds: The Killer and the Eternal Child

It's here! Buy it now in Lily's Online Store. More retailers coming soon. Red the preview. Buy or the sex. Just saying.

 

http://lilyauthor.com/graphicnovels/kilerandchild/

Previews and news

New Media section added with previews of the next Cottonseeds issue. See them all here!

http://lilyauthor.com/graphicnovels/media/

Nifty share buttons for your convenience. Shre with your friends, spread the word.

Shroud Media is expanding distribution so there's a delay. I will continue providng previews until it's published and ready to buy.

Here's a sample ->

Think you can handle it?

Cottonseeds New Series

Hi. I've been busy. I made the announcement on FB so I'm doing it here.

After a lot of thought and discussion, I've decided to start a new series for Cottonseeds. It was the only way for me to have the fast-paced thriller action Cottonseeds is meant to have. So, announcing Cottonseeds: The Killer and the Eternal Child. Rough ETA for #1 is end of April. Stay tuned. Make popcorn. Put on your seat belts. It's going to be one hell of a ride. Here's a preview of the cover. Enjoy!

Cottonseeds Collected Edition #1 and other news

Forgot to update my blog.

Sorry.

Big News! Announcing the addition of an artist, Henry T. Pardo. Issues will be released once a month from now on. Can I get a yay?


Thanks! You're a star.

Fun interview with Michael Benavidez. He's such a good sport. Go read. A lot of new info.

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/9948393-interview-lily

Cottonseeds Collected Edition #1 coming at the end of the month. The edition will include issues 1 - 3, for 2.99$.

Check out the video:




Give it a like. Share with friends. Let everyone know that I finally figured out how to embed a video on this blog. Good times!

Direct link in case you need it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ7avmOhh-Q

Graphic Novels Update

The Graphic Novels section of my website has been updated. I don't know about you, but I can't stand sub-nested menus where you have to click a million times before you find anything. So I cleaned it all up. There's a couple of previews I removed for now until I have more content.

Of course, cleaning up means there will be broken links scattered all over the net. I've already updated all links for any title that's already on Goodreads. Youtube is a nother matter. I'm cleaning up as I go. If you find any broken links, please let me know and send a mesage.

You can use the Contact form here: http://lilyauthor.com/contact/

Without further ado, here's the new squeaky clean Graphic Novels.

http://lilyauthor.com/graphicnovels/

Enjoy!

In case anyone's missed it, the first two issues for The Ash Garden and Cottonseeds are now available. Visit the store doe details.

http://lilyauthor.com/graphicnovels/store/

Cottonseeds #2 - Smashwords and B&N

Cottonseeds #2 is now available at Smashwords and B&N.

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/598614

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cottonseeds-2-shroud-media/1123117329?ean=2940152510386

Cottonseeds No. 2

It's here!

Buy Cottonseeds Issue No. 2  in the Lily Store: http://lilyauthor.com/graphicnovels/store/cottonseeds/

More retailers coming soon.

Still wondering if you should start reading Cottonseeds? Now's the time. Get issues 1 and 2 for only 1.49$.

Buy: http://lilyauthor.com/graphicnovels/store/

More info!

Issue description:
 

Sam discovers interviewing The Knoxville Killer’s family is a dirty job. When Misty, Frank’s daughter, breaks Sam’s world apart, he’s forced to choose between appearance and finding the Raven Mocker that haunts him.

Leave a review on Good Reads. And while you're at it, enjoy the trailer.

Buy Links!

Cottonseeds #1 is now available at B & N, and Apple Store iTunes!

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cottonseeds-1-shroud-media/1122636623?ean=2940152340211

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/-/id1041541250?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

And tell you friends, thanks.

It's Here!

Cottonseeds Issue #1 is now available in the Shroud Store and Smashwords for $0.99. Here's all the buy links:

http://shroudmediallc.com/store/graphic-novels/cottonseeds-2/issue-1/

Issue 2 will be coming soon. For the meantime, enjoy the preview.

http://lilyauthor.com/graphicnovels/cottonseeds/issue-no-1/

Or look at the pretty pictures and videos.

http://shroudmediallc.com/store/graphic-novels/cottonseeds-2/

Or make popcorn. Whichever.

Cottonseeds - Issue 2 preview

At last, it's here! It's really here. No, really.

See the 8 page preview in all its wonderfully sliding glory.

http://lilyauthor.com/graphicnovels/cottonseeds/issue-no-2/

Ta da!

Hopefully this means the reast will be done soon... ish.

I've decided to stop sending newsletters for either Cottonseeds or Ash Garden, or anything really. It's too much work and I would rather spend the time on doing, you know, artwork.

And this is important. Very important. Cottonseeds will be published by Shroud Media on September 7th. Mark that date on your calendar. Why? Because I said so.

I mean... please?

P.S. Tell all friends.

P.P.S. Oh, you still need a bit of an incentive? Here you go.

Shroud Media

I'm pleased to (finally) announce Shroud Media, a digital publisher of creator-owned comics and graphic novels. I'm the media department :)

Cottonseeds will be published by Shroud on September 1st, with a shiny new ISSN. First stop will be Smashwords, then other retailers from there.

Here's the Shroud FB Page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shroud-Media-LLC/736606119782980

Check it out, tell your friends, join the Shroud Forum on the Shroud website.

http://shroudmediallc.com/ 

And here's the first promo video. Enjoy!

P.S. Spread the word for me, okay? Thanks.

The Art of Art

I'm having the most fun designing my own comic books/graphic novels than I've ever had in my entire life. At the same time, while I muddle through one panel at a time, I'm learning hard lessons.

It just took me a solid week to figure out what I was missing from three whole pages. There needed to be a shadow behind the tree. Sigh...

The main reason I decided to delve into the world of independent comic books is because of my work experience. I've been a computer graphic designer professionaly since 1997. I remember when Photoshop didn't have filters and it took about ten steps to create a drop shadow. So, I figured, with my years of experience, I can totally do this.

This past week I have been seriously considering giving up. Things were dragging. I kept bitterly complaining to friends. I can't do this! It's taking way too long just to draw one panel! What's holding me back?!

Answer: experience.

There are fantastic advantages to a lot of experience: strong work ethic, following schedules, meeting deadlines, meeting client's demands perfectly, getting it right the first time, etc, etc.

Experience can also become an incredibly bad habit. In this past week, I've been chipping away at all my experience and going back to basics. I'm working for myself, not for any clients' specific instructions. No boss, no one to work for but myself. No steady paycheck, but that's a topic for another blog post.

On a side note, people who get jealous of experience and independence, and try to drag others down to their level are fools. Moving on...

It's about art. My art. The lesson I keep learning. Stick with the art and forget everything else. Then, it's a smooth ride from there. I'm still learning though. Thank you for your patience.

P.S. Three pages finished for Cottonseeds, Issue No. 2, and I hope to have a 5 - 8 page preview available soon.

Coming May 16th

http://lilyauthor.com/graphicnovels/store/

Free for the first 24 hours, after that 99 cents.

Cottonseeds, Issue No. 1

I'm excited and exhausted, but mostly excited to announce Cottonseeds will be available very soon. I estimate about a week. The artwork is finished (FINALLY). I need to put together a copyright page but that will be dead easy and take no time at all. I'm also waiting for the ISBN that should be sent to me within a week. Well, hopefully.

The issue will be available as a free download for the first 24 hours in the online store, after that, 99 cents. If you want to know the exact moment it's available, sign up for the newletter.

Hold on to your hats, we're real close now!

Decisions

I've decided to throw schedules out the window. Updates for the graphic novels will happen whenever they happen. I've also decided to not update until I have at least half an issue. So, longer wait, but more satisfication in the end.

I'll continue with video teasers in the between space in time.

Speaking of which, here's the video for Cottonseeds, Issue 2.

Smokin' Video

The Ash Garden, Chapter 3 poem page has been uploaded. View it here.

I highly recommend subscribing to the newsletters if you want to know about updates right away. Otherwise, no guarantees.

Newsletters

In the meantime, I'm sighing in relief. I've eliminated a lot of pressure. Who knows? I just might update faster now that all the pressure is gone. After all, I'm doing this for free. No need to pressure myself about anything.

And anyone who tries to pressure me, go to hell and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Enjoy the new material!

Graphic Novels - here, there, and everywhere.

Wow, it's been a while.

If you're not following me on my Facebook Author page or Tumblr (why aren't you following me there? Why?), there's been a few updates.

5 new pages have been added to Cottonseeds, see them here.

Second Cottonseeds trailer video here.

The Ash Garden, Chapter 2, is now available here.

In other news, the other day I came up with an idea to help indie authors. Find out the genre of your book! It would go something like this:

Is there romance?

Yes - Romance genre


Are there 2 or more sex scences?

Yes - Erotica

Are there sex scenes in every chapter?

Yes - Porn. You wrote porn. Deal with it.

I thought it would be fun to do this, a diagram or something, for all genres. But then I got bored and moved on.