This is nuts: http://www.johnsadowski.com/big_spanish_castle.html

What are you grateful for?

1. Go here.
2. Pass it on.
( my answers )

Current Mood: bitchy

Sexy Voice and Robo review at AnimeonDVD.com here.

Associated forum thread here.

MangaCast discussion here. (I haven't listened yet.)

The AOD reviewer has a LJ post about it here.

Testing Xjournal...

Current Mood: curious

[Don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I couldn't get my links to work and I have no idea how to do a LJ cut. So...sorry...?]

Okay, quick check-in:


- My short story FIGHT is out now in 30 DAYS OF NIGHT: BLOODSUCKER TALES #2. Issues #1 and #2 are available at your local comic shop or online through the publisher. There are discussion threads on Niles' board and the IDW forum.


- SLAYERS 3 ran a *month* over-deadline, which mortified me. Clearly, I could not handle that book with my current schedule. On the bright side, I realized that after SLAYERS 2 and had already resigned before I began the 3rd book. So at least my guilt was partly assuaged by what I figured to be the Responsible Action. Had it been my only assignment during the same time frame, it would've been no problem - but there was just too much to juggle. I'm still on good terms with Nicole and have recommended a couple possible replacements -- oh and the Amazon reviews on the first book are pretty good, so I guess all is well. I'll miss Lina and Nicole -- and it was a great gig for me, uh, developmentally (meaning that I learned more about my process and what I'm capable of), but I'm glad to be done with it.


- Regular books are up-to-date (SENSUAL PHRASE, GIRL GOT GAME and KARE FIRST LOVE) and my newest property, DOUBT!!, is running close, but it's on-time so far, too. Sadly, the super-special-bells-and-whistles Viz book that I can't yet name is running behind because of the SLAYERS delay, so my stomach is still in knots. The holiday didn't help get me caught up either. Oy.


- SENSUAL PHRASE VOLS 1 and 2 are going into their second printings. Woo!


- I've gotten some really nice mail on DESCENDANTS OF DARKNESS and a few letters about Tatsumi's name change. If you found this site googling for info on that, take heart: a) it wasn't me! I didn't do it! and b) it's being corrected for subsequent volumes. Presumably if Volume 1 goes to a 2nd printing (and I'm sure it will) corrections will be made there. If you don't know what I'm talking about, consider yourself blessed. (As a reminder, I left that book after Volume 3, so any mail on subsequent volumes needs to go to the new staff.)


- Got a lead on a big new project for next year, but don't want to end up back in this position so I need to wait until GIRL GOT GAME is done (one volume left to adapt) before I pursue that too enthusiastically.


- ELEANOR is still on the back-burner until I have more time, as are the books with Nikol. When next I have a few minutes I want to see if I can get a short story down on paper that's been swimming around in my head for a while. It's about a womanizing arachnologist and I need to talk to Chris Ryall and find out if he's got a spot for it.


- I just turned down an invite to submit to NERVE's Christmas issue and I'm bummed. But there was not way I was going to have the time. C'est la vie, I suppose. On the upside, I referred them to Gina Kaufmann for one of their special issues and I'll let you know as soon as her piece gets posted.


Okay, that's all, I guess. Sounds dour, doesn't it? I promise to be in better spirits next week.


On the upside, I had a wonderful visit with my family and My First Traditional Thanksgiving At Our House went off without a glitch.

Current Mood: stressed

Remember those glorious 10 days or so during which I was actually caught up? Well, SLAYERS 3: THE GHOST OF SAIRAAG happened, and so much for the good times.

Recently Turned In:

SENSUAL PHRASE VOL. 7's end column on T.M. Revolution
SENSUAL PHRASE VOL. 8, part 1 script adaptation
KARE FIRST LOVE VOL. 4, part 2 script adaptation

Currently Working On:

SLAYERS 3: THE GHOST OF SAIRAAG (My last SLAYERS book, thank god. I love my editor and I enjoy the book, but I cannot handle the workload. It is the elephant that not only broke the camel's back but reduced him to a smudge of goo, alas.)
UNANNOUNCED VIZ PROJECT

Due Very Soon:

GIRL GOT GAME VOL. 9

_____

New Reviews:

DESCENDANTS OF DARKNESS VOL. 1 on Animeondvd.com
KARE FIRST LOVE VOL. 1 on Animeondvd.com

_____

There is, of course, an original project I'm dying to work on, but no time right now. Alas.

Previews Review has tapped BLUE SPRING as their Pick of the Month. (Hurrah! Matsumoto is one of my favorite creators of any nationality and BLUE SPRING, easily the best book I've ever had the opportunity to work on.)

BLUE SPRING GN VOL 1
By Taiyo Matsumoto
$9.99, 218 pages, VIZ LLC, PAGE 356
OCT04 3067

Despite the continued absence of NO. 5 VOLUME 3 (and despite the fact that the third volume is scheduled to be published in French ANY DAY NOW), Viz have seen fit to release a brand new stand-alone graphic novel from NO.5 and BLACK & WHITE creator Taiyo Matsumoto! BLUE SPRING, a violent, kinetic story of a boys' school in Japan was adapted into a film (much like another of Matsumoto's comics that's doing gangbusters in France and Japan and remains unreleased here, PING PONG) thanks to its unflinching look at the realities of being a teenager in Japan. After a crushing loss at the school, the leader of the school's upper-echelon gives up on life, tearing down the last illusions of stability for a group of aimless teens. Dark and introspective, the film was very good and, I can only imagine, Matsumoto's outstanding storytelling will be a welcome addition to the story. At $10 and created by one of the best storytellers in Japan today, this is an absolutely essential purchase whether you're a "manga fan" or not. This is just plain great comics. Do Not Miss This One. Preorder It Today.

Current Mood: sleepy