A Bunch of Things

Hey friends! 

 

Well we crossed into the safe haven that was to be 2020 and our clean slate was met with the threat of total annihilation. I won't even go into the rock em' sock em' robots game that never seems to end. Let's just focus on our own back porch a bit shall we?

 

I keep blogging and writing because I enjoy it. It exercises my brain. I heard a comedian recently refer to blogging as "having a conversation that no one wants to have with you." I don't believe that. I follow certain writers and people who I know either through their work or personally and I love their words. I love to hear their day to day. I love to know they struggle too. It helps me. 

 

There are three artists, all of whom I have looked up to over the years, recently revealed their struggles. One had their artwork denied for a charity art auction. THEM! Are you kidding me? Their art is fucking awesome! You deny THEM?? Another whom I thought would be very financially secure is struggling to make his rent and has to do commissions to make ends meet. The third has to take meds, therapy and a bunch of other issues. Goes to show that everyone is going through something. Everyone you meet has a battle and a story to tell. Never forget that. 

So that is on my mind. Trying to police my own thoughts. Trying to be better at everything. I'm working hard at it. I'm working ahead on things like the Patreon and trying to catch up with everything I have out there and promised. I'm trying hard to keep promoting and play the game I have to play, while also taking the time to read a book, play a game, watch a flick I've been meaning to watch, etc. 

 

Life. Its beautiful!

Check this out: 

This year was the first time I publicly talked about STARSLAM. Not quite the anniversary of her first publishing. That comes in 2024 I think. I did create her and take her to San Diego Comic Con back in 2008, but she wasn't book published until 2014 I think it was. Before that she was online only. So what is the official anniversary? I don't know, but its coming up soon. She's been my life pretty much for the last few years. While I've done some other books here and there and a lot of erotica work on the Patreon and erotical collections, STARSLAM has been the baby I've been raising. Also, its my highest selling. Check this: 

With the exception of an ANNA POCALYPSE here and there, its all been my erotica work that has sold. I understand why and all that. But I still hope I am able to publish a slice of life drama/comedy that is PLEASANT LIFE and get the same amount of acceptance. Its one of the things that has held me back from doing the sequel to it I have been talking about for years. I have 60 pages done and I am slowly going to put them on the Patreon starting in March. So if you like PLEASANT LIFE, consider joining to read it! More on that another time. Let's talk about the now.

Twenty Five years of self publishing last year. TWENTY-FIVE. Look at this:

Original art from the Erotica Collections.

All the original art for STARSLAM RETURNS, my latest book.

Big tub of original art. 99% of it is mine. Some are by friends of mine that I have collected over the years. Also a painting tray from college!

I've done a lot of shit. Lots of books. All of which you can get digitally. Some physical are sold out. I don't reprint the majority of it. I should and keep it safe so people can get them. Maybe I will look into bettering myself at an online store presence. Just a whimsy I shall chase soon. 

My dad turned 75 yesterday. He's made it the farthest in age than anyone in my family ever has. I called him yesterday and he's doing okay. That is great, considering the great scare I had with him in October. I'm proud of him and honored to have him in my life. I really hit the parental lottery when it came to my folks. My mom will be gone 20 years this December. That is unreal. I still think about her everyday.

I'm going random here but there are many things on my mind. Many things I want to do and promises to myself and to you I want to keep. I'm working hard on the work, the day job, myself and everything I can squeeze in. I promise someday I will have it all figured out. Maybe you will too. Here's to the struggle!

Thanks for reading and supporting. I appreciate it. 

--T

Cleaning out Closets of the Mind

Hello friends. Its been a few days. Normally I do not take so long to post a blog but I have just stayed busy on things. A bunch on the eternal TO DO list that needed to get done. Plus some OT at the day job. I am burning the candle at all ends (even the middle). I am pretty stressed out but I am handling it.

Boy do I need a vacation... or more of these bad boys!

A lot of things have been on my mind. Change of seasons and change is in the air. The wheels are in motion on a few things. I made a decision last week that I think will change a lot of things for me in the artworking department. Something I wont be into until 2018, but the work begins now. I think it is about time I made a decision about it and I am confident I am making the right one. As the great Clive Barker said: YOU HAVE TO TRUST YOUR OWN MADNESS. I will just tickle your ass with that feather for now and leave it best unsaid until it happens. But you will know very soon.

I have a pile of things to do and even more things in my mind I want to take care of. With that on the burner we decided to take apart our tiny apartment this last week. We opened all the (gulp) closets and tossed a bunch of stuff and reorganized things. Our apartment is cleaned out, top to bottom, inside and out. I guess we are anxious to move, which will not happen until post summer 2018, but we cannot wait. The place we are currently in is way too small for us and when the kids or a guest comes to stay over, its even smaller. And speaking about artworking vibes, they are non~existent in this place. I tossed my old L SHAPE DESK in 2015. I miss that fucking desk. But I cannot get another one here. No room! Plus I do not think it could withstand my son Scott~bots weight if he used it to play on as he does. So I will wait until the move to get one. But I have no studio space, per sae. Just a shitty old desk with no room to draw on it. But in the new apartment, I will have plenty of space and room to hang up my toys and trinkets. I cannot wait for that. I am counting down the days.

On the artwork front, I am inking new Starslam 3 pages. I wrote a few additional scenes for the Pleasant Life sequel that I started a couple years ago and will finish by next year. I finished work on the new card set for Topps and mailed them in. I got 5 AP cards coming back, one of which is claimed. When I get them in hand, I will offer them up for sale. The big news is that I am now on another new set which I cannot name yet. Im back on a property that me as a seven year old would be stoked to be on. It was an honor to do before and with the excitement in the air about this thing, its an honor to be back on it. As an adult I am thrilled to be spending a bit more time in a galaxy far, far away.... (spoilers).

As far as new media dissected, I finally finished Preacher season 2. Some hits and definite misses. I like where it is going but so much is changed from what I am familiar with that sometimes the characters in the show, their motivations leave me scratching my head. We will see what happens if it is renewed. I have given up on Star Trek Discovery and will maybe (A BIG MAYBE) catch up with it on the back end sometime. The Orville comes back this week and it excites me more than the new Trek does at this point. Curb Your Enthusiasm season 9 is wonderful so far as well. New music: I got the Mike Portnoy Sons of Apollo album. Its his grand return to progressive metal and it is a warm welcome back! Sounds great, recommend if you like that sort of thing. Im also listening to Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam and a round of some Ramones. I even got another goddamn Funko Pop celebrating my love of the Ramones:

Damn you Joe Rogers....

Well folks, I got a pile of things I gotta do. As always, I will report back when I got something new to say. But for now let me just report that Im fine, Im great and yes (as you may have noticed by now) I still need a new MAC keyboard where I can use apostrophes and a few other keys I miss. Let us enter the Halloween days by being safe, party responsibly and party hard. Rock your favorite costume and make shit happen.

I know I will.

~~T