Thanks for a nice hat tip to TORSTEN ADAIR, whose kindness buys me a cup of coffee, and then some more coffee! DRAW BABAY DRAW!!!
Here’s some more offerings from my archives, comics assignments from my dim and distant (ha ha) past!
The Mutant X job features some of my all-time fave pencils, but I was inked by various, so the results are all over the map. The Marvel Fanfare is one of my earliest mainstream jobs. Inks by Bob Wiacek are outstanding. I loved that book.
Several people have alerted me to this extraordinary post by legendary science fiction writer Norman Spinrad. Mr. Spinrad can’t get published. Must read the Publishing Death Spiral Part I.
Let’s say that some chain has ordered 10,000 copies of a novel, sold 8000 copies, and returned 2000, a really excellent sell-through of 80%. So they order to net on the author’s next novel, meaning 8000 copies. And let’s even say they still have an 80% sell-through of 6400 books, so they order 6400 copies of the next book, and sell 5120….
You see where this mathematical regression is going, don’t you? Sooner or later right down the willy-hole to an unpublishablity that has nothing at all to do with the literary quality of a writer’s work, or the loyalty of a reasonable body of would-be readers, or even the passionate support of an editor below the very top of the corporate pyramid.
If you’re not ready to commit seppuku after that, move on…
I have the wonderful privilege of doing the art for young adult, best-selling novelist Barry Lyga’s first graphic novel. While I can’t discuss the content, I can say that it is one of the most entertaining work experiences I have had in awhile.
Every book I am doing these days is a great one, but some books are marathon runs, and some books are a breezy sled ride.
Yeah, Barry’s book is a squee kind of experience.
He’s got a blog which he updates every week or so, and he has a lot to say about the writing life.
The truth of the matter is that e-books are forcing a re-alignment of consumer expectations in terms of books. Readers are re-evaluating what a reading experience is worth to them. There’s a very good chance that hardcovers will lose out in this, that the general consensus of the audience will be, “Not worth it.” And if that happens, then publishers won’t be able to justify publishing in hardcover any longer. I’m actually OK with this.
And a hat tip to Barry and Murderati for Bookstore Signing Blues. Award-winning novelist can’t get anyone to show up for signings and sings about it.
Man, I have been on both ends of this. The great crowds for one signing, and none for others.
I am very careful to avoid any event which has not been well publicized. It’s not worth flying halfway across the country if the organizer doesn’t know how to advertise and promote an event. Or worse yet, if the organizer just wanted to meet you, and didn’t advertise on purpose. This happened to me as well as several pros I know, including Mark Waid.
There. Was. No. Store. Instead, there were, in this town, two comics fans who had pooled their lawnmowing money to pay for a LaGuardia-to-Vermont plane ticket for their very-soon-not-to-be-favorite writer so they could meet him and own him for a day.
There. Was. No. Store.
Most humiliating signing: when the author of the GN ungraciously discussed (loudly, in front of fans lined up to sign) how everyone was really there to see himself and not artist. Goodness sakes.
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