station stop

The treacherous mountain pass known as Crow's Whisper was paved with the bones of brave travelers.

It was a bitter Autumn morning and the wind had snow in it that stung your flesh like needles. Although large the battle kitten, Kippers, didn't make a sound with his padded paws while walking on the frosted path. Creak!... echoed through the grey stone pillars as No Scars shifted her weight in the saddle; one hand on the the reins and the other hand always on the hilt of her bloodied war sword. There is a legend in this region of a ruthless guardian that patrols this pass.

Approaching a narrow crest, suddenly a loud cry rang out, a mix of wildcat and a barstool being scraped across a tile floor. The sound vibrated No Scars' bowels turning them to ice. It was the brutal 13 Scars on her raging steed Mr. Peepers! Bounding from a moss-covered crag the tabby fury hurled himself towards the travelers. Kippers fell backwards to meet their attacker with his fangs and claws. No Scars was thrown and then pinned under the bulk of her bi-colored charger. Looking towards the sky the last thing she saw was the point of a black spear and an even blacker shadow.

There will be more bones to pave the pass.

My new video commands you to check out GG-guys.com!

Yay for cheap plugs!

A strange bracer/cuff i made today. One of two! More info and photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/missmonstermel/sets/72157616231971046/


More sketch commissions! Working on the rest tomorrow.


Hey and i WILL be at Midwest Furfest in two weeks in the Dealer's Room. I'll have all kind of goodies including wood cut outs, etched glass and Tentatiger toys since it's a local con and i can bring whatever i want. I will also have printed hoodies, shirts, scarves, leather work, patches etc etc and will probably be doing sketch commissions. Please come on by the table and say hello! :)


Also just a heads up. I finally lost my battle with not getting sick and came down with something yesterday after being mildly sick and then totally fine for the past two weeks or so. I will do my best to get things out on time but cut me a little slack since i feel pretty awful, haha. :P All i want to do is lie on the couch and cough, ugh.

Introducing, Mozy:

Uh... yeah. Haven't really had a whole lot to post here, sorry. Kind of swamped with everything. What the hell happened? I haven't even been doing any scrappy doodles...


++ couple more.

( really small amount, all xposts, some crappy phone photos )

all my energy is being put into my school work and my NaNoWriMo project right now. Hopefully, things will wind up nicely before Thanksgiving break, and I'll be able to do some scribbles during then. Technically I would have time to doodle if I allowed myself to, but like I said-- school work, and NaNo. Trying to prioritise. I'm already struggling with shoving "sleep" and "food" in between those two definites _{not working out too well, my fault, etc.}

ahhh this life.

I need to take more pictures! Last uni exam for the year at 8:30am Tuesday morning. Hooray.

Live Preview: altadis
Theme: S2 Flexible Squares
Ad-Placement: Horizontal, Between Entries
( Codes )

Installation | F.A.Q. | Archive
Comments are nice, credit is necessary.

The tiny icon generator will let you replace the default Livejournal tiny icons with your custom tiny icons. Click the button to go to the generator!



( more info )

Please report any errors, thanks!

I said fuck that stripe, we're doing subtle.



I know it looks green in the b/g, but it's actually a subtle rust orange. Actual photos of a few paintings coming soon (you know with the right colors and stuff), gotta wait til daylight and the camera battery charges.

I feel kinda bad because I love this painting so much. I mean, I don't like being full of myself, but this thing is pretty fing rad in my humble opinion. Might add some drool on the bald dude though, balance it out some.

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/2009/11/sunday-secrets_07.html

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people
mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard.

















See More Secrets. Follow PostSecret on Twitter.




-----Email Message-----

I met someone who felt the same way, but I remember him more for being strong enough to change. From him I learned that people are more than their mistakes.


-----Email Message-----

Many years ago, an older man that I trusted had inappropriate sexual contact with me. Twelve years of therapy and a suicide attempt later, and I still live with it every day.

A big part of me will forever be defined by the worst thing that ever happened to me.

























-----Email Message-----

I am a prisoner of my own indecision.




Order Your Copy Today






-----Email Message (pic)-----

sketchdummmmpp!!



Illustration for Comic Center website

( Original stuff, fanart of Crash Bandicoot, Sailor Moon, A Song of Ice and Fire, Naruto, Blades of Glory, Breath of Fire 4. V. image heavy  )

Well, I used a lot of the suggestions that came my way from that post the other day! I was pretty pleased with the turnout of readers for that question, I must admit. I guess it's because you hear a lot that people don't give a darn about history in this country, if depressing yearly polls from the Dominion Institute mean anything, but it's clearly not the case among my livejournal followers. You guys are great!

I had to do a general sweep that involved a good range of places, professions, backgrounds and time periods, so you know, not everyone's favorite author is going to be in there but I sure did like the range in suggestions. Looking at it now I wish I had someone from the NWT (not one! for shame) and New Brunswick. Stompin Tom is from New Brunswick but he's also sort of from everywhere.  I could have put the Irvings in there, I think they control history in NB as well as anything else.

I was all crazed out with strep throat while I did this, but listening to Radiolab shows and a burning passion for Canada I guess(?) kept me going.  You can find the image in today's National Post, along with an article about the Historica/Dominion merger! Interesting stuff.


( picture is under the cut because it's huge )


Here is the legend, the rows are sort of wonky but you'll figure it out:

Row One (bottom):
James Wolfe, Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, David Suzuki, Louis-Joseph Papineau, John A. Macdonald, Terry Fox
Row Two
Emily Carr, Joseph Howe, Joey Smallwood, Robert Bartlett, Louis Riel, Joy Kogawa
Row Three
Marshall McLuhan, Samuel de Champlain, Marilyn Bell, Wayne Gretzky, Emily Murphy
Row Four
Rene Levesque, Sam Steele, Farley Mowat, L.M. Montgomery, Susanna Moodie and Catherine Parr Trail, John McCrae
Row Five
Pitikwahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker), Oscar Peterson, Rush, Pierre Berton
Row Six
Les Filles du Roi, Mary Pickford, Skookum Jim Mason
Row Seven
Charles Best, Frederick Banting, Pauline Johnson, Mordecai Richler, Tecumseh, Stompin’ Tom Connors
Row Eight
William Hall, Tommy Douglas, Marc Garneau, Roberta Bondar, Rosemary Brown, John Diefenbaker
Row Nine
Shanawdithit, Louis de Buade de Frontenac, David Thompson, William Shatner

Today I raked many leaves and put my dog in a wheel barrow. Since you guys liked the last pic of her so much here's another. She is not amused...


Super cool I'm getting a whole lot of new watchers on FA for a picture I did not draw.

Whew~ More reqs done (:

[1] Bakemonogatari winamp skin
[1] Katekyo Hitman Reborn winamp skin
[1] NITRO+ winamp skin



( larger previews and download links )

FIRST OF ALL, if you are on my flist, leave your address in this entry-> (http://sjlei.livejournal.com/89632.html?mode=reply)
if you want a christmas card from me :D :D :D DO IT~ DO IT~


k no souretsuuu


( original )

( fanart )

www.youtube.com/watch

A duet by drag performer Glamamore.

I really enjoyed this and when you watch someone do something like this on stage it just goes to show how silly we are thinking in black and white all the time and no shades of grey.

The Interfictions Auction is up & running, with 6 fabulous pieces, and a new one every day!

I have bid on several. But there is one piece I seriously want, and do not intend to lose.

Can you guess which one?

Hey kids! I have a bunch of my prints listed on Etsy now for you to peruse. Not all my prints are up, just the majority of the 11x14in ones. I have 16x20s too, so if you're interested let me know and I'll list them faster.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade stablercake.etsy.com

There's like 20 new items and they're much more affordable than when I only had originals. I know I know, people are strapped for cash, but couldn't hurt, right?

More to come, later

Haha, someone tipped me off that the author Eric Nylund was wearing a shirt of mine in an interview for the new Halo Waypoint on XBox Live.

Went and checked it out and...yup, he's wearing Monster Battle from designbyhumans!

www.designbyhumans.com/shop/detail/3781?page=1



Much thanks to vicioussuspicious.deviantart.com/ for the tip off!

Pretty cool! :D

m'kay, people. So I got this crazy idea in my head and jazmin22 told me "DOOOOOOOOOOO IIIIIIIIIIIIIITTT!" It may have been done before, but WHAT THE HELL. This can never be done too many times.

So here it is.

My friends, I bring you:

The EPIC CROSSOVERS OF EPICNESS Fic Prompt Challenge!


The challenge is simple: see how many crossover fics/drabbles/etc we can get written in one month.

The process is equally simple:

1. Comment with a prompt for a crossover between ANY TWO+ FANDOMS EVER. (The crazier or more epic the better!)
2. Respond to prompts with either a) a comment!fic/drabble or b) a link to a longer fic posted elsewhere.
3. PIMP THIS OUT THE WAZOO. We all know prompt challenges are so much more fun if EVERYONE JOINS IN.


( A few überquick guidelines and pimp banner under the cut. )

Well.

I didn't get the job :|

Surprise surprise, right? He says he's gonna keep my resume in the event he wants to hire more designers in the next year, but I'm praying I'll have a better job by the time Pam moves here in spring/summer. Since I absolutely fucking hate the one I have now.

I guess the good news is my raise will go through next pay period? Idk I was praying I'd have a job before I could even make it to the raise.

What sucks is I thought everything was going to fall into place if I got that job, it was an awesome work environment where I could use artistic skill and everything seemed so great and perfect, no wonder I didn't get it. Karma doesn't like me that much.

Dear universe,

Next time you dangle something nice in front of me where I feel contentment is just at my fingertips, how about you don't take it away again like a child tormenting a dog on a chain with a biscuit?

Just give me the god damn Milk Bone.

With love,

Sparky Mao

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/11/final-reminder-for-bookshops.html

A quick reminder (as I was just asked) that today is the day that the bookshop Graveyard Book party reports have to be in to Harper Collins. By 9 pm PST.

http://files.harpercollins.com/Mktg/HarperChildrens/PDF/GraveyardContest_rules.pdf are the rules and info for those who lost them.

Hi Mr. Gaiman,

I was disappointed today to read you won't be part of the judging for The Graveyard Book contests. My not-wealthy, middle-of-nowhere bookstore just sent in its entry, and something we're concerned about is the fairness of judging.

For example, independent bookstores like Powell's (I'm sure you know) easily have enough money and are in a convenient enough location to ask you to come at one time or another. Against stores like that, who were able to put more money into their parties, we stand little chance.

I don't think that it's a lost cause for us; we were very creative. I'm just nervous to know you won't be judging. Can you tell me whether you think the judges will take things like size and location of bookstores into account? It would make me sleep a little easier until the results are announced.

Tusen takk,
Allison

Well, per the rules, the judging is based on:

(i) Overall creativity of the Party, as demonstrated by the invitations, signage, decorations, activities, entertainment, and refreshments.
(ii) Customer attendance and response (i.e., enthusiasm, costumes, participation).
(iii) Ability to capture and represent the spirit of The Graveyard Book.
...specifically to reward creativity, and not the ability to outspend other shops. (That was also why the party had to actually be at the bookshop, and not at another location.)

I asked my editor, Elise Howard, and she said,

Gosh, yes. Here's what we think is happening. We are looking at all the entries. On Monday, we'll send you the best 11, from which you will choose the Grand Prize Winner. The rest will get the first-prize package. So the short answer is that you ARE helping to choose.

The longer answer is that we will be very fair and will consider creativity, which includes work done with available resources, along with pure execution. (Don't you think? We haven't done anything yet; still waiting for more entries to come in.)

...which means that

a) I was wrong and will be the ultimate judge, from the shortlist. (Damn.)

and

b) everyone's on a level playing field.

Does that help reassure you?

PS -- Widgett's Graveyard Book Dessert competition winners have been announced over at http://www.needcoffee.com/2009/11/06/graveyard-book-dessert-challenge-winners/.

This one had NOTHING to do with me at all. But lor' the winning desserts look tasty...

Hope this is alright by the mods. If not, please delete!

I'm looking for a piece of fanart that has Kusuriuri in modern styled clothing. I remember it very clearly, but can't find it in the stuff I have saved or in my bookmarks. Any help finding this picture would be greatly appreciated!

ETA: My recollection of the picture has it as just Kusuriuri with a plain white background, and the image was either black and white or muted colours. However, any other fanart of him in modern clothing is welcome!

I updated the fans on what's going on with the new episodes, along with making an announcement about my presence at MAGfest.

In other news, we finally succumbed to Twittermania.

http://twitter.com/yugiohtas

( Games, manga back here! )

Just comment with what you want. Dont' have an LJ account, lurkers? Just email me at missmonstermel @ Gmail.com with what you want in the subject line :)

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/11/note-to-self-nights-are-for-sleeping.html

Still trying to get back onto a diurnal schedule. (And, I should add, failing.)
And, of course, although I posted it before, it bears repeating that you can watch the film that Steven-Charles Jaffe made of the "Dark and Silly Night" comic Gahan and I did for art spiegelman and Francoise Mouly's Little Lit at the New Yorker site, or here:



And if I'd been here for Hallowe'en I would have posted it here then. Which reminds me, The Graveyard Book party season is over. Over thirty independent bookshops had Graveyard Book parties (The ABA's Bookselling This Week reports on thirteen of the parties -- and the shops -- at http://news.bookweb.org/7149.html.) The very best one of all will get me in their shop doing a signing in December and, looking at these thirteen, I am very glad I am not any kind of a judge for the awards.

My only hope is that the shop that wins will be somewhere warm. But most of the places on the party map will be just as cold by December as my house. (Vague and only climate-based relief that HarperCollins said No to Alaska in the rules mingles with vague and selfish disappointment that they also said No to Hawaii.)

It looks like the CBS Sunday Morning profile on me is going out this Sunday, the 8th, 9:00-10:30 AM, ET. According to this website:

Correspondent Serena Altschul visits author Neil Gaiman -- the tender-hearted master of the macabre -- whose books, including Coraline and The Graveyard Book have topped best-seller lists for 25 years.

.. which left me wanting to go "I am NOT a tender-hearted master of the macabre, I am in fact VERY SCARY INDEED," but I suspect I would convince nobody.

Thrilled to see that Odd and the Frost Giants was listed as one of Amazon.com's Best Books of 2009. While I was in China The Graveyard Book was listed as one of the ALA's teens top ten for 2009 as well, an award voted on by over 11,000 teens. (And I made it onto the list with lots of other good people.)

Also, Fragile Things was awarded the French 2010 Les Grands Prix de l’Imaginaire Award for translated short fiction. My thanks to the judges, but mostly to the translator, who in this case is the incredibly talented Michel Pagel. If I ever look good, do well, sell books or am popular in a foreign country, it's because of the translators, and they never get enough thanks or acclaim. And I think I'll post the cover here, because I never have.

You're welcome. I think this link has everything for sale in the auction: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/scrawldog/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Making a Krampus design. My festive holiday contribution.

The final will be available as Christmas cards, haha. Probably print on demand shirts too. Thanks for the card idea, Fryda....