Sequel Script Almost Complete!

It's been almost a year since the last update. Act I, II and III are complete. The final one is in progress. I truly feel this is the greatest story I have every written. 

It feels like this is taking forever. Only having enough time to put in at 30-60 minutes each day will slow things down. 

Hopefully, this sequel won't be the last story. I have three other stories about important characters in Badin and the Secret of the Saami that need to be written. Ahmed Ibn Fadlan is next. After him, it will be Herr Torsten. Finally, a new adventure about Badin.

Other than during some recent visits to the Chicago Art Institute, I haven't been practicing my drawing skills at all. I have been totally focused on writing and reading—and so it should be! The art serves the story. If this story is bad, there is nothing I could do that will make it look good. 

Much of my project-related reading are comic book collections. Marvel published beautiful, full-color hard-cover bound omnibus volumes that I spent alot of money purchasing at Graham Cracker Comics downtown. 

I am just started Volume 3 of the Micronauts, but got distracted with Volume 1 of Doctor Strange. The writing and art of these books is from the 1970's and 1980's. Flat colors. Grids. Nothing heavily rendered. This is the look I wanted for Badin and the Secret of the Saami. So it will be for the sequel.

One thing I have noticed about the script so far: The characters are more alive than ever in my mind and heart. You will see Vaarvaa—a teenage girl with very little concerns about anything important—transform into a woman who will literally change her world completely around.  

Like Badin and the Secret of the Saami, the theme of family is found throughout the story. The loss of my sister to suicide is one of the most traumatic and transformative experiences of my life (and our entire family). Vaarvaa will experience a similar loss. It will define who she becomes in many ways. I think this personal experience will resonate through all the stories I hope to write in the series. 

Admittedly, Act IV has been extremely difficult to write. The outline for the story was completed long ago. However, as Acts I, II and III were finished, Act IV feels underdeveloped. Maybe that is natural to experience. So I am literally taking it apart and trying to build the ending first. Then I must tie the beginning of Act IV—which I really like—with the conclusion. 

Sequel Update: Final Script in Progress

I am writing the final draft now. The Introduction and Act I is done. Act II is going through some slight adjustments from the first draft. Act III and Act IV may get merged. So far, it's looking like this graphic novel may be twice as long as Badin and the Secret of the Saami. 

The blurred screenshot is from my work on Act II in Scrivener.  

It seems like this project is taking forever—especially with my full-time job at the CTA and being a union representative. However, I have been committing at least 1 hour a night to working on it. During my off-days, it's considerably more time. 

I need to keep reminding myself to stay focused and be confident that I will finish it eventually.  

Thoughts About AI “Art”

The cheap perfection of AI “art” is inferior to the flawed beauty of human-created art. 

Through inspiration and by letting go of all inhibition, anyone is an artist at anytime with any kind of media. 

AI “art” lacks unique  inspiration. It lacks humanity. It is like plastic plants: It may look beautiful and real. But it is artificial and toxic. 

There is no getting away from plastic plants. They will always exist. But real plants will always exist too—and those who cultivate them will be happier and healthier.

The above graphic is from an article about protests against AI “art” at  https://petapixel.com/2022/12/19/artists-stage-mass-online-protest-against-ai-image-generators/

Update: Badin and the Secret of the Saami Sequel

I am in the midst of writing the final draft of the Full Script. With my time divided between a full-time job and part-time union official, this project is taking an exceedingly long time complete. However, I am working on it for 15-60 minutes almost every day. 

At right is an an obscured screenshot of the completed Introduction, Act I and last page for Act II as I work on them in Scrivener. Excitement is how I describe working on this project. The final two acts are already drafted and locked in an outline I made in Scapple (which I settled at its 8th revision).

The characters now visit me in my dreams on occasion. 

Stock Song September!

We've got a wide spread of genres and moods for this latest batch of music. From brutal downtuned metal to club-ready hip-hop, we've got a little bit of everything for you.

"Juggernaut On Site" is our first foray into extreme, high-speed metal. It's got chugs, it's got tremolos, and it's got drums heavier than raw titanium. A clanky electric bass fills out the rest of the low end. If that wasn't enough, you can loop this track seamlessly without missing a beat. Bang your head!

"Steel And Blood" is full of dark synth drones, deep analog bass and strange, glitchy percussion. Mangled digital sounds and disturbing vibes are the name of the game in this track. The whole track is an intense push and pull of intensity, growing and releasing energy without giving you a chance to fully relax. Don't let your guard down. You never know what might be lurking around the corner...

Behold! "The Sound Of Goob" is a completely out-of-this-world waltz. Created by an extraterrestrial with a few vintage synthesizers, a funky drum set and only a basic understanding of how the 80s sounded. 

Warbling sawtooth chords, a lead that goes "wow" and thumpy analog bass underscore bouncy 3/4 time drum grooves. Goob formally requests that enthralled listeners send all praises and autograph requests to Proxima Centauri.

Finally, "More Hustle" is a straightforward, modern trap beat. Snappy drums, distorted bass, the works. A sparse instrumental, it's got a flute in the background and synth pluck providing the melody. Sometimes, simplicity is key.

Our full store of music is available at all the links below.

Pond5

Dreamstime

123RF

Sequel Progress (Characters)

While I await feedback from advisors regarding the story for the sequel to Badin and The Secret of the Saami, I am making my transition from writer to illustrator. 

Specifically, I am exploring the the world in which the characters live: Their clothing, their personalities and the general look of how I think Indigenous people would appear 10,000 ago. I am also exploring the general look of the giants and elves. 

None of these sketches are artwork for the graphic novel. They are just exercises to build up my strength and technique for the big project ahead of me. 

I hope you find them interesting.

Back For More Stock Music: Part 2

The second half of our latest song batch strays from scary, dark soundtracks to more experimental and abstract tunes, drawing inspiration from several other genres.

Automated Security is sparse and slow-paced, with the echoing textures of the main synth bass and drum machine filling the empty space. A glitchy, chopped dial-up sound in the background keeps the rhythm moving forward. A stealthy tune for your sneakiest cybernetic soldier.

Hazmat Failure is a trap-influenced, heavily textured track with a variety of interesting percussion and rhythmic elements filling out the background. The main melody is just two eerie notes, generated by a classic analog synth. Fun fact: One of the main percussion sounds is a heavily processed jaw harp, listen closely for its signature tone.

In Thinking Games, the main piano was recorded with its strings underwater (essentially turning the piano into a miniature pool), and the drums are a hybrid of live drum sounds and an old-school analog drum machine. A synth piano and clean electric bass make up the rest of the band. All of this culminates in a simple, fun track that slowly evolves over time while still keeping the same lighthearted, laid-back energy.

Saving the best for last, we've got Deep Sea Oasis. It's got retro pianos and strings, a funky bassline, smooth and ethereal synth pads behind an immaculate old-school hip-hop beat. If you're going to only give one of these songs a listen, we strongly recommend you check this one out. Words alone can't describe how much of a joy it is to experience this track. This tune is one of our composer's favorites out of the entire catalog.

Our full store of music is available at all the links below.

Pond5

Dreamstime

123RF