2012 in Review: Paul Bedford

Paul Bedford

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

 
Answering these questions.

Oh, and having the films rights for my OGN, The List optioned. The bonus is, I've been commissioned to write the screenplay adaptation. I'm into the second draft and, while proving a tough write, it's giving me the opportunity to have a second chance at my story; to change/improve scenes, dialogue etc. It's also a challenge to adapt my story into a 3 act structure, which the GN certainly isn't.

The other highlight was having the 3 volumes of The List finally printed in a single volume GN. It was great after all these years of envisioning it in this form to finally hold it in my hands. Very rewarding indeed. Sales at the stores, online and at the Cons have certainly improved since it became an all-inclusive read.

Other highlights include: continuing excellent reviews of The List from around the world; amazing - at times, touching - feedback from readers who seem to find a place to put their pain while reading the work; meeting new fans of the work at Cons and watching the local scene grow with great new talent.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

 
My two fave discoveries of the year (I tend to read only Aussie/NZ stuff) were Zombolette by Scarlette Baccini (Milk Shadow Books) and Kranburn by Ben Michael Byrne (FEC Comics). I suppose if we are talking about artists, we are actually talking about their art.

Zombolette: Many laugh out loud moments. A no-holds-barred, clever and unpredictable work. I've read it three times which has revealed the more subtle humour. I have heard rumour of a sequel, so it’d better be as good as the first, or I’ll burn Scarlette’s house down. I will, ya know.

Kranburn: I'm crap at keeping up with web comics so, as much I loved reading this on the web, I fell away from this series, always wishing it was in print. I'm certainly a print purist. Even comics on a tablet don't really do it for me - I just don't find the experience as engaging or visceral. Anyway, I was rapt when i heard it was to be published. Now, having just read issue 5 (a dark and brutal stand out in an already dark and brutal series), I am thoroughly eating it up. Ben's world building succeeds in drawing the reader into its barren, harsh dystopia. The surface adventure of the first four issues has now taken a deeper turn, and the pace has slowed. Both of these things are a welcome breather and shows Ben's grasp of his character. I believe he is on the 230 odd page mark, which is awesome news. I'd happily sit down as read the whole bloody thing in a massive GN.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

Battlefield 3. Nuff said.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

Battlefield 3. It means I get less work done.
 

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

There is some new Battlefield 3 DLC coming out, so that'll be grouse and even more destructive to my artistic pursuits.

Aside from that, the producers who optioned The List screenplay will be shopping it around to various movie houses. That'll be an exciting and terrifying time. Man, the thought that it might get picked up and made into a feature film is almost too exciting to bear.

With the TPB out, I will be submitting it to various companies for possible publication. Let's see if any of these so called publishers of art are gutsy enough to pick it up.

I will finally get my short story anthology finished and get a bunch of artists to draw them up. I’ve had one drawn up so far and released as a mini which has received excellent feedback, so it would be nice to get the entire bunch done released as a collection. It's very different to The List: no violence, horror, drugs etc, so it won't sell.
Thanks for reading my babble. Now go and buy my book: http://www.thelistgraphicnovel.bigcartel.com/

2012 in Review: Jesca Marisa

 Jesca Marisa

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

I moved from Cape Town to Auckland this year to work as illustrator and animator on children's games for the iPad. That was kinda a big change of scene for me and I got to meet a whole heap of new comic book creatives in NZ.  The comic-book scene in Cape Town is passionate, but small, so I enjoyed the opportunity to expand my network and see what people are up to on this side of the world. I had the opportunity to attend my first ever Comic Convention (or I should rather say Pop Culture Convention) this year. Yup, Total Noob. First in Sydney and then later in Auckland and I had a blast selling/pimping books to the unsuspecting public at both events.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

Up until the beginning of 2012 I was kind of on a break from reading books and comics. Mostly because I had just coughed up the dough to self-publish a graphic novel. And when you have 500 copies of the same book lying around your house there isn't much elbow room for any other reading material. But then 2012 rolled around - I moved into an empty, book-free house and started reading with a vengeance. Mostly books/comics that I had heard about but never got around to reading myself. I read an insane amount of manga - some very delightfully cheesy publications which won't be mentioned here. I am a big fan of D.Grayman by Katsura Hoshino and I finally managed to buy most of the her manga volumes. I also acquired Pluto by Naoki Urasawa - which is a beautiful book and well worth purchasing. (His other books 20th Century Boys and Monster are also amazing.) I love the sales bin at Real Groovy and bought Black Orchid and I kill Giants for myself recently. (I also got the collected Bone and Blacksad -alas not on sale) I finally read all of the Flight anthologies and some more of the Robot artbooks. Another fun read was the Carbon Grey comic - since it reminded me somewhat of my own work.

 

 What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

 

This year flew by so fast! I enjoyed the New Zealand Film Festival and more recently the Auckland Art Week (because they had some fun life-drawing sessions and a really fun gallery tour on bikes - all free!) I also enjoyed the White Clouds Worlds concept art exhibition at the Lopdell Gallery - since that is the genre of work I would like to exhibit myself.

 

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

 

Yes there has been some changes. I used to concentrate a lot on the art side of comics, but I moved focus to the writing aspect since I felt that there's room for improvement. So I spend what free time I have on writing, which is a nice change of pace since I draw all day for work. I am also doing life drawing and anatomy study again - to freshen up and expand my art style.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

I look forward to finishing my first draft of a sci-fi book I am working on and I am excited because it seems that there will be a lot of opportunity for travel to comic-book related events next year.

 

http://www.jescamarisa.com

2012 in Review: Sorab Del Rio

Sorab Del Rio

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

The highlight of 2012 for me was the release of my first graphic novel - Zombie Cities! This was a personal and artistic victory. For it was work that challenged and I hope re-defines the zombie genre with its wit, humour and style. But above and beyond that, it’s one question to simply release a new work, as anyone can do that, but it’s another challenge to create a work that draws in the fans. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to see Zombie Cities received so well across the 4 conventions where Silver Fox Comics had a presence in 2012.

What makes this sweeter is that this is the 3rd comic based venture I’ve created. So perhaps the old adage 3rd time lucky is actually real! The first was Skunge NYPD, and then of course our works for Zorro. Both of which are comics I loved, but failed to capture the fans. In 2011, I went to Sydney Supanova and sold 35 copies of Zorro at $5 each – I didn’t even cover the cost of the table. Now I know this is a common tale for creators but to me, if I can’t find an audience there is no point whatsoever, and I will leave a project if this can’t be achieved. My work has to find an audience or why bother. I’m not working a year in semi solitude to make a project no one is interested in. I left 2011 Supanova dis-heartened and beaten sorely, and thinking why do creators put themselves through this and that I need to make a project that connects with the fans.

So moving to 2012, we premiered Zombie Cities at Sydney Supanova not knowing what to expect. Was I going to sit through another 2 days and not sell a thing? No, not at all, we actually got it right selling 130 copies of the Zombie Cities graphic novel at $25 each over 2 days and 40 or so prints. We backed this up again at the Penrith Heroes and Villains convention, Melbourne Armageddon and Brisbane Supanova, and the support of comic stores, we’ve closed the year with 530 copies sold of Zombie Cities and over 250 prints. It was a project as some know came from a personal mission with the Sydney Zombies print and one where I also listened to fans in the making of this book. After the failure of previous years and projects, this was an even sweeter victory in creating a work the fans wanted and enjoy. I loved the conventions getting to talk about my work and making people laugh with what we produced. That’s what it’s all about for me – make a comic people enjoy and get immediately. At a con, you got 5 to 10 seconds to sell. When I was writing I wondered, this is really different to the regular zombie stuff – are they going to get it? Sure they did, so I’m personally pleased I went against the standard formulas to make Zombie Cities. Let me also take this time to say a thank you to everyone who bought anything from our Zombie Cities project, the artists from pencilers, inkers and colourists. Special thanks to Don Ticchio who has helped me across each of my comic book ventures. I do feel this is only the start with this project. 
 
Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

Wow, so many to name, in fact too many to name. I have met many of the Australian comic creators through the conventions and now also discovering through your blog many more I am yet to discover.

We have a very talented independent scene in Australia that doesn’t get the limelight it deserves so thank you Matt for profiling us all here with your blog.

I think my biggest influence is Jason Brubaker with his online comic Remind and his associated blog and podcast Making Comics. I’m very passionate about marketing comics and he is achieving the independent self-publishing success I aspire to. He is one guy who has put as much time into marketing his comic as he has creating and it’s paid off with a $100,000 project on Kickstarter. 
 
What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

Non comics – what on earth do you mean?? Kidding!
Music: As some of you know, I love my old school rnb and salsa. I’d have to mention the Prince concerts which were amazing – I saw Prince in concert twice in Sydney, and also Janele Monae live – love her!
Movies: I went through a phase where I decided not to watch any English films as I’ve just gotten tired of the same regurgitated crap. During this time I watched 20 foreign films in a row. My favourite was The Skin I Live in by Spanish director Pedro Almodovar – this is macabre thriller of which I had no idea where this was leading to. The City of Men Movies which are set in the favellas of Rio, and Amores Perros – are more foreign films I discovered this year.
Books: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Saffon. In regards to English releases – Breaking Bad is phenomenal!
Home: Seeing my dogs – my gals - Rio and Ria talk for the first time was incredible. I’d never believed this was possible. I also enjoyed meeting an Italian girl at salsa last week, lets see where this leads ;)

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?
 
Right now I’m working on Zombie Cities Violence Vs Compassion. This time I’m writing with the strait jacket off and my muzzle is unleashed. There’s a real wild abandon happening with this project – a real crazy spirit happening with this project. I don’t know how it’s happening but I almost feel that these new stories are happening unconsciously and just flowing. It’s not something I implemented, it is just happening naturally.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?
 
The release of Zombie Cities Violence Vs Compassion! This will be a tour de force! I hope get to more conventions across Australia in 2013. I may need to do a crowd sourcing campaign to assist with financing. And figuring out how to release this internationally – whether its digitally, a free online comic to build a worldwide audience, a Kickstarter or similar campaign, but I am now starting to think internationally is where projects need to be. There are 3 other projects in my head knocking on my forehead every day asking to be let out so this will also happen – projects totally unrelated to anything I’ve done before.

www.silverfoxcomics.com.au

2012 in Review: Darren Koziol

 Darren Koziol

What have been your personal publishing/comics highlights of 2012?

Personal comic highlights of 2012 for me have been putting out 3 great issues of DECAY, including the very popular "CTHULHU" and "END OF THE WORLD" issues, now with 40% colour in every issue. Attending comic book conventions around Australia, including the new Oz Comic Con, and meeting and networking with more and more creators and fans has made the year rewarding. Seeing other Aussie creators putting out their own comic books and my all time favourite comic book 2000AD reaching 1800 issues has been great to see. And Judge Dredd being made into an awesome movie with the best 3-D so far of any movie I've seen: brilliant. Dave Follett winning the Australian Stanley Award for 'best comic book artist' for his work on the short story "Strange Appetite" in DECAY (issue #9). Meeting Stan Lee in Melbourne was awesome. And I've really been enjoying the new Crossed comic books.
 
Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

There's been heaps of new creators coming on board to DECAY, mostly from within Australia but also a few overseas people too. Charith Wijewardane, Lachlan Creagh, Paul Briske, Kurt Stone, Jake Rundle, Danos Philopoulos, Rayaan Cassiem, Riyahd Cassiem, and many many others have all come to work on DECAY in just this last year, bringing the total number of creators so far, in 14 issues from 3 years, to over 90.

 What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

There's been heaps of great movies coming out this year. Almost every week there's an average of 2 to 3 new movies that I want to see. I've seen a lot but missed others. It seems to be the year of great entertaining films. I've been to several art exhibitions by friends and people who've worked for DECAY. I've also been doing a graphic design course at Tafe which has been extremely enjoyable, along with meeting all of the other people on the course and building new friendships.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?
 
I've learnt a lot about art, illustration, typography, computers and design on a graphic design course. These are all valuable things for me to learn towards producing DECAY. I've also been learning more about becoming a better writer and feel that some of my stories have benefited from that. My time management is still poor, and I still procrastinate too much, and the long hours spent at Tafe have taken away from some of the time I've been able to spend on DECAY.
 
What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Next year I look forward to finishing my graphic design course. I also look forward to continuing to produce new issues of DECAY. There's also the possibility of one or two other comics coming out from DARK OZ. There's also a lot more conventions planned around Australia for 2013, including William Shatner at Oz Comic Con, and it all starts off in January with Oz Horror Con in Melbourne. I hope to see you all there.

 www.darkoz.com.au

Faction Comics - Damon Keen

Recently formed New Zealand comics publisher Faction Comics released their first anthology this week with a 72 page volume in print via a successful crowd-funding campaign earlier this year. A mixture of veteran and younger cartoonists fill the pages with a free digital version of the comic available from Faction. Faction anthology editor Damon Keen answered a few questions via email on Nov 28 about Faction's first comic.

Was using crowdfunding always a part of faction's publishing strategy?

Only in a distant way - it was always in the mix, but I didn't really consider it seriously at first. For one thing, Kickstarter was off limits, and I wasn't sure how effective PledgeMe was, so I had to do a bit of investigation.

Originally we went for funding from Creative NZ, but after our application was declined we had to look at other options - and economically it's not a great time to be looking for any kind of corporate sponsorship, so crowd funding started to look more and more attractive. 

In the end it worked out beautifully for us, because with PledgeMe funding we're not constrained in any way by the commitments or compromises that can come with external funding. 

What format will the physical copies of Faction be?

Perfect bound, 72 page graphic novel style book - offset printed.

It was important to Amie and I that the first issue looked great! Future issues will be saddle stitched and shorter. 

How will the Faction anthology be distributed?

First and foremost the main reason for Faction's existence is building up a readership base - so we will be giving the digital version away free if you subscribe on our website. We'll make it available as a pdf and cbr - for reading on tablets - and I'm also investigating other ways of making it available online. There's quite a few options these days, which is awesome.

We always saw the hard copy as a kind of marketing tool first and foremost - as a way to get people to subscribe online (and hence build up our database of readers!), so we haven't thought as hard about how we'll distribute the physical version. We'll be sending out review copies and getting it into the comic shops around NZ (and libraries), and also making it available to buy via our website. But this is a big experiment on our part, so we're still open to suggestions to be honest.

Is their a pre-existing anthology that you would compare Faction to in terms of tone?

That's a tricky one! My inspiration comes from Strips originally, which I loved back when I was 10 or 11 - and also Heavy Metal back in the 70s and 80s. Those were both in mind when we started thinking about creating Faction, but in terms of tone - and something more 21st century! - Best American Comics comes to mind - except shorter and in full colour!

Was there much editorial work undertaken with receiving open submissions?

From the beginning I wanted this to be an edited anthology. Some of my own money going into it, so I don't see any reason why I should print anything I don't feel comfortable with!

Having said that I'm not aware of any NZ anthologies that have been as editorially focused (if that's the right way of putting it!) as we have been on Faction. Most of the NZ anthologies I've seen seem to have a pretty open door policy on submissions - which is great by the way! But as a creative myself I knew I only wanted to include work by people who had significant experience with the craft of comic writing, who were proven, I guess - and were operating at a pretty high level. 

So, yes, we have had to turn away some artists - including some really promising ones - especially towards the end, after the competition became a bit more intense. I hope they keep at it though, there's a lot of talent out there.

Did you encounter any particular difficulties in launching Faction Comics?

Financing is the biggest issue - and nothing else that major; just niggling stuff, like worrying about hurting people's feelings and booking gallery spaces and so on! I was really concerned about standing on people's toes and blundering into the NZ comic scene and being a dick about it, but everyone has been really welcoming and friendly, so overall it's been a terrific experience.

Do you have another project lined up after this anthology is released?

I've got another comic I want to start drawing - it's longer and more complex than the one I included in Faction - which was actually a kind of practice run for it. But other than that, I just need to start thinking about the next issue of Faction, as well as planning the now belated launch exhibition, and other marketing strategies for promoting the anthology. 

It's really annoying to have to do my (paying) day job on top of this fun stuff actually!

More info at the Faction website here. 

 Faction People Amie Maxwell and Damon Keen

2012 in Review: Marc Pearson

 Marc Pearson

What have been your personal publishing/comics highlights of 2012?

I made a book called 'Mr. Ray's Grave Thoughts' and it took me a while to make it, but then after I finished it, it was done. If you wanna buy it, it's in stores around.. the place, but also here.

That's the first all me comic I've ever put out, so it was a pretty big deal emotionally. there was a lot of listening to pop songs and making finalising statements while sighing like "Well... *sigh* There you go." or "*sigh* Yeah, I guess I DID do it."

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
Okay, so yeah, like everyone else there's that Simon Hansalami guy he's a-grade. he's like a slap in the butt when it's good. Then Michael Deforge is pretty great, and I just read these comics by Jesse Moynihan that were amazing and dreamy, and then there's Melissa mendes, she did this comic called Freddy Stories, and it's really great and it made me feel real emotions that I still feel today, even though I didn't read it today, it's like it travels with me, like a backpack or a rucksack, and I like it. There's Chuck Forsman, he's doing this comic called the end of the fucking world, and it's a real nice comic to read, and it's getting a Fantagraphics release next year, and I would highly recommend it, and then he also runs Oily Comics, which i would also recommend people check out. 

There's a guy called Walker Mettling from Rhode Island, and he's doing these comics with kids under the name PROVIDENCE COMICS CONSORTIUM, and if you don't like it, you're not exciting or interesting, and no one likes you, and the smell of rotten meat is starting to get to everybody else here, and they're starting to say things like "It's a little much, don't you think?". He runs these classes with these kids, and he makes them do all these drawing exercises and stuff, and then at the end they've made their own comics and he prints them up into books so the kids can have them, but even if you aren't a kid, you can have them too! I have them, and I'm not a kid. I'm a man.

Mickey Z, does a comic called RAV thats really great. I got that collection of Kevin Huizenga comics called CURSES and thats like... the perfect comic book.
If you're looking for the perfect comic book, look no further, than CURSES... by Kevin Huizenga.
....
My friend ELLIOT LAMB, just made a book called SWEAT #1 and it's real hot and slow like what I imagine a sting album is like.
 
What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

I read this Lynda Barry book called CRUDDY, because Melissa Mendes said it was good, and I, like everyone else should, trust her implicitly (-and it was real special). I went and saw Hannibal Buress do standup and that changed the way I talk a little sometimes because it was so funny, Lashna's moving back into my house, I've been talking to Alyx again and she's thinking about moving to Melbourne in April next year, which might be weird, but above that I just think it'll kind of be cool. Our relationship has always kind of been in the shadow of how far away she always is, so this is kind of like a new beginning, you know? like I'll get to regularly spend time with her.. which should be cool.  I don't know if that makes sense, but you don't need to get it, you're an email message. 

So, I've enjoyed those conversations, and I gueesss, I've been seeing Elliot Lamb heaps and he's been pretty great. I read this Oliver Sacks book about hallucinations, and there's a whole bunch of stuff about SLEEP PARALYSIS that was pretty interesting, and I was in Massachusetts, and I'd just read a whole bunch of stuff about it, and then it happened to me for the first time ever! and there were auditory hallucinations and everything! I was sleeping in this room, and I couldn't move at all, and could hear this woman moaning behind me, but it wasn't a sexy moan, it was kind of a husky moan... that was like.. maybe a struggly moan? i don't really remember now.. but yeah, i tried to move my arm, but i couldn't! and so iI tried again and again, and then on the third or fourth try, I was able to lift my arm fully up, but it wasn't my actual flesh and blood arm, it was like a ghost arm, with the opacity turned down... or something.. and so that lifted up, and then sank back down into my real arm again, and then I fell asleep. Isn't that weird? Man. so yeah, I enjoyed that.

I saw The Master, but I don't really know if I enjoyed it... ummm... oh, every John Swartzwelder book makes me feel better when I feel bad. He was a writer and a consultant for the Simpsons... ummm.. there's this one Marx Brothers movie that didn't make me feel good, it made me feel terrible, and I'll mention it here because if you've read this far, you'll obviously read anything. It's called THE MARX BROTHERS spend A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA, and it made me feel really bad. usually I watch Marx Brothers films to make me feel better cause sometimes I feel bad, but this one made me feel worse. It made me feel terrible.
 
Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

Nope.
 
What are you looking forward to in 2013?

The new Dash Shaw book, Sam Wallman's Australian history comic anthology, the continued adventures of Megg, Mogg and Owl, getting a bike and becoming a nightrider, Katie Parrish comics, whatever Hamishi is doing, the parking lot experiments album... ummmm... theres a new Jim Woodring book coming out? called Fran, I think, which is about Frank's girlfriend. that should be cool. reading the end of THE END OF THE FUCKING WORLD by Chuck Forsman... and I think thats it... I wanna see more rusty brown, hopefully some angsty teenage Rusty Brown... errr... Arsene Shrauwen 2 by Olivier Shrauwen.. that'd be interesting... ummm...

http://marcstorewatchout.bigcartel.com/

2012 in Review: Justin Randall

Justin Randall

What have been your cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

 
Having book 2 of my graphic novel series, Changing Ways hit the shelves and then having the series picked up by a French publisher for a translated release.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

 I'm really enjoying Jim Woodring at the moment, his work is so surreal.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

The birth of my son, Far Cry 3, The new season of Misfits, RC helicopters, cycling, Prometheus and spending quality time with my wife.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I doubled the size of my working studio by relocated distracting toys such as consoles and a data projector to another part of the house.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Completing Changing Ways book 3 and then finding a new artist to continue the series.

http://www.justinrandall.daportfolio.com/

2012 in Review: Andy Conlan

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?
 

I did a political cartoon for which I drew a caricature of John Key, which made me feel like a "real editorial cartoonist". Political cartoons aren't really my thing, but it was fun for the context of it. He was the easy part. I wanted to draw an authentic rendition of the corner of Sunset and Vine for the environment, so I even Google mapped it. It got too complicated until I finally said “fuckit”, and just drew the street signs and some hills behind them. The hills are probably even the wrong shape, but I think I captured Key's gleeful enthusiasm.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

 

Does rediscover count? Near the beginning of the year I started this Carl Barks frenzy, going into this total vacuum for a few weeks during which a disproportionate part of my waking hours were spent thinking about Uncle Scrooge. I also spent a lot of time reading Schultz. Another highlight was corresponding with Herr Seele about getting one of his Cowboy Henk books. He was concerned that the book was in Dutch, but there was no adequate way to articulate to him that his cartoons are so wonderfully executed that they need no text. Sometimes you can become so sycophantic that it's better to play it cool and not go overboard.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012? (i.e. movies, film, prose, ballet, opera, fine art, exhibitions, etc)

 

I spent a bit of time at auctions this year, overcome with panic whenever works by the late Sir Peter Siddell were on the floor. His work has been a mild obsession for me since I was at high school, so it was an opportunity to see some of the lesser known paintings and other works that aren't held publicly.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

 

Not really, I've been working the same way since 1995, with a brush and ink. I did go from doing everything on the page to drawing panels separately and assembling them using Photoshop, but I don't like that so I switched back. I prefer to have a page of original art that is a standalone piece of work on its own outside the “post production” environment, so prefer to keep it all on paper.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

 

I've got some renewed interest in the children's stories I've been working on, so any non editorial comics or illustrative work will be for young readers. I've been working out how to translate the stories and books to moving image, and have seen a hybrid stop motion/2D drawing video that I quite liked, so might adapt that format for my own stuff. A video of me reading my children's book, Mr. Gloomingdale's Downpour, has had a decent amount of views on Youtube for something that's not about cats squeezing each others' blackheads while wearing top hats, so adapting that will be one of the first experiments.

 http://apconlan.tumblr.com/