Issue 2 of Jennifer Wilde is in the final prep stages and should be heading off to the printers soon.
So, as an appetiser here’s the cover of issue 2.
Once again artist Stephen Downey has delivered another captivating image.
We’ve had a mild, wet winter in Ireland. As a result the gorse bushes have continued to flower.
This was taken at dusk a few days ago and it was tricky getting my camera to focus on the flower in the low-light conditions.
I love capturing water beads balancing in this wondrous fashion on flowers or foliage.
Nature’s marvellous balancing act.
Hi-Ex artwork by guest Tanya Roberts
Since starting to write comics I’ve been fortunate to meet many new people and come to call them friends. Two such gems are Vicky Stonebridge and Richmond Clements, who run Hi-Ex: the Highlands International Comic Expo.
Not only are they warm and generous people they are also talented creators in the comic book industry, and run what I’m told is one of the most enjoyable events in the British comic book calendar.
I’ll be able to confirm this for sure in a few months as I’ve been invited to be a guest at Hi-Ex, which is taking place from 31 March – 1 April in Inverness, Scotland.
I’m looking forward to meeting a new group of comic book fans and creators as well as flying the Irish flag alongside fellow guests Michael Carroll and Alan Nolan.
During the holiday period Galway city had a Winter Market in Eyre Square, which involved a mini fun-fair, including an old-fashioned carousel.
Each horse has its name painted on its neck. This one is named Ruby.
She’s a champion. Fleetest filly of them all.
One positive side-effect of all the rain this winter is I get to snap an image like this.
I took this today at Coole Park while walking the dog. When we have exceptionaly rainy weather the Turlough in the park floods sections of the forest, rendering some of the paths impassable (unless you have wellies – or waders!).
The dog was delighted to have the opportunity splash about in the water, and desperately wanted me to throw a stick into it so she had a reason to dive in. She even dragged a huge branch out of the shallows in an attempt to entice me into a game of stick throwing.
Alas, I hadn’t counted on a fully saturated dog seeping into my car on my return journey, so she had to make do with paddling.
Here’s her admiring her reflection.
I’ve a couple of extra photos from the excursion on my Flickr set.
It’s a pleasure to read a perceptive review of one’s work, especially if it’s favourable!
Emmet O’Cuana’s review of issue 2 of Róisín Dubh on Comicbooked.com had me beaming.
I should also mention that the Eagle Awards for the comic book industry are open for nomination at the moment.
I’d love to see a diverse range of writers and artists nominated. I’m not saying people should be nominated if they’re not talented, but have a good think about the titles you’ve enjoyed this year and spread the love around. Anyone can nominate. If there are people you think are deserving in a category then you can add them.
The 2012 Awards winners will announced at the MCM Expo LondonComic Con on the evening of May 25th.
It would be great to see plenty of Europeans represented, since it is after all a British-based award.
I don’t often petition for others, but I believe that Renae De Liz deserves a nomination in the Honour Roll category for her work on the Womanthology project.
Not only did she complete the project from idea to print in approximately seven months, she wrangled 150 different artists, writers and editors to the task, promoted it effectively and fund-raised over 100K on Kickstarter (the largest sum ever raised for a comic book project on that platform). All the money is going to charity and she has elevated the profile of a lot of women in the industry.
I’m frankly astounded by her passion and engergy. We need people like her in the world driving change and bringing a fresh perspective to the industry, and we certainly should acknowledge and mark achievements like this. (I’m sure she’d be the first to recognise the team of women who have helped her, but without Renae this project would never have happened.)
Sure, I’ve got a script in Womanthology, but I still believe my logic is sound for honouring her in this fashion.
After all, she’s already landed on Geek Out!’s List of 2011 Geek Heroes.
But, whoever or whatever you nominate – get online and do it! Don’t leave it to other people. Have your say.
I didn’t rest much last night due to the storm charging past my house. Whenever dreams crept close volleys of hailstones ratt-a-tatted against my bedroom window and scared them off. I resigned myself to sleeplessness.
There was a short break in the rain this afternoon and the adage in my house is: walk the dog while the sun shines (if it shines at all, of course). I marshalled my gear and marched through the woods with Minnie, buffetted by the gusts.
During my excursion I took this shot of dead grasses against the sunshine. They were whipping about madly so it was an exercise in patience at times. This is one in a series, the rest are up on Flickr.
I like how the grasses in the foreground are replicated by the form of the trees in the background. It could almost be a scene in the summer because the state of the desicated grasses is mostly hidden by the shilouette.
Thankfully it’s a lot quieter this evening, so I hope I can tempt sleep to visit me tonight.
I love good time-lapse videos, but this one by Randy Halverson at Dakotalapse ticks all the boxes.
It offers a sublime glimpse into the reality of our planet’s part in the galaxy: a speck among a panoply of celestial bodies.
It’s pure inspiration.
I took this picture today in the woods during a brief spell of sunshine – we’ve had hailstones, gales and rain as well.
It’s actually a rusted pipe and wood, sporting a moss ruff. As I walked by on the muddy track with my dog Minnie by I saw it out of the corner of my eye and the title ‘King of the New Year’ arced across my mind.
The skinny King leaned against a huge boulder, carpeted in moss, and I had to scramble a bit off the road to get a decent shot. I only had my mobile phone with me, so it’s not as nice a shot as I would have liked.
This strikes me as a good example of how our brain pattern-matches shapes and lends them cohesion, and sometimes narrative (well, in my case).
A survival instinct that was all about the brain’s ability to scream Tiger! based on a couple of lines suggesting a predator stalking us in the bushes turns into a neat way to entertain ourselves.
We’re on the brink of a New Year, so I hope you all enjoy this celebatory evening and 2012 brings you the love and good fortune you deserve.
Remember: It’s the law!
(I took this photo at the Thought Bubble Comic Book convention in Leeds this November. The Judge Dredd impersonator was posing for a few awe-struck kids and I sneaked in for a shot.)
