Time for my yearly year-end review and meme!

I realize I haven't been blogging much of late.... to be honest it's partially because there's not much to blog about and I don't really like to blab about boring day-to-day stuff (that's what twitter and tumblr are for. But I don't really keep up with those, either). But partially because I feel like this year has been sort of a year for reflecting, keeping quiet, and observing. 2007 was really rough and while 2008 was an improvement, things are still settling down, like the ripple effect of a stone being thrown in the water. The economy has taken a toll on everyone, and it seems to be affecting everything from everyone's general mood and optimism, to physical assests like savings, to book sales, and getting freelance work. It's affected me a bit in all these ways, most notably that my run on Sabrina is coming to an end. It's sad because it's been my job for the past 5 years, and I've really grown to love the characters and world. But all good things must come to an end and I really feel fortunate that it will end with me having told a complete story, rather than it just trailing off and fading away. I'm looking it as an opportunity to focus on new projects, including my own personal projects which I haven't been giving as much attention to in recent years.

I am pleased that I kept up with most of my resolutions for 2008.

Last year I resolved to:

1. Write More. I want to possibly attempt a novel. I want to write way more Dollar Dreadfuls.

I wrote more Dollar Dreadfuls and started a novel. I wish I had done even more, but I feel pretty satisfied overall.

2. Get Dollar Dreadfuls off the ground, open our online store, and create more content.

Will and I finally launched our online shop, The Bazaarium and so far, it's been doing great! The next step will be to expand on our store and figure out how to streamline things, such as figuring out how to make prepping each individual order take less time.

3. I resolved to be more healthy. I'm going to take vitamins and exercise more. I think this will improve my mood and productivity. I think I also want to learn to cook so we don't eat so much fast food and tv dinners.

I've started taking vitamins everyday and taking better care of my teeth (still have yet to go to the dentist.... I'm scared!!!). I rode my bike a lot and got in good shape over the summer, but I haven't really kept up with that in the fall and winter... As for cooking... well, that's something I still need to work on!

4. Go on vacation with Will. Will and I haven't really gotten much of a break this year, and the last time we went on a trip together was over a year ago. I really want to go somewhere where we can just unwind and see something new.

This was the one thing that didn't really happen. Will was supposed to come with me to Japan, but that fell through because of work, so I ended up going by myself rather than lose my deposit. We were also supposed to go to Palm Springs for a weekend, but that also fell through. Will works so hard and I can't help but think of those Bahamavention commercials. I want to hijack him and force him on a relaxing vacation with no computer! This is my ultimate resolution for 2009, especially since it'll be our 10th anniversary of being together!

So basically, my resolutions are the same, just bigger and better. i have a good feeling about 2009. Nine is my lucky number and I feel hopeful about a future where Obama is president.

Now, without further ado, my yearly meme under the cut! Happy New Year, everyone!!

( CLICKY )

Well, time for my obligatory end of the year post.

What can I say? 2007 has been a crappy year overall. I honestly can't wait for it to be over and get a mental fresh start in '08.

It really feels like this year has been one of my most disjointed, most stressful years yet. As someone who's moved every 3 years or so growing up, and who's used to adjusting to new places, I never thought moving to California would be such a life-changing event. I'm enjoying life in California, for sure, but it kind of feels like the move was akin to a large rock dropping into the still pond that was my life, and the ripples still haven't subsided.

Looking back on my resolutions for 2007 I'm bummed to see that I didn't meet most of them:

I resolved to complete Mangaka 2 and 3... which... obviously didn't happen. Will and I did everything we could do to make it so but the publisher just sat on it and never signed the necessary papers, despite telling us that they really wanted to do more volumes. After a few initial pushes to get it going, Will and I sort of gave up as life got in the way. I think it's something we'd like to do in the future, but now we're both too busy with other projects.

I also resolved to keep My Poorly Drawn Life updated weekly which, obviously, also hasn't happened. I haven't updated in ages. I want to start again in the New Year, but it does take a lot of time to do (despite its rough appearance) and I've already got more work than I know what to do with. Another disappointment...

I resolved to finish Knit-Wits which was, in fact, one partial success. I didn't get the whole thing done but I managed to get a 16 page ashcan done which I sold at Felt Club this year. It felt good to get a small project done that was *mine* alone, and not something I was hired to do. It's been a long time since I've done something for myself that way. I'm pleased with how it turned out and I hope to expand on it next year.

I resolved to get a table at San Diego Comic Con... I tried, but was denied. Oh, well. I still went and had a good time.

I resolved to travel somewhere new and I did! I went to Toronto for a convention and met and hung out with a bunch of Canadian artists such as Eric Kim and Rosemary Mosco, and Svetlana Chmakova! That was fun.

I resolved to help Will finish some of his own comic projects but because of everything that happened this year, his side projects were unfortunately put on the back-burner. He does have a promising project that I can't reveal just yet... we're anxiously awaiting a resolution to the writers' strike so that it can get rolling again. We'll see!

Lastly, I resolved to read more books. Which I did! Still not as many as I would have liked but much more than last year.

Anyway, I feel a little disappointed in my resolutions from last year but things were just so crazy this year, life-wise, family-wise, work-wise. I've also been taking a hard look at myself and my accomplishments and trying to figure out how I might feel more fulfilled in my future work. One thing I'm realizing is that I enjoy writing more than drawing. I see other artists on my friends list and I see them constantly posting amazing art that they make just for fun! It's almost like they can't NOT draw. But me? The only time I pick up a pencil these days is if I HAVE to. I only draw for my paid jobs and that's it. I don't even keep a sketchbook anymore... it's kind of sad in a way but I realized that I write the way that others draw. I write all the time. When I'm not working, I'm writing. And I do it for fun. So that sort of leads into my resolutions for next year:

1. Write More. I want to possibly attempt a novel. I want to write way more Dollar Dreadfuls.

Speaking of Dollar Dreadfuls, I resolve to:

2. Get Dollar Dreadfuls off the ground, open our online store, and create more content. Every place we've sold them, they've done amazingly well, so Will and I really want to focus on these for next year!

3. I resolve to be more healthy. I'm going to take vitamins and exercise more. I think this will improve my mood and productivity. I think I also want to learn to cook so we don't eat so much fast food and tv dinners.

4. Go on vacation with Will. Will and I haven't really gotten much of a break this year, and the last time we went on a trip together was over a year ago. I really want to go somewhere where we can just unwind and see something new.

I guess that's it for next year. I don't want to set the bar too high, I just want to get through next year with minimum drama.

Hope you all have a fun New Year's Eve and a happy, healthy 2008!

( Clicky for my New Year's meme! )

Well, it's been a while since I last posted, and I definitely wanted to do one more post before the new year, so here it is!

I don't really have a good excuse for being absent the past couple months. I think I got a case of the year-end blues, whatever that is. All the excitement of getting married and going on a honeymoon to Japan left me feeling sort of burnt out upon my return. It was hard to motivate myself to get back to working as hard as I was before all the activity, (those who read My Poorly Drawn Life will know by my lack of updates). I'm still working on Sabrina the same as always - because it's a monthly book and I have constant deadlines so I can't afford to fall behind, but some of my other personal projects have fallen to the wayside the past couple months. But I think I'm finally getting back on track.

I'm sort of looking forward to the New Year to start fresh and I have a few promising projects to enjoy working on in '07.

I looked back on my post from January 1st of 2006 to see what my goals were and if I met them. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had pretty much accomplished everything I set out to do. Last year I said:

- I resolve to manage my time and work in such a way that I get a lot done, but don't burn myself out.

I think I managed this pretty well. In addition to Sabrina, I did that Arana project for Marvel, Mangaka America, My Poorly Drawn Life, a monthly column for popcultureshock.com, taught a manga making workshop at my old college, and put together a couple submissions for TOKYOPOP and Marvel. I wasn't burnt out until the end of the year, so I think I managed everything pretty well, overall.

- I resolve to go to San Diego Comic Con this year, even if I can't get a table.

Yep! And I'm glad I finally got myself to go!

- I resolve to keep submitting proposals to TOKYOPOP until one gets approved.

I was actually about to give up on this completely, but then they approached me about a possible project which has now been given a green light. I'm still holding my breath until all the papers are signed, but it looks like this one is actually going to happen! I'll fill you in on details once it's finalized.

-I resolve to get over my fear of flying so I can go to Japan for my honeymoon.

Well, I won't go so far as to say I kicked my fear of flying completely, but I actually managed to get through the long flight to Japan in a much calmer state than usual. I can safely say my fear of flying has gone from pure dread and terror to strong discomfort!

Now, my resolutions for 2007:

-Finish Mangaka America 2 and possibly 3. It'll be a lot of work, but the first one went so well, it'd be a shame to stop now!

-Keep updating My Poorly Drawn Life on a weekly basis like I'm supposed to! To be honest, drawing the comic is fun. What I hate is scanning it and putting it on the web. I really loathe doing that - it's so time consuming. I think I'm gonna hire my brother to be my assistant!

-Finish Knit-Wits so I can sell it at MoCCA fest! I already got a table secured - that's my motivation!

-Get a table at San Diego Comic Con. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get one - but I'm gonna try!

-Travel somewhere new. I've been invited to Toronto Comic Con in June, and I've never been to Canada before, so this resolution should be cake!

-Help Will finish his own comic projects. He's such a perfectionist. He's been working on Muerte for about 3 years now. I just have to start prodding him more!

-Read More books! I hardly read any books in 2006. So sad because I used to be an avid reader.

Anyway, yep! I anticipate another busy year! Happy New Year to everyone - may it be filled with happiness and good health!

And now, for those who are interested, look behind the cut for:

( My New Year's meme! )

Just for the heck of it...

4 jobs you've had in your life

Cashier at Toys 'R' Us (horrible, horrible)
Cashier at FYE (also miserable)
In-betweener and clean-up animator (not as fun as I expected)
Comic book writer and artist (yeah!)

4 movies you could watch over and over

Princess Mononoke
O Brother Where Art Thou?
Best in Show
Office Space

4 TV shows you love

Project Runway (My absolute favorite show)
America's Next Top Model (fun and brainless)
American Idol (see above)
Intervention (It's scary and fascinating)

4 places you've lived

Mexico City, Mexico
Swindon, England
Littleton, Colorado
Westchester, NY

4 places you've been on vacation to

Cancun, Mexico (loved it)
Brussels, Belgium (can't remember it too well)
Paris, France (didn't like it)
Walt Disney World, Florida (loved it)

4 places you would rather be

Japan
Disney World
Hanging out with my best friend in Colorado
Sleeping

4 of your favorite foods

Asian Food (Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Thai)
Blackberries (Why are they so expensive?!)
Sour gummies (I could eat these all day)
Fast food (Gross, I know)

4 websites you visit daily

Livejournal (of course!)
Newsarama
The Honored Maidens
(my guild in Star Wars Galaxies. I hardly ever have time to play, but I play vicariously through their message board.)
CNN (My favorite place to get the news)

February 1st was Hourly Comic day. I wasn't sure if I was going to participate, but I caved in after all.
I have to admit that it was a bit disruptive to my regular schedule to have to stop and draw a comic every hour...

But it was a fun experience!

For everyone else's hourly comic, click HERE.

Now, just a warning: Mine is way sloppy and the handwriting is awful. And there are a lot of images (20).

( So, if you dare, READ MY HOURLY COMIC! )

That's right, I'm jumping on the Bat-wagon. (groan)

This is my contribution to a fun meme started by dryponderand himynameisjamie.



If you haven't done so yet, give it a try! ^_^

Here's the master list of everyone else's Batgirls. It's crazy!