Saturday Workthings.
WORKISH:
My quarterly royalty for Gadarene was tallied this weekend, and now I’m going to spend it on my daughter. She was born April 2, and we’re celebrating her birthday tonight because Mr. Gynocrat is going out of town for the week, this Sunday and I’m catching a plane on the 2nd, and wont be back till Friday, the 4th. Needless to say, my royalty for this quarter will be spent at Gamestop. 0_0.
I saw the notice about Amazon.com discontinuing distribution on POD printed titles; except titles from Createspace, [Booksurge and Createspace are owned by Amazon--but each is different in their execution. Booksurge is a POD 'publisher', whereas 'Createspace' is used more as a POD printer--the difference being, you supply your ISBNs. This changed recently though, when Createspace offered to supply ISBNs. 0_o] . What I find interesting about the link I posted here is…there is a spot on my Createspace page that says ‘Ingram’; according to the person I emailed–he said: we haven’t set up this function yet. Now it’s been replaced by ‘Amazon Drop Ship’. Interesting…
I have to be honest, dealing with Createspace as my printer, for fiction–was not only cheaper than LuLu, it’s also easier because of the Amazon connection. The only troubles I had were ‘database’ issues–with Createspace and Amazon not being on the same page when it came to ‘product page’ updates and proper catagorization of the book. Other than that–it was very easy; even the search inside process was a snap. Amazon takes only 40% per title sold with Createspace taking a very small production cost if you pay them $50 up front. The base print rate goes down, if you pay for a pro-account; even without a pro-account, the costs are competitive with LuLu, and they didn’t bat an eyelash about the content [gay erotic]. In late Spring I’ll be printing two titles through them, one a novel–the other a graphic novel. I’m curious to see how the graphic novel will pan out. According to costs–Createspace came in a dollar less than printing through Comixpress–and with instant Amazon storefront access, what’s to dislike? My only worry is the print quality of the artwork. *crosses fingers*
BOOKISH:
I saw the complete translated version of Only Words; it’s been sent to the publisher [Studio JG] in Poland for review. I can’t help but think they’re going to have cold feet. The book is rather explicit, and I just have the sinking feeling they’re going to turn around and say–we’re sorry but… I’ll just be happy to get the paperwork signed–but that’s not going to happen until the new cover art is ready; which means I’m waiting on Caroline. Yes, I obviously didn’t learn my lesson. I have weak spot, and it’s her.
CUT FOR WRITERY RAMBLING.
Outlining the doujinshi project last night, and I’m having a tough time with Cass and Tim. There’s much mending to be done there, and it’s never easy to connect with a sibling after you’ve seriously hurt one another [yes, I feel that Cass and Tim have a strong sister/brother bond--not shopping in the 'shipper department, sorry.] Cass is unwilling to deal with how much she hurt Tim, and at the same time–she wants him back in her life. Writing her, for me, is somewhat easy. To me, she’s THE female Dark Knight. Batgirl is quiet, deadly, and skilled and COMPLICATED: trying to stay true to the girl she was, and still acknowledge the woman she’s become since escaping the influence of Deathstroke–has not been easy. On the brother side of things: Tim had lost everyone he cared about when Cass went sour, and her turning like that would’ve caused a normal boy to meltdown [but he didn't, because Tim is the Prince of Regression] –they need to connect again. I’ve decided to make Tim the aggressive one here, in terms of seeking to reconnect. Cass isn’t willing, or just isn’t able–at the moment, and Tim [after his upheaval during the Ra's thing] needs his sister back. Yeah I know, all this over-thought for just a few pages: but Cass is an intricate part of why Tim is willing to be so reckless in this story [following her--causes him to fall into the hands of an unstable Amazon]. Enough about this…
Comic disappointments this week:
Nightwing trade was sold out! [Christ, I got there by lunchtime!!] and MPD Psycho 4 wasn’t in–but I knew that would be delayed. (>.> 
And…my son and I were talking about what should be the next DCU animated film, and he’s says the Sinestro Corps War. I said no–too much Green Lantern lately, with the The Final Frontier being released–and, I didn’t see what the big deal was about GL anyway. I don’t like the title. I know that saying something like this, to a GL fan, is like walking up to them, picking your nose, and wiping it on their face. GL fans don’t get hype and aggressive, they just try the intellectual approach and remind you that–you’re wrong, and you just can’t appreciate the glory that is, Green Lantern. This was the first time I saw this sort of cerebral-elitist outrage coming from my son, and it bothered me. My opinion on the Corps War arc especially bothered him, and once he tried to reason with me on an intelligent level, we then engaged in a verbal confrontation about it. He attacked first with some smart-ass remark about Amazons Attack–oh, and why Wonder Woman is lame, and why anything Batman is overrated. [his words, not mine!] Without being too brutal, I countered, but I kept it as his level and attacked pretty much everything I could about GL.
He isn’t speaking to me today, because I’m a mean jerk and I just don’t get it. I tried to feel guilty–you know, for delivering a smack-down on a pre-teen about comics…but then I realized, after visiting the various forums this week, that I’m doing him a valuable service. I’m preparing him for the day when he’s old enough to sign up for comic forums and read comic blogs…he’ll be ready…
