atomic size matters to me!

Truly, I had meant to write last summer.
I truly did.
But I would get a few pages into the book and realize that I wasn't following her train of thought. I was rolling off the track like oranges off a messy stack.
Perhaps it was because I was on vacation.
But no, I don't think that was it.
Perhaps it was because I was busy with weddings in South Carolina and Tennessee.
Then again, I doubt that would have deterred me for this long.
No.
The true reason is this: I allowed the words to get in the way.
But I finally saw through the smokescreen that language can impose.
After all, re-purposing of language is not a new concept. Every field of study, every career, every line of work in the world has its own set of jargon.
But once I recognized that the Old French were correct in their assessment of jargon as "chatter", I embraced the new words Veronica was using. After all, the words themselves were not new, simply the way in which the words were used.
"Bigga bada boom," as Leeloo would say.
In other words, I caught the gist of what Veronica Berns was saying.
What a success!
That's all she was trying to accomplish with the book!
I encourage you to get your own copy of "Chemical Pressure and Its Applications to the Tsai-Type Quasicrystal, or... Atomic Size Matters" here.
Surely that title is no more daunting than "The Effect of Molecular and Morphological Structure on the Tensile Properties of the Linear Polyethylenes".
That was the handle I gave to my doctoral thesis, en route to my Doctorate of Philosophy in Analytical Chemistry.
"Molecular Shape and Size Matter" would have been more friendly.
But our actual titles had to have the jargon added for the sake of our peers, to make us sound smarter, to make us sound like we belong in that particular club or career or trade or ivory tower.
Clearly, she and I are both real people, living in a real world, and trying to communicate our passions to all and not just to a select few.
Good for her!
Even so, here are some words of advice for future readers of the book.
"Chemical Pressure" refers to the strain caused by atoms being too close together or too far apart for optimal (i.e., "low") bonding energy.
(Try to remember that nature loves low energy states, just like we do.)
When the atoms are too close together, the chemical pressure is positive and causes a spring-like effect to force the atoms away from each other. In other words, positive chemical pressure blows the atoms apart.
When the atoms are too far apart, the chemical pressure is negative and causes a vacuum-like effect to bring the atoms closer. That means that negative chemical pressure sucks the atoms together.
There.
Now you're ready to read, and enjoy, her entertaining comic approach to chemistry!
(smile!)

discovering catarium with oskar and klaus!

Hooray!
At long last,
I have read the latest adventure
of Oskar and Klaus!

Trust me,
I'm going to be careful
not to give away
any key plot points.
But I do want
to make sure you notice
the C.A.T. on the hill,
just like in Hollywood!
Very cool!

And here,
the little plant
that went to space
to remind them
of home
is busting loose and
growing like a weed...
or should that be
growing like an Audrey II?
(smile!)

The newspaper is
so very full of
actual news!
It even has a
reference to their
good friend,
Bigfoot!
But what I really
like is that new
element on the desk.
I wonder where that
goes on the
Periodic Table?

My many thanks to you adorable felines!
I look forward to reading this book again.
It truly holds a special place in my heart, particularly so as I am teaching chemistry to a blind student this summer semester.
New adventures, of the teaching kind!

(You can enjoy the books, too, by the way. Just follow this link if you are like Klaus and use this one if you are more like Oskar.
Then again, you may prefer to hear the first book, instead!)

oskar and klaus bring me books!

Oskar and Klaus have done it!
The books have arrived!
Yes, they may be a few months late, but good things are definitely worth the wait!
Whaddaya know... still rhyming, Joe!
I've only had time to tear open the package to verify the contents. I had to make sure the kittehs knew the books were safely here, ya know.
Now, if I can only carve out the time to truly read them.
Between teaching school full time this semester, film festivals, and taking care of the bfe's sole remaining old lady, my slate has no bare spots left.
Maybe I'll be able to read about the cats' adventure in Cataria during spring break... maybe!

oskar and klaus paper pets!

Calling all kids,
big and small!
Here's Oskar the cat,
here to save us all!
Have no worries
about him being blind,
a more worthy hero
you'll never find!
He's always up
for an adventure
with never a care,
life is meant
to be lived,
if only you dare!

His good buddy Klaus
is a more normal cat.
I guess being sighted
has made him like that.
Still, wherever
Oskar leads him,
he's sure to go,
and if the path is dim,
he'll be sure to go slow.
Left to his own,
Klaus would sleep
on the couch
all day -
without a peep -
he's such a slouch!



For your very own pets,
go to valhallacats.com.
Go on, now...
you know you want some!

As for me, I got mine!
I'm now on alert for the books
and I'll keep you posted
so you'll know when to take a look!

kitties to the moon!

When Mick Szydlowski and Travis Bossard contacted me about another book in the works, I was thrilled! Another book about Oskar and Klaus? Bring it on!
Even so, I was not yet ready to commit. Money has been tight and I was still reeling from the hit-and-run driver's demolition of my car and my psyche.
That was almost exactly a month ago.
Jump ahead to today.
Five and a half hours ago, they sent a reminder message. The campaign was coming to a close. If I wanted in on this new project, I needed to make a move.
Alrighty then!
I read the message only thirty minutes ago.
I am now part of the 625-member Mission Control Crew taking this kickstarter project into reality and beyond! How out of this world!
Yes, those two curious kitties, Oskar and Klaus, will be astrocats this time around! "The Mission To Cataria" promises to be a rollicking good time and I am so pleased to have helped them reach one of the stretch goals. Hooray!
Best of all?
I'll have my own copy of the first book, "The Search for Bigfoot". As you may recall, I had given that book to the bfe for his birthday last year.
As a MACH 3 backer of the book, I'm also going to receive a copy of the new book, another Oskar & Klaus Adventure Society Patch, the downloadable PDF of the foldable Oskar & Klaus: Astrocats paper dolls, and the downloadable Oskar & Klaus Wallpapers for digital devices.
How cool is that? But I'm not done yet!
As a special bonus for attainment of the stretch goal, I also get the downloadable PDF Oskar & Klaus "Space Camp" Activity Book!
Wow!
Pardon me while I retrieve those paper dolls...
...I need something to entertain me while I wait for the books!

atomic size matters to quasicrystals!

Well, well, well! The book almost made it for my birthday! Indeed, if I consider it an extended weekend, then it's right on time!
When I had backed this kickstarter project in February, I had been very impressed with Veronica Berns' intent. She was so excited about the research work she was doing for her doctoral thesis that she wanted folks who knew and loved her to have some understanding of it. She decided to construct a comic book to decrease the fear factor that many folks have at the word "chemistry".
I don't have the time to read it right now. I am about to embark on a trip to Alabama, north Georgia, and North Carolina. I know I will be quite busy with family every day.
However, after that, I'll be off to south Florida for two weeks. That will be a solo journey and I'll try to read the book during that part of my summer vacation.
So... stay tuned!

astrological androids in my house!

My reward has arrived!
So very beautiful it is, too,
not just in appearance,
but also in satisfaction
of the tactile sense of touch!
Such a fancy upgrade to the cover!
What a superb job Cody Vrosh did illustrating "The Android's Astrological Companion"!
I want to read the stories now, but I must wait.
The school semester is winding to a close
and I have mountains of papers to grade.
Patience, my dear, patience.
The summer will soon arrive,
with time a-plenty for
many things postponed to be done.
Perhaps by a pool somewhere...

Cody also included his book,
"The Zodiac of Teeth"!
With a bespectacled,
goateed unicorn on the cover
of this minibook,
it looks to be great fun!
Thanks to the kickstarter project
reaching - and exceeding -
three stretch goals,
this bonus was added.
Way to go, y'all!
Again, sadly, I must wait
until I have time
to fully enjoy it.
Soon!

jelli and the gnawzler: creatures on the wall!

Swimming in the ocean of the Kickstarter Wall
Jelli Oculari floats among the Okinawan fronds
while the Orange Gnawzler creeps and crawls
through the flowery undergrowth.

My thanks, once more, to the two women behind this project!

atomic size matters

I needed to do something positive today.
Earlier, I found out about the deaths of two women in my social circles. I wasn't as close to them as I might one day have been, as our friendships are still fairly new.
Nonetheless, their deaths have left a dark place in my psyche.
How better to remedy the loss than by helping with the creation of something new?
As a chemist, this kickstarter project truly speaks to me. Veronica Berns, a recent doctoral graduate in chemistry, has inked a comic book to help explain solid state chemistry to her family and friends.
Pretty nifty, right?
What is solid state chemistry?
You know, the stacking of atoms to create micro-scale versions of old-fashioned vacuum tubes and transistors to help your computers, laptops, and even phones be "smart" for you, while still being physically small and lightweight. A scant 35 years ago, I was an electronics maintenance technician for the US Navy's "modern" computers, machines which were the size of refrigerators and required their own sterile, cool, environments - and had a fraction of the operating memory of today's electronic toys.
That's less than two generations ago! Amazing!
But I digress, as I am known to do...
(smile)
My $29 is not really needed by her campaign. Her science project has struck a chord and has garnered more than double the amount she had set as her goal.
Amazing! Does my heart good to know there are more than five hundred nerds like me who want a copy of her book. I wonder how many of the backers are also teachers like me?
I'll look forward to its shipment in May - just in time for my birthday!
Nice!

up to the horizon and beyond!

Finally!
Not to mean "finally this has arrived" - oh, no. Jeremy Lawson did a fabulous job of getting rewards out to his kickstarter backers. I think I received my copy of the "Horizon Anthology: Volume One" in October, or possibly early November.
No, I remember now. It was definitely before the end of October.
All I can say for sure is this: I've read the book several times and truly love many of the fifteen tales! I've even made little notes so I can talk about the stories!
I just haven't carved out the niche in my schedule to sit here, in the laptop's glow, and share those notes.
No time like the present! Classes begin on Monday and that would only cause more delay.
Why did I support this project?
Because of my affinity for "The Incredibles", as I mentioned before.
Because I want to know "the rest of the story", as Paul Harvey would have said.
Because this is the only form of "what if" I like to play.
(smile)
So, let's take a gander, shall we?
But do we do so in order of appearance, or type, or author's last name?
Hmmm... reverse alphabetical it is!
David Stoll's "Ember" presents a king mired in settling petty squabbles instead of slaying dragons as he once did. Sigh. Enter two clueless hunters, add a switcheroo, and stir mightily! Great fun!
"Options" takes a different tack. Sarah Stern poses the question: What would you do if your evil lord died and you were free to follow your dream? Would "open a bakery" be your first choice??? Well, as it turns out, you might want be well advised to consider that, as it allows you to use pastry to win over your former enemies. Very nice! Lots of bright colors, too.
"Happily Ever After" is explored directly by Nicky Soh. A little boy is playing with his toys, acting out his favorite bedtime story about the Warrior and the Evil Witch Queen. Enter mom and dad... and blur the line between myth and reality! Cool! The simple lines and bright colors enhance its feel as a child's fairy tale. Nice work!
"Sun and Moon" has to be one of the sweetest love stories in the book. Between a prince and princess? No, my dear, between a boy and his grandma. Ally Shwed has crafted a gentle tale of keeping hope alive in a devastated future world. Beautifully done!
Laura Neubert's "Cast In Stone" merges Greek mythology with the world of modern thespians for something a bit different. Very nice retelling of Medusa's origin, too! This was also one of the few tales which didn't feature princes or princesses or royalty of any kind - quite original!
For this next one, may I suggest a soundtrack? Go ahead and tune up Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water". Seriously. I'll wait.
You need that for the driving action behind Moses Nestor's futuristic tale of humans and aliens. "Fire On The Horizon" is inked with deep flame reds and cool ocean blues and speaks a story of love. I really liked it!
In an odd way, it brought to mind Rinko Endo's story, "The Same Moon". I guess that makes it a "speculative relationship", too.
(smile)
Ian McGinty's "TRIBE." left me cold, despite the snugglies worn by his futuristic clan.
(smile)
Set in a world made barren by a dying sun, I'm sure that's the reaction he intended. Check and mate, sir!
Should I stay or should I go? That's the question of all three of Jeremy Lawson's characters in "Adrift". (Here's the song from The Clash for your wanderin' toes.) Is it nobler to forsake the familiar to roam the Earth or to stay and fight for what is local? So asks the fry cook aloud, the hired hand of himself, and the returning hero by his actions. Nice bit of philosophy there!
Hahaha! "The Adventures of Wilt and Zeed: Dragon Slayers" had a nice comedic twist at the end! Bryant LaMare is obviously riffing on Bill and Ted, which is cool by me - I love those guys! This finds the two adventurers as a human and an alien, on an alien planet, fighting to save the WORLD!!! It really is quite funny and has some interesting details in the backgrounds. (I like the shadows on the walls.)
Jen Hickman provides us a prince, not living too happily. Sure, he's married the fair maiden of his dreams and defeated the evil conjuror and his minions... but, now what? The thrill is gone, as B.B. King would attest. "Mind The Gap", y'all, between what you think you want and what you actually need, or the bad guy gets the last laugh!
Adam Del Re has a nice sense of humor, too. Take one knight, deep in a castle after slaying the dragon, now on "The Way Out". Or he would be if he could remember the path - poor guy! A neon EXIT sign sure would have helped!
(I can so relate to his predicament! Without my Garmin Nuvi, I am easily lost.)
"No More Villains" was the only collaborative piece in the anthology, crafted between Angael Davis (author and drawer) and Patricia Daguisan (colors). Here, we have a man in the midst of an identity crisis, confused about which type of person he is. His kids, on the other hand, aren't confused at all and set him straight! Lovely story, rich purples and soft crimsons in the palette, and a protagonist with a great family!
A similar theme runs through "Mr. Victory in the Age of Suburbia": a man with an identity crisis, though his is softened by age. Athena Currier's former hero has a close resemblance to Prince Valiant, down to the pageboy hairdo, but now he's an older family man. Still, he ponders the questions of life as he fetches milk from the local grocer... a very nice tale about appreciating becoming older. Even the color scheme speaks of a fading sunset with its soft yellows, muted salmons, and dusky grays.
Or maybe that's just how I relate to it, now that I'm in that middle-aged stage of life.
(smile)
Jorge Corona's tale, as the last in this book, takes us one step closer to the endgame of man's existence. "A Lifelong Battle" follows an aged warrior king as he refuses to go gentle into that good night, even after many years with a quiet reign. Nicely done tale of death with dignity.
Tales of aging men are plentiful, but what about those aging princesses? Who speaks of them? Morgan Beem does, in the very first story in this anthology. Snow White, "Fairest of Them All", has wed the prince, become queen, and birthed a beautiful daughter. And so the trouble begins. As her daughter blossoms, her own flower is fading, as is her self esteem. What to do?
Well, you'll have to read that story for yourself, won't you?
I'm so glad to have been part of this grand adventure!

hopeful musings on speculative relationships

When I received the hardcopy of the book, I also received this print.
I immediately hung it on my kickstarter wall.
Mike Manomivibul's oh-so-romantic image strikes a chord deep within my being, the need of a living creature to connect with another.
(swoon)
I wish I could say my reaction to his story, "Made 2 Be 2gether", was as strong. Sadly, I found the imagery to be confusing, even though the page layouts clearly speak of his poetic heart. I fear the loss of understanding is certainly mine.
I do pledge to continue to strive to understand this tale of two robots, separated by man's greed and war. His is the only one that I cannot quite "get." Perhaps you could read it and let me know your take on it?
Here's the link to the store. Trust me, the pittance asked for this anthology, with art inked by six different artists, will be money well spent.
Not yet convinced? Let's see if I can convince your head that this is deserving of your heart and your wallet.
Tyrell Cannon and Scott Kroll are the men behind the concept. Each have two contributions which serve to bookend the tales in this kickstarter-funded anthology. Cannon's "Burning Heart" would have been right at home in the mid 1900's with the science fiction romances of that period. He presents a husband and wife scientific team, trying to save a dying planet... and their dying relationship. Very nicely done!
His other tale, a sweet one at the end of the book, has two astronauts who used to pass each other in "Corridor-C", secretly attracted but silent. Suddenly, circumstances shift and they discover each other. But is their discovery too late?
Kroll's two pieces are very different from each other, with only one containing humans. "This Thing Called Love" features an automaton which feigns ignorance while acting as a matchmaker for two human coworkers. Nice grokspanner, there!
(smile!)
"4 Out Of 5" is a distinctly different tale, not only from Kroll's other piece, but from every other tale in the book. It poses the query of what to do when you have only four of the five genders needed for gratification. Interesting, right? The starfish-like pentopuses are distinguishable by their upper markings, so pay attention... or purchase the "Making Love" zine for the key. (You can even read this tale on his tumblr site.)
The last of the male writers, Daniel Warren Johnson, is another "Calvin And Hobbes" fan, like Tyrell Cannon... and me! Not that Watterson's work has anything in common with Johnson's tale, "The Purest Form". No, look more to the futuristic Marines of Space-Mullet to find out what drives this warrior to success on the battlefield.
Of the two entries by female artists, I have already waxed rhapsodic about the beautiful tale of love by Rinko Endo. "The Same Moon" remains my favorite in this anthology, with its fabulous ink work and wistful tone. (She's an art therapist, by the way, so she has experience at opening herself up, through drawing, and encourages others to also do so.)
Isabella Rotman is a talented young woman, too, using her art as self-therapy. Brava! "The Dream Program" considers the case of a machine which falls in love with one of the humans in its charge. Beautifully inked, floral and lush... with a nice twist in the tale itself.
So, you see, there is an excellent variety of stories here, just as love has many sides to consider, whether one is human, alien, or machine. I highly recommend the book.
Highly.
I am so proud of these writers! Bravo to all!

pandamonium artwork!

She's here!!!
Robin, the dieselpunk pirate panda, is here!!!
In a plain white envelope, she traveled to my home.
I had thought there might be a Christmas card enclosed.
Even better!
Thank you so much, Patrick! I have so enjoyed being a backer of your kickstarter project.
I am so looking forward to the book's arrival!

shadows out of providence heading for savannah

Ezra Claverie's original works are finally seeing the light of day!
Well, in PDF version, at least.
He's been having serious issues with a ne'er-do-well shyster who has taken the funds designated for the printing of the book...and skated off into the darkness with them.
What a sad and frustrating story for a creative spirit.
(Although it should be noted that I have a sad story from a backer's side.)
True to his oath to provide rewards to his faithful supporters on kickstarter, Ezra sent his tome, via email, out into the world.
That was back in late September.
Now, I've printed the book for myself.
Isn't it a beauty?
Of course, I still look forward to one day having the book, as he had intended it to be, in my hands.
For now, this will do.
I'll try to read it during the winter break from school...

oskar and klaus find bigfoot!

Those two cats certainly lead a busy life!
Check out their Friskies music video with Grumpy Cat and friends! That fundraiser for hungry kittehs everywhere was featured in the "Huffington Post"!
You can also read about it here, in the Rolling Stone!!!
Even Jon Stewart featured them on "The Daily Show"!!!!
Oskar and Klaus have so many adventures together!
The bfe and I do, too.
That's one of the reasons I am so excited about the timing of this book's arrival. You see, my bfe (best friend extraordinaire) has a birthday later this very week! I had so hoped to be able to surprise him with this extra special treat, and, thanks to Mick Szydlowski and company, that hope is reality!
I must be doing something right!
I believe I was directed toward kickstarter at just the right time to find this project. Not only would my support benefit the production of the book - and the audiobook! - but the reward would be a magnificent gift for my favorite "thirteen-year-old boy" (his words for himself).
Like Bigfoot, my friend is an excellent cook, using fancy recipes that I would never prepare. Dinners at his place are a treat for the eyes as well as the tastebuds and nose!
Like Bigfoot, he also has recently become a jazz aficionado and has quite a record collection. How cool is that?
And, like Bigfoot, he likes hot tea and has a tea kettle.
Unlike Bigfoot, he is not allergic to cats and has two old ladies he loves dearly. His two girls, Chloe and Contessa, would certainly have quite a fun time with such gentlemanly cats as Oskar and Klaus!
However, Seattle is quite a long haul from this city by the sea.
I do so hope the kittehs here will be read this glorious adventure, perhaps as a bedtime tale to inspire sweet dreams...
I'll be sure that happens!

What about the patch, you ask?

That belongs to me!

I'm thrilled to belong to "an INCLUSIVE club for anyone who seeks to make each day an adventure"!

the android's astrological companion

Yes, I have already completed the categories for "Art", "Comics", and "Literature". Those pieces of my kickstarter backer "pie" were completed quite a while back, multiple times.
But I couldn't resist!
You see, I like the name, too. It reminds me of Tanith Lee's "The Silver Metal Lover" and Isaac Asimov's robot novels that I so enjoyed in my younger years.
This art book of short stories promises to be quite lovely and will be right at home beside my copy of "Speculative Relationships", wouldn't you agree? I think they will be a most winning couple!
I do so appreciate Cody Vrosh providing me an opportunity to help bring this project to life. Honestly, I don't know that he really needs to utilize the services of kickstarter to advance his work. He already has his own bookpress and screenprinting workshop, known as Binary Winter.
Perhaps he's simply wanting to spread the gospel, too.
That dieselpunk-flavored, modern creed with comic coloration.
One NOVA-sized cup for me, please!
That means my paltry forty-three dollars will gain the PDF, the signed hardback copy of the book, AND a signed print - of my choice! I'll make sure my "Kickstarter Rewards Wall" has a waiting space beside the cover print from "Speculative Relationships".
Together on the wall AND on the bookshelf!
That's for sure, too. This is another project I'm joining late, as its active time ends tomorrow. This is also another project which has well outstripped its funding goal. The creator has chosen to expand the rewards into additional levels as "stretch goals" are reached.
In fact, I'll not only receive the NOVA package, but also an additional book! This one is titled "The Zodiac of Teeth" and should make friends easily on the bookshelf with "Creature disComforts".
Very nice perk!

imagination is a superpower!

"A Cape!" has arrived!

I am so thrilled!

Today, "A Cape!" arrived in my mailbox!

Not literally a cape, of course.
Sure, there could have been a cape there, but I did not order one, so it would have been a huge surprise for me if a cape arrived at my house.

I knew this was coming, even though I had not personally ordered it.
Marty Kelley ordered it for me.


Well, not actually for me.

The book is for my nephew, Conner.
He's one of the most fearless boys I've ever met. He's never met a wall he couldn't climb, a tree that stood in his way, or any obstacle that truly was.
He starts the first grade next fall.
As I said before, when I saw this project on kickstarter, I immediately thought of this particular nephew and knew I had to support the author in honor of Conner.

Just look at that personalized autograph!

Conner is going to love it!

I think his big brother, Merritt, is going to be a little jealous.
That's okay.
I have another project's reward for him.



I haven't decided what I'll do with the poster.
Maybe I'll give that to Conner, too.
Maybe it will find a place on my Kickstarter Wall in my Ocean Room.
I still have a couple of months to decide on that.

But I am for sure keeping the bookmark!

Look at the sheer glee on his face!

What jubilation at being young and invincible!

I especially like this side, of course!
It echoes Einstein's thoughts on imagination being more important than knowledge.

But I also like the imagery.
The little boy leaps into the air, crashes down, and still flashes a 'thumbs up!" to signal that all is well.
Keep on trying, just keep on trying!

Great message.

creature (dis)comforts of home

Oh, my! Such lovely, cool-scary, monsters!
Oh, pardon me - not monsters, creatures.
That indicates that these beings came from imagination, not from an egg or a uterus.

That imagination belongs to the GoggleGals, Jessica Feinberg and Alese Lea Taylor, creators of this kickstarter-funded book.
And poster, as shown above.

And two unique bookmarks.

And fabulous prints of the individual creatures!
(More on that in just a second!

Even the back of the book bears the searing mark of their fertile imagination!

I just love the way they autographed this book for me!

"FOR GREAT-AUNT FAUSTINA - BEWARE THE CREATURES!"

and

"crunch"

Such marvelous fun!






But, I must admit, my most prized rewards from these young women are Jellie Oculari and the Orange Gnawzler.
I know, they sound like something that would appear in a B-grade, late-night old-timey science fiction flick, don't they? I'm sure my fondness for those goofy movies from my youth is part of the reason I am charmed by these creatures, of all of those produced by the GoggleGals.
These were the two I could not live without.

The Snaggle-Toothed Orange Gnawzler

Shaggy and fuzzy
orange yellow on top
please don't be misled by its cute fluffy mop.
Sneaking up the stairs
hunting late into the night
It's seeking out toenails
to nibble and bite!

Jellie Oculari

Swims in the water
floats through the sky
If you don't see him coming he'll
steal your eyes.


Bwah ha ha!!!
He is definitely my favorite!
Now, they both grace a wall in my Ocean Room, a wall dedicated to the display of my treasures acquired from the support of kickstarter projects.
And Jellie, with his many aqua eyes, looks perfectly at home there, swimming along without a care in the world!

speculative relationships: a sci-fi romance comics anthology

I could most definitely use a little romance in my life.
Everyone can, n'est-ce pas?
When it comes to love between different species, science fiction has always been there to say: why not?
Tyrell Cannon and the other five artists in this 80-page collection agree with that philosophy. Together, they have contributed eight stories to stroke that romantic beast purring deep in my soul.
Mike Manomivibul, in conjunction with providing the cover art for the book, has a tale of two robots, searching the world over to be reunited. To be perfectly honest, it is that cover art, with the questing hand reaching out for the touch of another, that captured my heart. I'll hope his story bears up to that predispostion on my part.
Isabella Rotman offers dreamers on a traveling spaceship. Her art is lush and has a medieval fantasy edge. Very pretty!
Daniel Warren Johnson combines action and comedy in his other work. This tale of a cyborg in an alien war promises to keep the attention point on!
Rinko Endo is an art therapist, offering her tale through a manga lens. The star-crossed love tapestry of an alien and a human is of the ages, but newly woven.
Scott Kroll has two contributions to the anthology. The story which most has my interest postulates a five-gendered species, with love only if all are present. I wonder if they will have flavors, like quarks do?
Then there's the initiator of this kickstarter campaign, Tyrell Cannon. He also contributes two pieces, one which speaks in the voice of "Gravity", while the other features a modern chapter in the Adam and Eve saga.
Can you tell I'm hooked?
Apparently, I'm not the only one. Four hundred, thirty-seven others made sure they had surpassed their $9000 goal yesterday.
So, as the 438th backer, I've added $28 of birthday money to their pile, to help make this book the best it can be.
I'm committing to Going Steady with them. In return, I'm getting pinned in the form of a physical copy fo the book to hold in my hands and close to my heart, a print of the cover to frame and hang on the wall above my bed, and a PDF of the "Making Love" zine, so I will know all the work which was done to make this love my own.
I am nearly breathless with antici-pa-tion!

horizon anthology

This anthology poses the question: What happens after the hero wins?
Indeed, what does happen?
"The Incredibles" showed us the aftermath. All of the heroes were forced to go undercover, forgo their super-identities, phase their superpowers into "standby" mode. Sure, eventually, an evil power forces them back into the open, but again clad in their supergarb. After that evil uprising is quelled, they continue living as (near)regular folks, at least in appearance, when not called into action.
Jeremy Lawson, the initiator of this kickstarter project, has joined up with fourteen other talented artists, from near and far. Together, they have created a 144-page, full-color work of visual literature, which they want to share with us.
Nice, right?
The ringleader is a Savannah artist, transplanted from Texas (but we won't hold that against him). (smile!) He's done a great job of keeping interest alive in the project. They're on their last day today and are more than $1000 over their original goal! Woohoo!!!
Now, there's a push to try to hit that magical $10,000 mark. You want your copy of the book to be hardcover, right? I would!
So, more of my birthday money into a worthy creation! I've sent them forty-four buckaroos. As my reward, I'll be receiving a copy of the book, of course, with my name in the acknowledgements. Nice!!!
I'll also receive a PDF download of the book and a digital wallpaper pack of the cover art.
That's pretty nice, too!
And, because they had attained their initial goal, I will also be granted two Kickstarter Exclusive art prints!!! Sah-weet!!!
Now, let's hope they hit that hardcover stretch goal...

adventures of oskar & klaus: the search for bigfoot

Okay! This will be the first audiobook I have supported on kickstarter!
True, when Mick Syzdlowski and Travis Bossard, best buddies and co-authors, first announced this project, all they were trying to do was print a 32-page hardcover version of the book. The book would also be illustrated by Alex Novoseltsev, so some funds would be used to pay the artist.
That's cool.
The story is about Oskar, the blind cat, and his good buddy, Klaus.
That is really cool.
A blind cat? And his cat companion, who helps look out for him on their adventures?
When has that ever been done before???
Count me in!
Apparently, many agree with me.
On the same day that they announced the project on kickstarter, they attained their goal.
Seriously.
On that first day, they raised more than the $10,000 needed for the book.
That encouraged them to think more grandly. Rather than have only the book for those with visual acuity, why not also have an audio version for the blind?
That would require much, much, much more money. Like, at least $50,000.
Why not go for it? The project has until June 6th to collect funding, so that would give them 29 days - and much good word-of-mouth advertising - to see if it could be done.
Why not, indeed?
That course of action has worked out very well. By the time I had joined as a backer this morning, they were already well past $40,000 and still had three days left.
Bravo!!!
They have even already cast the voice of Bigfoot! Will Braden, a well-known man in the world of "Henri, le Chat Noir" has signed on for the role.
What will I get for my $29 of birthday money?
You mean, besides the satisfaction of helping a well-deserving project?
Let me tell you what I get.
An actual copy of the beautifully-illustrated book.
An embroidered patch for the Oskar & Klaus Adventure Sociery!!! Woohoo!!!
A digital wallpaper pack of the art in the book!!!
A digital download of the audio version of the book!!! (I just know they're going to hit that stretch goal!! Positive thoughts!!!)
This is going to be good, y'all.