Free Comic Book Day!

It's here! And at select comic book stores we've sent FREE copies of our first issue! Check em out, tell us what you think! Tweet us a photo or post o facebook of you with OLD SOLDIERS #1 and we'll be giving away 20 FREE copies of ISSUE#2

Don't hate the Player, Hate the game

And the game is rigged.

I'm not the first and I won't be the last to say this, but its rough out there unless you're a big player.

The big guys get all the attention, the big guys get all the ads, the big guys get the reviews. Where does that leave the independent publishers, the people who take a chance, who take risks? Cut. Out.

Cut out of the review machine. Don't get me wrong, I love the reviewers who have looked at my book, and uniformly, they've all liked the book and recommended it. But, I answer all emails, and I extend courtesy to everyone who stops by my website. Yeah, we're out there, we're scrapping and fighting for our space. We're doing OK, but where's the HARM in reviewing independent comic books? Not everyone wants to see people in tights? I know from the great feedback from the people out there that there IS a need, a space for different stories. Like I said, THANKS to the ones who have reviewed our book, we appreciate it, but please remember, even marvel comics started small, even Dark Horse was a B/W publisher first.

Lets' give it back. Help out each other. face it, we all need heroes. We need evangelists. We all need people to sing our praises. If you like to the book, by all means tell people. We're not looking to make money (who does publishing comics) what we are looking for is to tell our story, and we want YOU to be a part of it.

Se here's an appeal to those of you out there, help us help you. The more diversity in comics there is, the better, the more stories get told. So if you like what you see, pass it on, tell people. Post on boards, spread the word. Get some buzz going. Help out because its the right thing to do.

I heed a hero, will it be you?

Aussie Aussie Aussie...

Oy, vey!

I keep track of my stats, and like any good puppetmaster, its VERY useful to see who's playing your game and what they are saying. It can GREATLY help run a game, and help people when they are stuck, or help you if you've messed up. I am getting a TON of people from the land down under, one problem, their board is behind a firewall at a University, So I can't monitor, or see how they're doing. Frustrating. Its strange to do it blind.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to solve this issue?

Its been a while...

But Now we go back to regular blogging.

comics printing. Distributor in place. game is running, and oh boy, is it OFF and running, sometimes I feel like I'm trying to catch up to it! I hope people stay interested in it, The best is yet to come, it only gets bigger and better.

Comic ships to me, then to haven. Freight shipping sucks, but what am I going to do?

Still Waiting

yup. Talked to haven, they said they are backed up with submissions.

Found a New Printer in China, MUCH cheaper. but it will take a MONTH for the comics to come in, so, I'm conflicted over what to do.

Still waiting though

Waiting...again

Submitted to Haven. They say they will get back to me sooner that Diamond. So, I wait again. I'm anxious to hear from them. This isn't the last stop, but it is what I would LIKE to be my path to the market. I hope to hear from them this week.

Diamond sent a letter

and it was a rejection.

Can't say I'm surprised at this point. I knew I was on the bubble. It still smarts. I will publish, but it won't be through diamond, unfortunately. So, I am forced to got to one of their competators and sink some $ into more marketing.

As they say, not happy.

In their letter they said the project shows potential, but does not have a strong enough marketing plan. Which is interesting, because in their materials they said NOT to worry about supplying a marketing plan (which I supplied ANYWAY) So, after almost THREE months, I'm not at square one, but at least I know WHAT I have to do, what's next.

Not too happy, but I will show em'

Shine on You crazy...

Still Waiting.

Diamond has yet to contact me since I last talked to them. Do I want to know what they have to say. Yah, I do. But. Well...I want them to say YES! At this point I just want to know yes or no. Its frustrating to have your fate in someone elses hands, but its the game we have to play. I just wish it was more clearly defined. If the process is 2-month plus to decide, fine. I'd be more "dissapointed" if they decided and they just haven't had to send me my rejection letter. The waitin' is the hardest part. But while there's hope, there's life. Come one diamond, come through. Shine on you crazy Diamond.

Meanwhile, I'll be scanning in issue#7 to be colored next week. I'm so far ahead of my schedule, its crazy, but it gives me time to refine, so as they say, its a good thing.

Still have some extra-bonus material to work out and draw, plus the websites, but those are largely done, just need the gmaes, etc...

One more thing...

I DID submit my book to SEVERAL comic book companies (publishers, let me be clear, not diamond, I have at least a dialogue with them) and got NO RESPONSE. I have to say, not cool. How much time does it take to send an email, or in the case of my submissions, send a letter in the self-addressed stamped envelopes I INCLUDED in my submissions package. Come one man, form letter whatever. It was like two years ago, be cool, we all started off in the same place, at the bottom. We should all try to remember what it was like to be rejected, to put ourselves out there. It takes a lot to create something, it takes more to submit it to people to judge it. Thanks to the MINORITY who replied back, I do appreciate it. I'll go it on my own, but It would have been nice to work with some of you. Maybe next time.

Still Waiting

For Diamond. I'm trying REAL hard to be patient. I go between pessimism and optimism. Right now, I'd just like to know thumbs up, or thumbs down. It will be the two month count by the end of this week since my submission was accepted, so just patiently waiting to hear from the good folks at Diamond. I hope I get in, but at this point, I need to know SOON, because I need to get all my ad buys, games and contests in place for the pub date.

Diamond

Just talked to them because I had not heard anything. The guy I talked to was real nice. He looked up my submission. And I'm on the fence.

Ahhhh

oh, well, right. On the fence, not a yes, not a no yet. But HOPEFULLY they will say yes. Hopefully. He said he liked the art and the colors. SO at least there's that. I know diamonds huge, they get TONS of submissions. He DID remember mine, so at least I can say I was in the running. That there is ONE GUY left yet to decide. So, I'm waiting on one guy. Here's a message to "one guy" , One Guy, if you are reading this. Hey, I'm a hard worker, and I will promote the HELL out of this book. Take a risk, take a chance.

So, now what. Still in limbo. Until next week. he said it would probably be next week when I would hear. So crossing my fingers, hoping and putting out positive energy to the universe for a YES! He explained that the market is weak and it probably would have made it through in any other year.

He did say that if I resubmitted as a trade, id be more likely to get a yes. Nice guy, so far my experience with Diamond has been pretty good.

So now I wait, wait for my fate.

Still waiting

Not sure how long the process is for Diamond approval/rejection. They state on their website that its 2-4 weeks and now we're in week 6. Is this typical? I have no idea really. From what I see online people's experiences with Diamond vary greatly. Which is to be expected in a company as large as diamond. What I fear is that my submission has gotten lost in the shuffle at their offices. What I hope is that they are taking their time because they are overloaded. I'm over the pins and needles stage of anticipation and right now I just want the up or down sign. I just want to know what my fate is. OF course I would LOVE to be distributed by them, but if they are not interested. I have alternatives to go to. And this process hasn't soured me on the print publishing experience, I still love the form, the paper, the texture, the feeling in my hands. But is this an antiquated idea. Is print publishing dying, or becoming more isolated like vinyl collectors. It seems to be headed towards a more digital future. I wiLL be publishing digitally this book, but I just wanted a real item that I could hold onto. So, just waiting. Waiting and seeing.

Issue #6 is almost finished being colored. Letters to start this week, aim to have it done by next week. So good there, only one more to go. Covers to come after that, then supplemental material for each issues. Then tweak the websites. then come hell or high water, LAUNCH

New posting time

Going to start it up again, even though largely I am In waiting mode here. Sent in the submission to Diamond and I am still waiting for word back...on an unrelated note, did I ever tell you that the folks at diamond are the best, smartest, most good-looking people in the world ;)... I have faith, plus the fortune cookie at Disneyworld told me that it is meant to be. And frankly, who am I to doubt the cookie.

7 is done, inks and pencils, and the supplemental web pages are done through issue #3. COlors will bed one on #6 by next week, so its largely done and I haven't even printed the first issue yet. So I feel in great shape for publishing.

Its Out!

Submissions package to Diamond. Now, its up to...someone else. I would cross my fingers, but does that imply desperation? Cause, I'm NOT desperate...Hopeful. Yes, Hopeful. That's what I want to convey.

ALSO...

One page from finishing issue#7...So that's GREAT!

UPDATE!!!

Got one of the subsites up and running!

Now I just need to collect the data (only one minor tweak needed!)

Sending out package to diamond next week! Crosses fingers.

May need to push back release date, grrrr

But, my fault really.

Longer I wait the better it will be, right, RIGHT?????

Expanding issue#7 by 4 pages. I think It serves the story better

Long time

inbetween updates, right? Well, Its been busy, getting the websites done and operational, coming up with puzzles and web content. AND finishing the comic. Now onto try to get diamond to distribute. I think we have a really great product, soI think they will be interested.

Issue#7 is ALMOST done (pencils, inks) can't really believe it. Got a really kickass cover to Issue#2 done! very excited

TRAILER Is Up

Check out the website!!

www.bighousecomics.com

For a trailer for Old Solders. I'm happy with how its turning out, I'm going to start a campaign with giveaways to market the hell of this. Going to hit it as hard as I can, this is my chance!

Long overdue update

Holy cow, I have been away for a WHILE. Lost of stuff happened, and I don't really have time to elaborate, yet. But BIgh news happening this week

Started coloring

Issue#5. Sigh, It seems like Its taking forever, but I have to remind myself howe far I've already come. I'm going to push it off a little until I feel comfortable, until I'm done with the subsites. Also, about halfway through issue#6, so that's also good forward progress.

FINISHED!!!

With the re-re-re-re-tweaking of the issues, and as usual I like what I'm seeing. I think its looking good! Now onto issue#5 (sigh, so close, but so far to go)