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Great Big A DISTANT SOIL Update

Colleen Doran — Mon, 06 May 2024 14:52:13 +0000

It’s been awhile since I update anything on this page, not because I’ve abandoned the project, but because I often update elsewhere. Most of you are wondering when I’m going to get back to A Distant Soil. Naturally, I thought I’d have it finished by now, but I’d have been stupid not to accept a series of important projects that have been successful and fulfilling on every level, and are helping me to finance the year it is going to take to bring the book home. Currently, I am working on the graphic novel adaptation of Good Omens, the bestselling novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. It ended up being the largest comic crowdfunder in Kickstarter history, but is taking a bit longer than I hoped, in part due to my recovery from cancer treatment. You can read about it here. You can also order it in advance HERE. I’m incredibly grateful to be working with the Terry Pratchett estate and Neil on this incredible project, and their support is a heavenly thing indeed. In addition to Good Omens, I’ve worked on several very successful projects with Neil which have enjoyed multiple printings, and some nice awards. I’ve also worked on published prose projects, illustrations, and have been incredibly privileged to have my work in several museum exhibits around the country and the world, including solo exhibits at the Society of Illustrators, The Comic Art Museum, and the San Diego Comic Con Museum. In 2024, I’ll be at Charlotte Heroes Con in June, Galaxy Comic Con in Raliegh in July, DragonCon, and New York Comic Con. While cancer treatment ate up a lot of the funds I was setting aside to work on A Distant Soil, I should have the resources to carve out the time I need to work on it when Good Omens is complete at the end of the summer. I will also finalize a large slate of private commissions that have been hanging fire. The first thing I am going to do when Good Omens is complete is finally learn how to add tones to my line art using a computer art program. Until now I’ve always done it by hand, but it’s no longer practical to do so because the sheets are not only getting harder to come by, and the ones I do have are so old the adhesive has no tack. Here’s a sneak peek. You can find me at my Patreon and at my Substack. As always, thanks for your interest.

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Neil Gaiman’s CHIVALRY Makes Washington Post Best Graphic Novels of 2022 Top Ten list, Shortlisted for Excelsior Award

Colleen Doran — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:10:01 +0000

We’re so happy to be included on this amazing list of Top Ten Graphic Novels of 2022 at the Washington Post! Story by Neil Gaiman, adaptation and art by Colleen Doran, published in the USA by Dark Horse Comics and by Headline Books in the UK. We’re also incredibly thrilled and honored that Chivalry is shortlisted for the Excelsior Award, to be decided by the children of hundreds of schools in the UK. What an honor to be included with so many other wonderful books. We hope you’ll check them out!

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Neil Gaiman Writes. Colleen Doran Adapts.

Colleen Doran — Wed, 11 May 2022 19:59:59 +0000

Written by Neil Gaiman. Art and Adaptation by Colleen Doran. Letters by Todd Klein (with Colleen Doran on Chivalry). Published by Dark Horse Comics in the USA and Headline Books in the UK. Distributed by Penguin/Random House. Available at all major comic book shops and all major bookstores. Target, Walmart, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BooksAMillion, Hudson, IndieBound. Snow, Glass, Apples, and Troll Bridge: intended for adult readers. Chivalry: for all ages. Find a store at the Penguin/Random House website.

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Guardian Live Online with Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran

Colleen Doran — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 18:58:28 +0000

From the Guardian UK Website: “Award-winning writer and illustrator duo Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran will introduce their new graphic novel, Chivalry. Chivalry is an adaptation of a short story by Neil Gaiman, in which an elderly widow, Mrs Whitaker, unknowingly buys the Holy Grail in a charity shop – an event that launches her into an epic world of adventure with a handsome young knight who goes by the name of Galaad. In a collaboration that brings to life illustrative styles from the Golden Age, and taking influence from the Illuminated Manuscripts, Chivalry is a charming and witty tale about taking risks, and finding friendship in unlikely places.” Gaiman and Doran have worked together previously on American Gods, The Sandman, Lucifer and the Eisner-winning Snow, Glass, Apples. They will talk to Claire Armitstead about their new work, the art of the graphic novel, and their many collaborations. They will also be answering your questions in this livestreamed event. Running time: 60 minutes This event will be hosted on a third-party live streaming platform. You will receive a link to join the event in the week prior to the event. Yes, you do not need to be in the UK and foreign currencies are accepted. You may also purchase tickets and watch later if you cannot attend the event live. FAQS here. The Financial Times has this advance review of Chivalry. The article also includes previews of the art. “…stunning artwork…Doran’s illustrations, drawing from a soft palette of blues, pinks and greens that flare into sudden glorious bursts of dazzling crimson and gold at need, are what will make Chivalry a perennial Christmas gift.” Chivalry will be in stores in March. Published by Dark Horse Comics. While preorders and print run are high, expect demand to also be very high. WE have had 5 reprints of Snow, Glass, Apples already, so please don’t wait to preorder your copy of Chivalry because due to demand and supply chain issues, reprints will be delayed. Ask for it at all booksellers, comic shops, or order from online retailers.

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Snow Glass Apples Wins Bram Stoker Award, Nominated for Two Ringo Awards, and Society of Illustrators Exhibit.

Colleen Doran — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 05:23:05 +0000

I do most of my posting at my Patreon these days, so I completely forgot to add some cool news here. I am very happy to announce that in addition to the 2020 Eisner Award for Best Adaptation from Another Medium, Neil Gaiman’s Snow Glass Apples has received the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel from the Horror Writers Association. I grant this the Coolest Looking Award Ever Award. And here’s the Eisner. Nice Bookends! It’s surprisingly heavy. I was nominated for Best Penciler/Inker at the Eisners as well, and also received a nomination from the National Cartoonist Society for the Silver Reuben for Best Graphic Novel. Was truly honored by this! We’ve also received a nomination for Best Graphic Novel at the Ringo Awards, and I have been nominated for Best Artist. Professionals may vote until September 23. Original art from Snow, Glass, Apples is featured in the exhibit Women in Comics: Looking Forward, Looking Back at the Society of Illustrators Museum in New York City until October 26. The exhibit features this full wall display of my art from Wonder Woman 750, as well as other art by great creators like Trina Robbins, Nell Brinkley, and Ramona Fradon. I’m thrilled and honored to be a part of this important museum exhibit. I have three graphic novel projects on my plate, as well as a short story, and am financing the finale of A Distant Soil on my Patreon. For obvious reasons, I won’t be traveling for awhile, and I hope to get my general World Events Nerves under control so I can focus on all the beautiful books I am working on. Because my work schedule is so heavy and I need to concentrate, I’ve also cut back on mail order products. I won’t be handling anything other than A Distant Soil books on this website for the forseeable future. My agent will be setting up other venues to get autographed books from me, and of course, at varying levels of support on my Patreon, you may also receive books and art. I’m truly grateful for all my good fortune, so many great projects, and your kind support. It’s a great privilege to be able to create for you! Stay safe! I care about you!

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Neil Gaiman’s SNOW, GLASS, APPLES Wins 2020 Eisner Award

Colleen Doran — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 00:57:26 +0000

I’m very happy to announce that the adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Snow, Glass, Apples which I was honored to do for our publisher Dark Horse Comics has won the 2020 Eisner for Best Adaptation from Another Medium. I was also nominated for the Eisner for Best Penciler/Inker, but I’m extremely grateful for our Adaptation category win. So many great books and creators received nominations, and we are honored to be among them. You can read more about them here. I’m afraid I’ve had to cut back on my mail order operation due to my workload, but you can buy the book at all major bookstores, or ask for it at your local comic shop. Of course, it is also available at online outlets. From my Patreon page: My most sincere and humble thanks to Neil Gaiman who kindly trusts me with his work; our editor Daniel Chabon; our agent Merilee Heifetz; Dark Horse Comics; my assistant Val Trullinger; my long-suffering family who just sort of listened to me grunt and threw meat under the door while I was working; and all the kind people who voted for us because amazing books were nominated and I am extremely humbled and grateful our book was among them. Thanks to all my patrons on Patreon for helping me out this past year, being so patient while I put A DISTANT SOIL on the back burner, and for being so incredibly kind and supportive of all my work. It doesn’t get done without readers.

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Read Matt Hawkins and Colleen Doran’s THE CLOCK #1 for FREE from TOP COW.

Colleen Doran — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 23:47:33 +0000

Follow the link and have a free read of our dystopian, pandemic sci-fi thriller. When we created it we really didn’t expect to be living in the middle of one. Who knew. Please feel free to share.

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Protected: PATREON EXCLUSIVE: The Point of Origin of a Certain Aesthetic

Colleen Doran — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:38:00 +0000

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

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Protected: Patreon Exclusive” Millais sells out, or maybe he just did what he wanted to do.

Colleen Doran — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:19:31 +0000

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

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A Letter From a Friend

Colleen Doran — Sat, 26 Mar 2016 00:39:32 +0000

I’ve written many times about toxic fan groups, and one of my oldest friends in fandom wrote me a letter about it. Printed with permission and light edits to remove personal information. Yesterday I got into a twitter-spat with a friend from many years ago. It was really kind of terrifying, but it gave me the opportunity to reflect on one of the things I am most thankful for.: Having known you. That fellow and I were once quite tight. What’s scary is that looking back I was well on my way to ending up like he has. The man I spoke to yesterday was once just like me and is now sustained only by resentments and finds his self worth only in vitriolic hatred masquerading as righteousness. Knowing you when I did helped to blow fresh air on the dying embers of my self awareness. It inspired me to get the hell out of the emotional tar pit my social circle often was, and, as a wise person once said, stop “muddling through life with delusions of adequacy”. The seeds of sloth, cowardice and hate are within us all. A lack of self reflection and malignant associations are the water and soil needed to grow those weeds. Knowing you helped me catch myself, and be on guard against the self destructive aspects of my nature. For that I am forever thankful. I once had it out with this friend, and a few other friends, that the fan circle was dragging them down and keeping them in a place where they could never be outstanding in any way. The entire group were the biggest bunch of crabs in a barrel I’ve ever encountered. I could be pretty harsh, telling someone they were “muddling through life with delusions of adequacy,” which wasn’t a very nice thing to say. But it drove me crazy how often these talented, smart folks would settle for less, or worse yet, let their fan circle of “friends” deliberately drag them down and belittle them until they stopped trying for better. They were the sort of people who were always there to buy an alcoholic another drink, which is not a metaphor. You need serious emotional backbone to get away from that dreck. The worst fan art and fan fic were given golden trophies for participation, but by God, if you went pro or accomplished something in the real world, they’d piss on it. If you were one of the few pros in that circle, you’d better stay low enough not to rise higher than their egos. I recall one writer whom I’d known for years who became inflamed with jealousy when I started working with J Michael Straczynski! The jealous writer (you’ve no doubt never heard of him, he doesn’t write fiction) sent me furious emails about how my life would soon be ruined by all the hi-flying people with whom I was keeping company. Obviously, I was undeserving, and these people were just messing with me. As of 2004, he was still advising me to get out of comics as he’d done for years, since that comics gig was going nowhere! Whew, sure glad I didn’t listen to this dude! My response to the letter. I want you to know once more how much this meant to me. I realized a long time ago that many of my early friends in fandom and prodom were incredibly toxic people. They don’t like to see you change or get better at anything. They just want everything to remain as it was in 1987. I think I finally cut ties with all of these people and my life has changed for the better. I’m glad I didn’t steer you wrong. I can’t believe how angry, resentful, and full of self pity some of these people are, and so ready to drag other people down over the dumbest things. I think they were always like that, I just didn’t see it. Anyway, thanks again I haven’t spoken to that ass of a writer in well over ten years. Or any of the rest of these people. Good riddance.

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