Phantasia

Dreaded for you, perhaps – not so much for me! How long will it last? Only until September. As I’ve mentioned before in these updates, it’s mainly to give me time to build up a new backlog. So it’s not so much a break for me, as I’ll still be working on Phantasia as much as ever XD

#69 will be published when it’s done. Getting #68 done in time was a bit of a struggle (these chapters can take anywhere between 10-20 hours to write, you know! Even more if I throw in a lot of a lot of illustrations) so I’ll just have to see how it goes. Thing with writing is that sometimes you can write loads, and sometimes it just doesn’t come – having to write a whole chapter from scratch in a matter of days isn’t a task I relish (unless I was getting paid to do it)!

But do not panic! I still plan to update the site with bonus (filler, if you want) content. Not sure if there will be a schedule for that – I’ll try making better use of the Facebook page to keep people notified on stuff.

In the meantime, some artwork. First up an illustration of Deneb I did to prepare for #68, and second we have the title art for #69.

I know you’re going to hate me for this, but yes, I’m once again skipping a week and releasing #68 next week instead >_>

And I’ll be taking a break over August, after #69.

I’ve not only got to focus on pulling myself out of near-poverty, I’ve got to get at least a handful of chapters ahead of posting schedule so that I don’t keep having these breaks! And besides, I’m currently producing fiction at faster rate than a lot of actual professionals XD (the series has recently passed the quarter-million words mark, which is over a thousand pages in traditional book terms!)

But do not panic, for I will be releasing extra material in place of chapters! And the break will give me a chance to focus on revising the earlier parts of the story of publication.

Hopefully I’ll be updating over the next couple of days with some of that extra material, so keep an eye out! Meanwhile here’s some art from #68…

Here’s a very Shounen Jump style cover I designed for the first collected volume (which will cover the expanded prologue). No, it’s not ready to buy yet, but at least you have an idea as to what it might look like when it is! I’m still working on the logo design…

Again, big apologies for the lack of a chapter this week, but I really haven’t had a break since Christmas (and before that, I only had one break since I started in March 09!). Even the professionals get to take a breather every now and again, and on the plus side it’s enabled me to plan things out a bit more. I’ve turned the epic level up to 11 for the rest of the current arc, believe me. When it kicks it, you will know it.

Meanwhile, thankyou again to the people who have donated. Given my current life situation, you really are feeding me (long story short: I moved across the country, got caught out by unexpected fees, and am still trying to find a new job). Anyone who has been around here for a while will probably have noticed my general discomfort with asking for donations, and that I’ve been sticking the button around just goes to tell you how bad my monetary situation has gotten! At any rate, if you can spare a dollar or two, it really would help keep the story alive…by, eh, keeping me alive XD

If anyone has suggestions for better fund-raising options (I’m still trying to avoid the cheaply-printed t-shirts and overpriced mouse mats that so many other series/comics offer!), they would be much appreciated! I’ll be starting up an Etsy store soon, selling art prints and little trinkets like phone charms and who knows what else. It’s all worth a punt at least!

And, generally, thanks for the support. You wouldn’t believe how much a simple message can lift an impoverished artist’s mood!

PS. R.I.P Dio *sadface*

#59 is just going through proof-reading. I’m actually running it past someone else now! The lack of a decent word processor to help point out silly mistakes, and the lack of time to comb through things thoroughly meant that the last chapter was released with far more mistakes than I would have liked!

So #59 tonight, #60 on Thursday. This will be so much easier when I have a desk and somewhere to work >_>

On the other hand, I’m finding it much easier to be arty these days. Currently working on a new ad design and plotting out an awesome results picture for the character popularity contest.

Because I was meant to take a break weeks ago, and moving across the country has torn my schedule to shreds and given me far too much to be dealing with: finding a job, expanding social circles, not having a bed or desk or place to work, etc etc etc. So I’m vastly behind schedule.

But I’m hoping to get back on track over next week. At the very lease I’ll be publishing chapters #59 and #60 on Monday and Thursday, respectively. Maybe (hopefully) after that it’ll be two-chapters-a-week permanently…we’ll see :/

Apologies for the break. And the general lack of stuff appearing lately. These things happen.

Firstly: DON’T PANIC! #57 will be up tomorrow.

Most of it.

The text part, basically. Which itself is one of the longest chapters thus far, so you shouldn’t be disappointed :p

The illustrated part will come next week. It’s one of the longest illustrated sections thus far. It’s taking time to draw, and there’s a lot of stuff in it. It could almost be a chapter in its own right!

Reasons?
a) I want more time to make sure I do the illustrations right, rather than rushing them
and
b) Over these next couple of weeks I’ll be moving across the county to a new flat of bohemian wonders, so my life is getting tied up right now

#58 should be on course for April 22nd, and from the following week the new two-chapter-per-week schedule should begin. Over the brief hiatus I’ll be posting up various bonus things, such as the start of the revised prologue and possibly a short story or two. If I get a chance, there will be some non-linear content too, detailing a certain event from Dante’s past.

Meanwhile, here’s the title art for #57…