OYE!

Happy New Year!  It’s already 2012…pretty crazy how fast time flies.  If you’re ten years old you might not think so, but after 30 the years feel more like months.  It’s hard to believe that I’ve been creating comics since 2004.  Those eight years have gone by really fast.  It’s been a lot of work and a lot of fun.  I’ve made a lot of friends along the way and there are a lot of people I owe a big “THANKS!” to.  So many other creators & artists have helped me learn the tricks of comic creating as well as showing true comradely friendship.  I was amazed from the beginning at how generous and joyous the comic community is.  Also a big “THANKS!!” to the readers that have followed my work.  From Innocent to Family Bones to those 2007 Comic Book Challenge Finals to Mr. Phelps Space Detective to Gene Gardens; plus all the other short stories & one-shots, there are a lot of you who come rain or shine.  I really, really appreciate it.  It would be difficult to continue to create comic books & web comics without that support.  Thank you. 

In 2012 I’ll be continuing work on Gene Gardens, keeping this a weekly comic is hard but it’s my goal.  Also I’ve started a personal side web comic project called Daddy’s Girls.  Daddy’s Girls is a change from my usual fare since it’s always safe-for-work & all-ages.  It’s not for kids per say, just not something you should worry about them reading.  Most of my work isn’t for the kiddies.  Besides the two web comics I’ve got an Innocent prose in the works as well as a southern gothic mystery novel.  I have also started another mystery horror book that had me thinking “Why hasn’t anyone ever written that?”  If I can squeeze it in this year, I will.  I’m not sure I’ll be getting to a couple true crime novels that I’ve got outlined, maybe for 2013.  They will require a lot of research and some traveling, I’m not sure I can do that this year.  But I’m always looking for a way to get to it.  And then there are a few original graphic novels that I’m looking at completing, including the long delayed Grey Shades story that was the 2007 Comic Book Challenge finalist. 

2012 might just be a very fun year. 

Shawn

 

Links Alpha has some easy to use plugins to post your blog to all the social media sites.  Check them out if you’re looking for social linking.

The downside is that it’s $5 a month for any real features.  But this works well if you’re a business and need to manage a lot of sites.  For individuals that don’t want to pay the $5 a month, it’s not a great deal.  But I have yet to find a good auto-post for more than one or two sites.

Automatic Publishing

Publish your RSS enabled website/blog automatically to social web

Postbox

Easily publish to all your networks & tools from one place

Check out some of the crazy pictures from King Tractor Press at Monsterpalooza 2011.  It was a lot of fun.

http://shop.kingtractorpress.com/2011/04/24/monsterpalooza-2011-burbank-california/

Congrats to Elliot McConnell, he’s the 3rd place winner of the Family Bones video trailer contest.  A job very well done.

If you missed his trailer you can check it out still on youtube.

To celebrate my locating a dealer with a few more of these Marvel Buildable cases I’m sharing my luck with you. Until Feb. 28th (or the toys are gone) you can use MARVELBUILDS coupon for 20% off at checkout at the King Tractor Press shop. That is good for anything at the store within that time. But if I sell out of …the Buildables before that then the discount will be gone as well.

http://shop.kingtractorpress.com/

These toys have been discontinued from the manufacturer and most distributors are out.  But I’ll keep hunting so that anyone who wants one can get one.  Or two.

Jorge Mongiovi and I are almost done with our graphic novel Gene Gardens, finishing up the last chapter.  This should be about 120 pages when done.  I’ve just sent the project to Kickstarter to get approved, we’d like to pre-sell copies of the book so we an afford to do a really nice printing.  If I can get enough then we’ll do hardcover editions for this first printing.  And any extra money will go into the sequel.

More info if/when the Gene Gardens is approved.  (Expect a lot of goodies to be available.)  If it’s not then we’ll still find a way, but Kickstarter could really help get this book printed.

But to wet your appetite here’s a new penciled sketch.

ENTER FAMILY BONES VIDEO TRAILER CONTEST HERE.FILMMAKERS / STUDENTS / ANYONE WITH A VISION Enter the Family Bones Book Trailer Contest 2010 and win some of the prizes valued at more than $1500!

Do you think you can make an awesome book trailer?  Want to show the world your talent?  The Family Bones Trailer Contest is your chance to show everyone what you can do.

Helpful Hints:  Show off your directing chops.  Think you can get people interested in your work, here’s your chance to get seen and win lots of prizes.  Movie trailers work great & the best book trailers follow the lead of filmmakers.

ENTER FAMILY BONES VIDEO TRAILER CONTEST HERE.

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“Family Bones” is a true crime graphic novel about the elderly serial murderers from Missouri. In their 70′s, Ray and Faye Copeland were sentenced to death for the murder of many farm workers that lived with them. The tale is told through the eyes of their unwitting nephew who is forced to live with them one summer.  Through it all somehow this city boy finds young romance with a neighbor’s daughter. Written by the actual great nephew of Ray and Faye Copeland, “Family Bones” is a gritty, fish-out-of-water American gothic that will send shivers down your spine.

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All you need to do to win these amazing prizes is create a book trailer for the graphic novel series “Family Bones” and upload it.  After the end of the deadline for uploading is completed, the trailers will be voted on by the internet public.  Everyone can vote for up to two favorite trailers per day.  The trailers with the most votes will win.

Keeping your Family Bones trailer under 120 seconds will help you keep your audience’s attention.  You want people to stick around and vote for your entry so don’t make it too long.  Short & sweet works great for internet videos, but don’t limit yourself.  Go crazy.

ENTER FAMILY BONES VIDEO TRAILER CONTEST HERE.

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• Submission entry starts on October 18, 2010 10 a.m. PDT and ends on November 18, 2010 11:59 p.m. PDT. 
• Voting begins on November 20, 2010 10:00 a.m. PDT and lasts until December 06, 2010 11:59 p.m. PDT. 
• Each person may vote for two entries per day.
  
• Winners announced on December 09, 2010.

When submission is open then there will be a link here.  You’ve got time to plan and create your “Family Bones” video trailer, but don’t wait too long.

On October 18, 2010 10 a.m. PDT then click this LINK to go to the contest.

ENTER FAMILY BONES VIDEO TRAILER CONTEST HERE.

Check here for more information on Family Bones.

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One Grand Prize Winner will receive:
- One (1) one-of-a-kind “Family Bones” edition of Cigar Box Guitar built by artist Jason May  [$1000 value]

 

This is a fully functional, unique (only 1 ever made) cigar box guitar created by Jason May.  These are wonderful musical instruments as well as being beautiful art objects you could display in your home.  The “Family Bones” edition comes with many original features that you won’t find on any other guitar.  (axe handle neck, used bullet case bridge, etc.)  Check out Jason May’s website for all of his guitar creations.

- One (1) Signed copy of Family Bones Volume 1 [$15 value]

- One (1) Signed copy of Family Bones Volume 2 [$15 value]

 

 - One (1) Signed copy of Innocent: Volume 1 [$15 value]

 Also written by Shawn Granger – an action/horror tale of an angel & serial killer who become best friends.

 

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One Second Prize Winner will receive:

(Note: this is the colored version which was added digitally, the actual board is b&w)

- One (1) original poster art for “Family Bones” by Lou Manna  [$500 value]

This is the original inked pencils on 11×17″ Bristol Board for the special “Family Bones” poster by Lou Manna.  (Note: Colored versions were done digitally so it’s in black & white)

Lou Manna has been published by many companies including DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Moonstone, Platinum, Dark Horse, Archie, JC comics and many others.   Titles include THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES, All STAR SQUADRON, WORLD’S FINEST, WHAT IF, The House of Secrets, The Unexpected, The House of Mystery, Wally Wood’s cult series the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Roy Thomas’s series The YOUNG ALL-STARS, INFINITY INC.  and Who’s Who for DC.

or his complete biography please visit www.louismanna.com

Shot of actual art board below.

- One (1) Signed copy of Family Bones Volume 1  [$15 value]

- One (1) Signed copy of Family Bones Volume 2 [$15 value]

 

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 One Third Prize winner will receive:

 

- One (1) copy of Child Of Fire by Harry Connolly [$8 value]

- One (1) copy of Game Of Cages by Harry Connolly [$8 value]

- One (1) Signed copy of Family Bones Volume 1 [$15 value]

- One (1) Signed copy of Family Bones Volume 2 [$15 value]

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One Fourth Prize winner will receive:

 

- One (1) copy of the DVD Under the Mountain  [$27 value]

The feature adaptation of New Zealand author Maurice Gee’s much-loved fantasy novel Under the Mountain.  Directed by and co-written by Jonathan King.  Starring Sam Neill, Sophie McBride, & Tom Cameron.

- One (1) Signed copy of Family Bones Volume 1 [$15 value]

- One (1) Signed copy of Family Bones Volume 2 [$15 value]

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Good luck to everyone.  Check back on October 18th for submission link.

 

Feel free to use any of this art for your “Family Bones” trailer.

 http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c245/tvoice/FamilyBones/

ENTER FAMILY BONES VIDEO TRAILER CONTEST HERE.

http://tinyurl.com/2esgs9x

70% off an incredible amount of graphic novels.  Only lasts until Friday.  Use the code “ZOMBIES” at checkout for free shipping.

Check out the King Tractor Press sponsored show on Webcomic Beacon, interview with DJ Coffman.  Wonderful show, great creator. DJ created Hero By Night, Yirmumah and Will Draw Anything plus helped calm me down during the 2007 Platinum Comic Book Challenge.