The OH NO! Original Art Auction

Hey, remember the video I posted a week or so back? For Dan Santat's OH NO! Original Artwork Fundraiser? Well, the auctions are now under way. You can see my entry here, then here to see the rest. There is some really cool artwork to be had, stuff from Tony DeTerlizzi, and Dan Yaccarino. I may bid on a few myself...get a load of the Wilson Swain one, and the Scott Magoon one! Super cheap original artwork--and all for a good cause!

Colossal Schedule Failure

Remember like three posts ago, when I said I was going to start doing the blog posts early in the morning? Well, scratch that, they return to the old, late night schedule tomorrow. I've been doing five posts a week for over a year now, missing only two or three days. I should never have messed with a winning formula. Chalk today's missed post as a learning lesson.

Early mornings...what was I thinking?

Sgt. Snookums: Patrol Cat part 8

And now back to our story....almost

Oh boy, this is exciting--it's an all text day! I'll get right back into the "Sgt. Snookums" story tomorrow. I'm trying to change a few things here on the site. Nothing you'd notice, really, just my schedule for when things get posted. Since I started, I've always done the blog post at the end of the day, the last thing before going to sleep. I'm now going to try to do it very early in the morning.

I've been a full-time freelancer for five years now. One of the trickiest parts of freelance work is defining and controlling your schedule, especially when you have young kids at home. I've tried a lot of variations on my workday. Late nights, really late nights, and even the famous flipped schedule of sleeping during the day and working at night. They've all worked out to some degree, but I'm still trying to find the perfect schedule. I'm going to try the extremely early morning approach now. I may fail miserably.

I'm changing up my schedule because I've got a HUGE new project coming up. It's been in negotiations for the last four months, but it is finally going to happen. The contracts are signed and sent, when I get them back, I'll announce it here. I'll give you a hint: It was born on this blog. Any guesses?

See you Monday morning.

Grand Canyon Intermission (Day 4? of 2--last day)

Today is the last day of the Grand Canyon watercolors. Some of these didn't get finished in time (when the raft leaves, the raft LEAVES.) The average time for one of these paintings was about 30 minutes--the detailed ones (Havasu, Deer Creek, etc.) were closer to 45 minutes. Some of them, like Dinosaur Beach (below) were more like 15 minutes. It's fun to paint under the clock, it makes it into a game. And, unless you have a really long trip scheduled, it's the only way to paint on-the-spot in Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon Intermission (Day 3? of 2)

I had a chance to clean these up a little more than yesterday's (I'll go back and adjust those.) I actually still have a few more. Blogger only lets me post five at a time. What do you think? What's your favorite so far?

Grand Canyon Intermission (Day 2 of 2)

Oh boy, it looks like there isn't room to fit them all in today--I'll have to commandeer tomorrow's post to fit the rest in.

These are little thumbnails, click on them to see them full sized (some are bigger than others.)

Grand Canyon Intermission (Day 1 of 2)

Hey everyone, we're going to take a two-day break from Sergeant Snookums. Why? So you can see some pictures of my awesome trip through the Grand Canyon! Here's me above "Rattlesnake" campsite (I think?) on the trail to the "Tabernacle." (that I'm sure of.)

Look at that chocolate river! Tomorrow I'll post a whole bunch of on-the-spot watercolors I did, then Sgt. Snookums will resume. I'm sure you're all dying to know what happens next. Will they eat the tuna? What is Q-Tip's mysterious story? How does Sgt. Snookums reach the gas pedal? All will be revealed...or will it?

Sgt. Snookums: Patrol Cat part 7

Sgt. Snookums: Patrol Cat part 6

Sgt. Snookums: Patrol Cat part 5

Hey look! I'm doing a cameo in my own comic! That's me on my way to the Grand Canyon (actually I drove down Monday, right now I'm somewhere in the middle of the Grand Canyon on a raft. Wheeeeeee!)

Sgt. Snookums: Patrol Cat part 4

Sgt. Snookums: Patrol Cat part 3

Sgt. Snookums: Patrol Cat part 2

Sgt. Snookums: Patrol Cat part 1

Sgt. Snookums: Patrol Cat

It's been a long time since I was in web-comic mode here at the Station. ANIMAL HOUSE Month is now over, so it's time to get right back to story mode. Here we go.

A Great Opportunity!

Do you want to get a critique from your favorite author? Do you want to have several chances of winning some remarkable prizes? Want to do some good in the world? Writing for Charity is coming up on August 21. And we're doing a few new things.

This year we are going to allow you to choose the author that you are with during the critique portion of the workshop. Authors include: Anne Bowen, Dene Low aka Laura Card, Kristen Chandler, Kristyn Crow, James Dashner, Bree Despain, Sharlee Glenn, Christine Graham, Mette Ivie Harrison, Sydney Salter, Matthew J Kirby, Mike Knudson, Kristen Landon, Sheila A. Nielson, J Scott Savage, Emily Wing Smith, Wendy Toliver, Rick Walton, Dan Wells, Jessica Day George, Ann Dee Ellis.

Spaces are limited, and it will be first come first served. So, if you want to have your choice of author, you need to do the following:

1. Send an email to debbiebnance@gmail.com, with the words "Writing For Charity" in the subject line, listing your top three choices in order.

2. Go to writingforcharity.com and follow the instructions for registering.

As long as we receive your registration within four days, you will be put on the list for your author of choice. Act quickly though, because there are only a few slots for each author and once they are filled, they are filled.

As an added incentive, for each day before the workshop that you register, you get one virtual raffle ticket. Register today, and you'll get 11 tickets, which gives you eleven chances to win prizes that are available no where else. Prizes include:

1. Rick Walton will workshop your picture book manuscript with you until it is ready to send to an editor. And then he will personally submit it to one of his editors;

2. Allyson Condie, author of the upcoming bestseller Matched, will critique one chapter of your novel; or

3. Shannon Hale will gush about you on her blog and describe in great detail how you saved her life several times.

The sooner you register, the more chances you have of winning one of these amazing prizes.

You can also acquire virtual raffle tickets by buying items from the silent auction. To see what is available go to writingforcharity.wordpress.com. Check back frequently as we will be adding more and more amazing things. For every $10.00 spent, you will get one virtual raffle ticket.

So, how can you lose? You get a great workshop, your choice of critique, and your chance to win great prizes, and every penny you spend goes to buy books for kids that need them.

I am, unfortunately, not involved with this great workshop (if all goes according to plan, I'll be deep in the Grand Canyon that week) but there are so many great authors involved, you'd be crazy to miss out!

Eyewitness Report!

OH NO! Watch this! (and look closely at around 1:41)

A Sneak Peek at Later This Year

I got a little package in the mail last week. I opened it and was surprised to see.......

A final copy of THE TWELVE BOTS OF CHRISTMAS! Holy smokes! I just finished the illustrations a few months ago! The book officially comes out in September--this is a preview copy. Looks pretty sweet, huh?

And one of the best parts...embossed cover.

Ooooooh. I love embossed covers!

Now I will speak no more of it until after Thanksgiving! (Canadian Thanksgiving, that is.)

LEGO Animal House--Final Day!

And here it is...after a week of sneak-peeks and foot-dragging (these LEGO creations take forever!) the LEGO Animal House!

I searched forever to find the other black batwing. I finally had to give up and use a non-matching wing for the Welcome Bat. And I don't know what that black piece on the bottom right is. But there you have it! The Animal House out of LEGO!

Happy Animal House Month (+ one week!)

Is it me, or does the LEGO Gorvilla face look a little like Johnny Cash?

Have a good weekend!

LEGO Animal House Day 4

One last teaser image, then tomorrow I'll show the whole LEGO Animal House. Today's photo is the "Windodo." This shot was taken earlier while the Gorvilla's left arm was still under construction.

LEGO Animal House Day 3

Condoor! Wings closed.

LEGO Animal House Day 2

Gabull! And you can see a hint of the Giroof up in the left hand corner, as well as some black Gorvilla here and there.

What will we see tomorrow? The whole thing? An even smaller tidbit? Is it really even finished? All good questions, only tomorrow's post will tell.

LEGO Animal House DAY 1

The LEGO Animal House has arrived!

I spent a lot of time building it--so much time, in fact, that I'm not going to just reveal it all at once. It'll be a slow reveal.

Starting with the Giroof