Welcome Colleen!

[Major Comma]

Hi colleen ,
now that the storm has passed I just wanted to welcome you here .
i thought this would be a place where you could get to know us and we could discuss your work or whatever you like .
you know , replace those nasty recent memories with some more positive ones.
again,
WELCOME!

[bert]

Colleen?

as in Colleen Doran?

the incredible, amazing Colleen Doran?

A Distant Soil Colleen Doran?

has been posting here for over a year in the Rick Olney thread among others Colleen?

yes!

welcome!


:)

[Major Comma]

yep, that colleen bert.
I felt after all the negativity a fresh start was a nice idea.
after the bashing in the Dave Sims thread
whats wrong with showing her some love ?
i knew of her presence here, but i also know that recently she has been trashed by a callous lunatic .
so, why not start over ?
So, welcome to a fresh start at YABS colleen!
ENJOY!

[MacQuarrie]

Yes, here's to Colleen!

Your essays on creator's rights in the Olney thread are the high point in that year-long train-wreck, and you will always be one of the primary inspirations for the UNSCREWED organization.

As they used to say on Hee Haw....

SAAAA-LUTE!

[bert]

yep, that colleen bert.
I felt after all the negativity a fresh start was a nice idea.
after the bashing in the Dave Sims thread
whats wrong with showing her some love ?
i knew of her presence here, but i also know that recently she has been trashed by a callous lunatic .
so, why not start over ?
So, welcome to a fresh start at YABS colleen!
ENJOY!

LOL. . sorry, it was late, and I really needed to go to bed :)

didnt' mean that to come across quite as "assy" as it did!

:)

[colleen]

I'm feeling the love. It's beautiful, man.

But I almost missed the thread because my name was spelled wrong! Hah!


c

[Flamebird]

I'm feeling the love. It's beautiful, man.

But I almost missed the thread because my name was spelled wrong! Hah!


c


Hey, it's nothing but Second best, here a YABS. :D

[Pink Bat Max]

I'm feeling the love. It's beautiful, man.

But I almost missed the thread because my name was spelled wrong! Hah!


c

For me, it's really incredible to find out that this person I've been posting alongside for months is, in fact, one of the artistic successes in the last two decades of comics.

(Even if.... **ahem** I haven't actually READ much of your stuff. **blursh**)

[JohnPopa]

Colleen and I had a great chat about vampire-themed musicals last year in Charlotte -- I always love finding something other than comics to talk to creators about!

[bert]

For me, it's really incredible to find out that this person I've been posting alongside for months is, in fact, one of the artistic successes in the last two decades of comics.

(Even if.... **ahem** I haven't actually READ much of your stuff. **blursh**)

she draws too!

so you can just look at the pretty pictures, and that counts too!!

(looks over at that "bloodstorm" costume design orginal art I bought from Colleen years ago at Dragon*con).

[Erik Burnham]

Colleen and I had a great chat about vampire-themed musicals last year in Charlotte -- I always love finding something other than comics to talk to creators about!

And God bless ya for it. (;

[colleen]

For me, it's really incredible to find out that this person I've been posting alongside for months is, in fact, one of the artistic successes in the last two decades of comics.

(Even if.... **ahem** I haven't actually READ much of your stuff. **blursh**)

LOL! No worries. there's a lot of comics out there. Can't read 'em all.


c

[colleen]

she draws too!

so you can just look at the pretty pictures, and that counts too!!

(looks over at that "bloodstorm" costume design orginal art I bought from Colleen years ago at Dragon*con).

Oh wow...that was ages ago.

I am working on Lord of the Rings sketch cards at the moment. More precisely, I just finished them and posted a few to my blog. Click on my blog link for a look.

c

[JKCarrier]

(Even if.... **ahem** I haven't actually READ much of your stuff. **blursh**)

Well that's easy to fix:

http://imagecomics.com/onlinecomics.php?start=20

http://www.artbomb.net/comics/superidol.jsp

;)

[Pink Bat Max]

Well that's easy to fix:

http://imagecomics.com/onlinecomics.php?start=20

http://www.artbomb.net/comics/superidol.jsp

;)

Huh..... I always assumed that it skewed high high fantasy/sci fi (despite reading a snippet once in the 80's) which generally isn't my thing. But this looks like something I would sit down and read.

Of course, I'll never catch up with Finder if I keep finding new things to read. Ahhhh!

[Pink Bat Max]

Oh wow...that was ages ago.

I am working on Lord of the Rings sketch cards at the moment. More precisely, I just finished them and posted a few to my blog. Click on my blog link for a look.

c

**chuckles**

You're very gracious, you know that?

[bert]

Oh wow...that was ages ago.

I am working on Lord of the Rings sketch cards at the moment. More precisely, I just finished them and posted a few to my blog. Click on my blog link for a look.

c

Hard to see in this pic, but there it is, framed and on the wall (lower right, just below Devilman).

:)


(and if you're wondering what the other framed pics are: Clockwise from the top left: Alex Ross JLA plate, Alex Ross Metal Men Plate, Signed and Numbered DevilMan print, Colleen Doran original art (Bloodstorm costume design), Brian Stelfreeze original art (Black Canary kicking ass), Terry Moore original art (Katchoo), page from Elementals Issue #4, Bill Willingham original art (the page that is hanging below as printed). . and in the center is a very nice Butterfly Muse print (picked up from the art show at Dragon*con years ago).

and this is just one wall in the comics room :) )

[colleen]

My first reaction to this was...WHO THE HECK IS BLOODSTORM?

Talk about long ago, that was Mutant X, wasn't it?

Lordy.

You may find this funny, but I designed her costume to have a cut out front to show some cleavage, and believe it or not, Marvel wanted LESS boob.

Now that's something that doesn't happen every day.

I was willing to hand them a rack on a silver platter, and they covered her up. So the design you have was slightly different than what went into the comic.

And thanks for posting this, it is really nice to see my little sketch is such great company!

c

[Solaris]

Colleen, those LotR cards are BEAUTIFUL! In some ways, they remind me of sketches drawn on beautifully-done old maps... when the mapmaker would add interesting sketches in the margins, etc. I always loved hunting for those things on the maps, because it's like finding an Easter Egg. :)

I enjoyed reading your blogs, too. You seem to be very comfortable in writing them... and I wondered, are you? Do you ever feel that dichotomy of wanting to get your thoughts down and maybe share them... but at the same time, having *certain* people in your life who you would not want reading them? It seems like every time I start a blog or a personal page, in the end I get anxiety over what I'm posting, because there are some people I know who I would not want reading, or commenting on, what I've written. So then I just feel frustrated and bottled up again. Oddly, often it's easiest to share my thoughts with strangers, or those who are closest to me---it's the ones in-between I usually have difficulty with; maybe because I don't want them dragging old stuff up when I end up seeing them again?

Do you ever feel this way? If you do, how do you handle it?

[colleen]

Colleen, those LotR cards are BEAUTIFUL! In some ways, they remind me of sketches drawn on beautifully-done old maps... when the mapmaker would add interesting sketches in the margins, etc. I always loved hunting for those things on the maps, because it's like finding an Easter Egg. :)

I enjoyed reading your blogs, too. You seem to be very comfortable in writing them... and I wondered, are you? Do you ever feel that dichotomy of wanting to get your thoughts down and maybe share them... but at the same time, having *certain* people in your life who you would not want reading them? It seems like every time I start a blog or a personal page, in the end I get anxiety over what I'm posting, because there are some people I know who I would not want reading, or commenting on, what I've written. So then I just feel frustrated and bottled up again. Oddly, often it's easiest to share my thoughts with strangers, or those who are closest to me---it's the ones in-between I usually have difficulty with; maybe because I don't want them dragging old stuff up when I end up seeing them again?

Do you ever feel this way? If you do, how do you handle it?

Wow. Great question.

While I am very open about professional matters on my blog, and will discuss money, dumb contracts I have signed, and problems related to my work, you notice I almost never mention any details about my personal life.

At all.

I will talk about funny things that happen in my family, but the more important the incident, the less likely I am to discuss it. So, while I had a number of deaths in my family over the last year, I don't go into any details in public.

I almost never even mention personal relationships of any kind, and you will search in vain for any details of my romantic life.

I think I can afford to be very forthcoming about matters that are directly related to work, but prefer a certain amount of distance when it comes to my personal life.

Except for vociferously denying Rick Sharer AKA Talon's slander and libel about my having had a personal relationship with Dave Sim.

That I openly deny to the rafters and beyond.

I hardly ever discuss my boyfriends, unless I have something really nice to say, and I never mention their names or any details.


There was one time I deliberately resolved a problem using my blog, specifically directing posts to a guy I refer to as Moondoggie Writer Bob, who I know is not only addicted to my blog and watches my every move, but is someone I want to stay as far away from me as possible.

Moondoggie Writer Bob is a nebbishy little Walter Mitty guy who likes to conflate his importance. He is a professional writer of no distinction. He writes insta-books - pop culture books about whatever movie is coming out this week. He was an old buddy of mine. I thought he was a great friend and I trusted the guy. At one point, knowing I was overwhelmed with work, he offered to sell my stuff on consignment for me at shows, among other things. He needed the money and I needed the help, so I turned over a bunch of my stuff to him.

Big mistake.

Among other things, two years later, I was horrified to find out that Moondoggie Writer Bob had written a huge number of letters about me to third parties, letters he thought I would never see. They were real works of fiction, probably the only time in his writing life he had actually done something creative. Among other things, he had been passing himself off to third parties as my agent and manager.

He had even been telling people he had gotten me into the Lord of the Rings Oscar parties, something he had not done. In fact, he had begged me to get him on the list as my guest, but my hosts would not agree. They did not want him. I had been the previous year and had taken my friend Kacey as my guest, and Moondoggie Bob was dying to get in the following year. So he called them up and told them I would not go unless they had him along because he was my agent! They didn't fall for it, and since I had already promised to take my friend Cheryl Harris, Moondoggie Bob had to content himself with a fan-sponsored party down the street. Yet he told everyone later that he had attended the Oscars and had gotten me in...and yet he wasn't even there! He was no more in attendance at the Oscars than anyone else who happened to be in LA that week!

Well, that was the end of my friendship with Moondoggie Writer Bob. Since Moondoggie Writer Bob had a bunch of my art and books I worried how to get my stuff back without a blow up. I could tell he knew something was wrong when I began asking for my money and my property. The more I asked for my stuff back, and the more I inquired about an accounting, the harder he pulled back.

He floundered about for months, wondering why our friendship went cold, why I didn't want to work with him, and why I was suddenly asking for my stuff to be returned to me. In fact, at one convention, he went to the dealer's room organizers and tried to convince them we were together, and wanted them to have my booth moved next to his. Yet I hadn't even spoken to the guy in months.

So, I began writing about it all on my blog. No names, of course.

I have no doubt his testicles shriveled when he read my posts about him.

After waiting nearly two years, I began getting my property back. I never got my money, but my guess is, he simply doesn't have it. I was primarily concerned about getting my art back, and I got it. I don't care about the cash.

Moondoggie Writer Bob doesn't try to contact me anymore. He no longer tries to pass himself off as my agent, no longer writes me letters, and avoids me like the plague.

I have no doubt Moondoggie Writer Bob will never darken my doorstep again.

He got the message. And I got my stuff.

So, there was someone who was kind of in-between who really needed to hear what I had to say, but not necessarily directly...I didn't want things to get ugly, but he really needed to have a warning shot across his bow.

He moved to return my stuff at the merest hint I might squeal about the content of those letters.

Blogging can be useful.

Shortly after I began blogging about him, a number of other people to whom he owed money began getting paid. I don't know if he paid everyone, but at least he knew he was being watched.


Good enough for me.




c

[Corrina]

Welcome Colleen!

I join all in loving your work and I'm so glad to see you here at YABS.

[Solaris]

Wow. What an awesome way to handle such a... delicate... situation! :D Three cheers for inventiveness!

I have to ask, since you were at the LotR Oscar parties... by any chance did you hear a band called "Emerald Rose" playing? They're local to us down here (but play all over), and I remember hearing that they were invited to play one of the LotR Oscar parties... the first one, I *think*---or maybe it was number two. I love their music, and we were fortunate enough to have them perform at my oldest daughter's wedding (well, renewal of vows, actually---it's a long story). I would describe them as being a "Celtic-themed" band, though they use some electric guitar on some of their songs as well. They're really nice guys, and I love their music. :) They've done a humor album too (IIRC it's called "Con Suite")---it's full of funny convention-themed songs.

I'll confess that I'm curious: what was the Oscar party like? I would assume there were tons of people there, so was it too busy to really take it all in, and just chat with folks? Or did it have a different... vibe?... than that? I'm thinking in some ways it must be like a large wedding reception: you probably get to talk with the bride and groom for a few minutes, but they're so busy doing everything they're supposed to do, and talking to everyone they're supposed to see, that your time with them is a bit limited. :D But, by the same token, you get to meet other people associated with them whom you've never met; often people you end up enjoying talking with.

Back to the blog... so it's not really a place where you dump personal thoughts, at least not on personal topics. That makes sense. And I think it helps me clarify what I'm looking for, in a blog. Thanks!

[colleen]

Wow. What an awesome way to handle such a... delicate... situation! :D Three cheers for inventiveness!

I have to ask, since you were at the LotR Oscar parties... by any chance did you hear a band called "Emerald Rose" playing? They're local to us down here (but play all over), and I remember hearing that they were invited to play one of the LotR Oscar parties... the first one, I *think*---or maybe it was number two. I love their music, and we were fortunate enough to have them perform at my oldest daughter's wedding (well, renewal of vows, actually---it's a long story). I would describe them as being a "Celtic-themed" band, though they use some electric guitar on some of their songs as well. They're really nice guys, and I love their music. :) They've done a humor album too (IIRC it's called "Con Suite")---it's full of funny convention-themed songs.

I'll confess that I'm curious: what was the Oscar party like? I would assume there were tons of people there, so was it too busy to really take it all in, and just chat with folks? Or did it have a different... vibe?... than that? I'm thinking in some ways it must be like a large wedding reception: you probably get to talk with the bride and groom for a few minutes, but they're so busy doing everything they're supposed to do, and talking to everyone they're supposed to see, that your time with them is a bit limited. :D But, by the same token, you get to meet other people associated with them whom you've never met; often people you end up enjoying talking with.

Back to the blog... so it's not really a place where you dump personal thoughts, at least not on personal topics. That makes sense. And I think it helps me clarify what I'm looking for, in a blog. Thanks!

Oh yeah, I remember Emerald Rose, but I think I have seen them lots of places, and I also have some of their cd's!



The first Oscar Party I went to was...fabulous on so many levels.

The LOTR thing wasn't too big, and there really weren't that many attendees.

I had met some of the LOTS folks at San Diego Comic Con, and they were comics readers. We became friends. Some of the people were cast members, some worked on the films, some were with theonering.net

So, when it came time to go to the party, they gave me a VIP pass, which was a big surprise.

This meant I got to hang out int he private room, and many cast members showed up. It wasn't a two minute meet and greet, I mean they stuck around, and we got along great. I befriended Craig Parker, and we stay in touch off and on to this day. I got to meet Billy Boyd and John Rhys Davies and it was just terrific.

The following year, the whole LOTR thing had gone nuclear, and even though I had gotten VIP passes again, none of the cast was hanging out with guests and the crowds were huge. Frankly, it was exhausting. And I wore this beaded gown that I couldn't even walk in. It had a handkerchief hem, and every time I took a step, the beads flipped between my legs, caught on one another, and hobbled me. I would have to stagger into a corner and pull the beads apart. it was a mess.

I spent a good deal of the evening playing LOTR pinball.

I really ought to post some photos. I don't think I have. And I took lots of shots.

I truly enjoyed the LOTR fan experience, and made many friends. We still stay in touch, and when it was announced that the Hobbit would be made...well, it was pandemonium.

I am also going to Australia and New Zealand for an entire month next year. Can't wait to visit all the sites!

I feel really hinky about blogs that talk about too much personal stuff. the people being written about don't get a lot of choice in the matter. Who wants their mother writing about them on a blog? Who wants a husband nattering about his wife? I am careful about what I say about my family. I don't want to give them any grief.

And since fandom is plagued by weirdos like this Rick Sharer guy, you never know what they will do. I don't want my loved ones coming to harm because I mentioned them on a blog, and they became a target.


c

[Solaris]

Very good blog advice---thanks! :)

Hems and beads---been there, though it was a mesh long skirt catching on my bootlace holders (some special kind of grommets?) and on buckles and such. Annoying as all get-out.

I met John Rhys-Davies once on an elevator at DragonCon. We had our son with us (he was 6 wks. old), and Mr. Davies was going on about what a beautiful baby he was. Very kind, nice man. We told him we've loved his roles in films, and he thanked us. We didn't push the conversation when we got to the ground floor, because he had somewhere to go, just like we did. :)

One of the most fun, and unexpected things, about a large con is when you bump into someone "famous." With the exception of Lou Ferrigno, all such encounters for us have been very nice. Then again... we aren't the "autograph hound" types, either. I just can't see interrupting someone's personal time for that---I wouldn't want it, so I don't do it to others.

It's really fun, after all the scandal rags hype about the "hollywood mindset" and that stuff, when you end up meeting several "celebs" and find that so many are really nice people. There's a lot of 'em out there, and it belies that stereotype. Argh, gotta get to bed---we're having a party for our oldest and her hubby (Darkblade and Tadhg Adams here on CBR)---they're in town from Indiana, and we're getting some of their local friends together... and I have lots of work left to do, in prep. It's been really fun talking with you, and will catch you later on YABS! :)

[bert]

I met John Rhys-Davies once on an elevator at DragonCon. We had our son with us (he was 6 wks. old), and Mr. Davies was going on about what a beautiful baby he was. Very kind, nice man. We told him we've loved his roles in films, and he thanked us. We didn't push the conversation when we got to the ground floor, because he had somewhere to go, just like we did. :)

One of the most fun, and unexpected things, about a large con is when you bump into someone "famous." With the exception of Lou Ferrigno, all such encounters for us have been very nice. Then again... we aren't the "autograph hound" types, either. I just can't see interrupting someone's personal time for that---I wouldn't want it, so I don't do it to others.


100% agreement. . we happened to be staying up the hall from Eric Estrada in the Hyatt this year, and had a very nice conversation with him -- until his publicist came out of the room, and rushed him away (as if we were bothering him, although it was HE who came to talk to us at the Atrium rail).

I think he must have said something to her tho, because when she saw me later in the Con (as she was rushing him to a panel), they made a point to say hello to me.

[Cam63]

Have a nice stay, Colleen.

[Major Comma]

Sorry I misspelled your name Colleen.
And Bert , regarding your first post in this thread we are all good, No Worries .
I did appreaciate the apology though, you didnt have to do that.

[colleen]

100% agreement. . we happened to be staying up the hall from Eric Estrada in the Hyatt this year, and had a very nice conversation with him -- until his publicist came out of the room, and rushed him away (as if we were bothering him, although it was HE who came to talk to us at the Atrium rail).

I think he must have said something to her tho, because when she saw me later in the Con (as she was rushing him to a panel), they made a point to say hello to me.

Ain't that the truth.

The gatekeeper people are a lot more difficult than the celebrities themselves. But then, that's their job. They can play bad cop and do the dirty work, and the celeb never has to do anything that makes them look mean. If the publicist shoos away a fan...well the celeb can just shrug and say "Alas, my plight. My publicist is so stern."

Then again, there are the gatekeepers that go overboard and just shutter the celeb away. They are intensely creepy.


c

[Cam63]

Nice work on the cards.

[colleen]

Thank ye. I just posted some more, and some photos from the Oscars.

Also, I went back to work on Stealth Tribes, the graphic novel I am doing for Vertigo with Warren Ellis today. I expect to be finished within about two months.

c

[Reverend Smooth]

Good enough for me.
Yeah. Amen.

[colleen]

Lookie! My name is spelled right!

[Reverend Smooth]

Yay! ^_^ (limit dix chara)

[Winslow]

The cards look great and I really REALLY wish I had seen the hobbit feet messenger bag on your web site a month ago. My 15 year old daughter would have loved that for Christmas.

And the art in Orbiter is fantastic . . .

And welcome to YABs (although I'm not much of a YABster)

[colleen]

Glad you like it!

Seriously, the image shows up much better on the t-shirt. And it looks really nice on the beer stein.

[Cam63]

Thank ye. I just posted some more, and some photos from the Oscars.

Speakin' of LoTR, have you seen this little beauty ?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SWf3iJjqYCM

[DaveRothe]

Hey welcome again, Colleen. I remember your good deed still. Although we haven't got to talk that much I'm still proud to call you friend.:)

[DaveRothe]

Speakin' of LoTR, have you seen this little beauty ?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SWf3iJjqYCM

Wow Cam. I didn't realize Moses was in the Lord of the Rings! Fascinating!

[Cam63]

Things started looking for Mo' when he ditched his old agent.

I think there's a buddy cop movie in the works next.

[colleen]

Speakin' of LoTR, have you seen this little beauty ?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SWf3iJjqYCM

Yes, indeedy! I love me some Figwit!


c

[colleen]

Hey welcome again, Colleen. I remember your good deed still. Although we haven't got to talk that much I'm still proud to call you friend.:)

No worries, Dave.

How's it going these days? You OK?


c

[colleen]

Things started looking for Mo' when he ditched his old agent.

I think there's a buddy cop movie in the works next.

Men have it so easy. When their jawline sags, they can just grow a beard.

c

[DaveRothe]

Things started looking for Mo' when he ditched his old agent.

I think there's a buddy cop movie in the works next.

Co starring Jackie Chan. They're calling it "Rosh Hashanah Hour.":D

[bert]

Men have it so easy. When their jawline sags, they can just grow a beard.

c

or, if you're a Scientologist, you can just marry one!



(rimshot)

[colleen]

You are a bad, bad man.

I like that.


c

[Major Comma]

I really like your sketch of Boromir/Sean Bean Collen,
you captured his likeness well .

[colleen]

We try!

I really love his face. I really botched some of my other attempts but...I'm not going to post those!


I've had a crush on Sean Bean forever. I can't believe I get paid to draw the guy.

c

[Cam63]

So, when he tried to kill Jack Ryan and his family, it wasn't an issue ?

[Solaris]

Co starring Jackie Chan. They're calling it "Rosh Hashanah Hour.":D

I just totally LOL'd over that one! :D

[colleen]

So, when he tried to kill Jack Ryan and his family, it wasn't an issue ?

I'd run over Jack Ryan's kids with a tractor to get my hands on Sean Bean.

Joking, of course.

When I got filmed for that documentary Ringers, I spent some time monologuing dirty about Sean Bean and I had the crew in stitches. They were going to put it on the extended release dvd, but that never came out. Now I have missed my big chance to declare my open, undying love for my Beanie Baby.


I hear he's getting married...but not to me! WAAAAHHHHH!!!


c

[Cam63]

You just weren't there for the Bean when he needed you.

[colleen]

You just weren't there for the Bean when he needed you.

Stop it. You're torturing me.


c

[Cam63]

A man needs his hobbies.

[colleen]

Beats the heck out of some hobbies.

Man, you could really get this thread going with lots of woman hate and gay bashing.

But that's a bad hobby.


c

[tangentman]

Welcome to YABS, Colleen!

Let me take a moment, too, to praise your issues for Shade The Changing Man and Legion of Superheroes. Both stories involved gender changes--Shade appropriating the body of a murder victim's sister, and Jan Arrah learning the truth about Shvaughn Erin. Easily two of my favorite stories of that era! Your work lent the solemness and darkness that the stories deserved.

Thanks for your part in giving me two excellent, thought-provoking stories, and again, welcome aboard! :)

[colleen]

Wow, thank you so much!

I really wish I was a better artist back then, because the stories were so interesting. I enjoyed working on Shade, but I don't think I was good enough for the material. I am glad you liked it, though.

I did so many gender bending tales back then, that I went to one convention and they gave me a certificate:

The "I Am Not A Swedish Surgeon Award."

I don't think it was a compliment, but I took it in good humor.


c

[tangentman]

Wow, thank you so much!

You're certainly welcome! I'm just flattered that you're hanging out at YABS with us!

I really wish I was a better artist back then, because the stories were so interesting. I enjoyed working on Shade, but I don't think I was good enough for the material. I am glad you liked it, though.

While I certainly understand how an artist might be her own worst critic, I think your work on those issues gave the stories a haunting beauty that other artists might not have captured. I could see the pain in Shvaughn's struggle through the "detox", as well as through her confession to Jan. There was an intimacy in the images that lent weight to the overall story.

That quality and more showed up in the Shade story, too. I remember the fear of the sister when she discovered her employer's "dirty secret". The mix of pain and pleasure when Shade experiences the "feminine role" in sex for the first time told the story just as effectively as the narration.

I did so many gender bending tales back then, that I went to one convention and they gave me a certificate:

The "I Am Not A Swedish Surgeon Award."

I don't think it was a compliment, but I took it in good humor.


c

LOL Good for you! I think praise SHOULD be heaped on comic book creators who push the envelope! :D

[colleen]

Well, thank you. I used to get a lot of hate mail back then, as you may imagine.

Every day, I sort of wake up, look around at the comics industry, and wonder how the heck things changed and how the heck I ended up in an industry that didn't hate me anymore.

[tangentman]

I wonder if Devin Grayson feels that way these days? Personally, I hope that shifts in her favor.

Give enough time, though, and attitudes change enough to be a little more welcoming of people unafraid to try less conventional paths.

Say, is it true that Neil Gaiman based Thessaly (of Sandman fame) on you?

[colleen]

I don't know Devin Grayson and only met her briefly. She seemed very tense, so I moved on. Now I know a little more about her history, and if she was getting the kind of abuse I am now aware of, I'd have been tense, too.

I used to get creepy mail from people telling me I was going to hell, and one fan stalker who dogged me for well over a decade tracked down my parents and would write my mother letters about the unwholesome path I was taking with my work, how my work should be banned and what a wicked girl I was turning out to be.

Fun times, fun times.

It's especially funny, because the kind of work I was doing in A Distant Soil back then would be very mild stuff by today's standards. And yet, one issue was picked up in a porn raid (charges dropped).

Yes, Neil based Thessaly on me, because I am a mousey little woman who appears to be of no great distinction, and who is also seemingly quite harmless.

Yet, I possess enormous power and can be quite ruthless.

Or maybe it is simply because he told artists to just "Draw Thessaly so she looks like Colleen with her makeup off."


c

[Cam63]

Beats the heck out of some hobbies.

Man, you could really get this thread going with lots of woman hate and gay bashing.

But that's a bad hobby.


c

The nongs that do it seem to like it.

[Cam63]

I used to get creepy mail from people telling me I was going to hell, and one fan stalker who dogged me for well over a decade tracked down my parents and would write my mother letters about the unwholesome path I was taking with my work, how my work should be banned and what a wicked girl I was turning out to be.

That sucks badly.

I hope the tool was dealt with eventually.

[bert]

Beats the heck out of some hobbies.

Man, you could really get this thread going with lots of woman hate and gay bashing.



c

I wanted to throw a big, gay bash last night!

but since we moved to Cedar Park, my Austin friends don't want to make the 40 minute drive (:()

so it was a quiet gay bash -- Nick drank beer, and I did most of the Champagne, and we both passed out around 1:30ish.

does that count to get the thread going?

[AaronJ]

I feel bad for Devin Grayson. Whatever one thinks of her work on Nightwing, for instance, she in no way deserved the sort of terrible abuse she received.

And it doesn't seem, to me anyway (I could totally be wrong here), that she got a lot of support from above.

[colleen]

The nongs that do it seem to like it.

I hope that those that seem to enjoy it are far outnumbered by the rest of us who watch in horrified fascination.

I know these people get off on the attention, but at the same time, turning away takes extraordinary reserves of self control.

It's like watching some animal you thought was extinct show up in the middle of the street and take a dump on a manhole cover.

"Fascinating...didn't that critter die out about fifty years ago? Look, it left spoor. Maybe we should turn it collect it so scientists can study it!"


c

[colleen]

That sucks badly.

I hope the tool was dealt with eventually.



Well, hard to say. There was more than one, but the worst was the nightmare of all stalkers, because he has never really given up.

He started when I was a teen. Saw my picture in a magazine and decided he was going to be my new boyfriend.

He had worked at Marvel Comics briefly in the 1970's running a stat machine, and fancied himself an insider professional kind of guy. So, he would write me these smarmy letters about how he could help my career, and how he wanted to work with me.

The letters were as creepy as you may well imagine, telling me how I looked like a "little English schoolgirl" and how he had been a substitute teacher. Little girls loved him!

Bleh.

So, naturally, he let me know he was going to be my one and only, but that he would "take care of me" and "wouldn't let me get dirty."

Ahem.

He used to send me lots of dopey presents, too. My publishers thought this was all very funny.


I ignored him, and this did not improve matters. Eventually, he decided I was a wicked woman, and then began writing me letters about all the men he was certain I was involved with, everyone from Chris Claremont to Jim Shooter. He had seen me at a show with Bill Sienkiewicz (who I barely know) and railed against him. He had a particular mad on for John Romita JR, who is kinda hot, but who I never dated. Oh yeah, and Frank Miller. Actually when I began getting these letters, I had never met most of these people. I certainly wasn't dating them.

There were no laws against stalking in the 1980's. so he could write whatever he wanted and drive me nuts and annoy my publishers all he liked.

For awhile, he was running a campaign to have A Distant Soil banned.

At one point, Harlan Ellison called the guy up and railed at him, scaring the shit out of him. We didn't hear from the guy for about two years. Then he came back. Oh joy.

Fortunately, the laws changed and as time went on, police began to take stalking seriously.

The guy showed up at a convention with his mother in tow. She was a dead ringer for the mummified cadaver of the whore of Babylon. She was wearing teeny tiny skin tight tights even though she was 942, and she was decked out in every color of the rainbow, except for her face which was plastered with Kabuki makeup.

She walked up to me and began stroking me, telling me how much her son loved me. I about lost my shit.

I had also brought along my mother who was packing a taser, but before my mom had to fry anyone, the cops took the weirdos out.

This sent the guy into an even bigger frenzy, and he began calling every fan magazine in sight, claiming I was a criminal about to be arrested and all kinds of weird shit.

Keep in mind this all began when I was 19 years old.

And I just enjoyed a blissful few years of silence, thinking it had all gone away, and then THIS YEAR I had another encounter.

I can't make this long story short, but I'll condense it by adding this link:

http://www.adistantsoil.com/blog/?p=1617

So, nothing ever really happened to any of these guys except they have been interviewed by the police and told to leave me alone.

I have not heard from the main stalker guy directly in years, so he used his creepy proxy to try to get my attention several times, but since the proxy is now on notice, maybe we won't hear from him anymore, either.


c

[colleen]

I wanted to throw a big, gay bash last night!

but since we moved to Cedar Park, my Austin friends don't want to make the 40 minute drive (:()

so it was a quiet gay bash -- Nick drank beer, and I did most of the Champagne, and we both passed out around 1:30ish.

does that count to get the thread going?

I dunno, but if you had told us about swinging from chandeliers and hot sex with hunky men, I sure would have paid more attention.

[colleen]

I feel bad for Devin Grayson. Whatever one thinks of her work on Nightwing, for instance, she in no way deserved the sort of terrible abuse she received.

And it doesn't seem, to me anyway (I could totally be wrong here), that she got a lot of support from above.

I'm kind of out of touch, so I don't recall ever hearing anyone at the company talk about her, but I now know she got an inordinate amount of bashing from some fans.

It seems like people are trying to make the case that she only got writing gigs because she had a boyfriend, but she got her job before she got the boyfriend.

And most of the women in the business seem to have boyfriends or husbands in the business.

Why the particular hate-on for her, I can't fathom.

I liked her novel...it was slashy!


c

[AaronJ]

I'm kind of out of touch, so I don't recall ever hearing anyone at the company talk about her, but I now know she got an inordinate amount of bashing from some fans.

It seems like people are trying to make the case that she only got writing gigs because she had a boyfriend, but she got her job before she got the boyfriend.

And most of the women in the business seem to have boyfriends or husbands in the business.

Why the particular hate-on for her, I can't fathom.

I liked her novel...it was slashy!


c

She was really bashed, and I don't remember many people standing up for her.

She is a pretty darn decent writer, and the sort of personal attacks on her were really uncalled for, regardless of what she wrote. The "boyfriend" thing was nothing more than slander, as far as I could tell.

Then again, I should probably shut up, considering the things I've said about Heinberg. :)

[colleen]

To illustrate how out of touch I am...who's Heinberg?


c

[AaronJ]

To illustrate how out of touch I am...who's Heinberg?


c

Allan Heinberg is a TV writer (The OC, Grey's Anatomy) who was put on the re-launch of Wonder Woman with the #1 issue.

His lateness (5 issues in like a gazillion months) and his general disdain for the character (whom he professes to love) really turned me off. As I learned more about the situation, I got even more angry.

I probably said some nasty things about him, on one board or another. OTOH, he never apologized, nor did he ever take responsibility (as opposed to, say, Jim Lee or Kurt Busiek).

But as silly as it sounds, and I do understand that it sounds silly, Heinberg is the reason (as I understand it) that Wonder Woman is not approaching issue #600. And for that, if for nothing else, I won't forgive him.

Anyway, that's my personal issue, obviously. I have issues. Yeah.

[TCJohnson]

To illustrate how out of touch I am...who's Heinberg?



Heinberg is a TV writer who is also a major comicbook geek. He is the one who created Young Avengers for Marvel. I highly recommend picking up the trades, some of the best super hero comics to come out in a while.

He is a really good writer, but because he is balancing the TV thing (executive producer on Grey's Anatomy) he has trouble getting stuff in on time.

[ForkedTongue]

At one point, Harlan Ellison called the guy up and railed at him, scaring the shit out of him. We didn't hear from the guy for about two years.


Hee. :D This should be a service available to the general public. I'd pay.

[Cam63]

Well, hard to say. There was more than one, but the worst was the nightmare of all stalkers, because he has never really given up.

He started when I was a teen. Saw my picture in a magazine and decided he was going to be my new boyfriend.

He had worked at Marvel Comics briefly in the 1970's running a stat machine, and fancied himself an insider professional kind of guy. So, he would write me these smarmy letters about how he could help my career, and how he wanted to work with me.

The letters were as creepy as you may well imagine, telling me how I looked like a "little English schoolgirl" and how he had been a substitute teacher. Little girls loved him!

Bleh.

So, naturally, he let me know he was going to be my one and only, but that he would "take care of me" and "wouldn't let me get dirty."

Ahem.

He used to send me lots of dopey presents, too. My publishers thought this was all very funny.


I ignored him, and this did not improve matters. Eventually, he decided I was a wicked woman, and then began writing me letters about all the men he was certain I was involved with, everyone from Chris Claremont to Jim Shooter. He had seen me at a show with Bill Sienkiewicz (who I barely know) and railed against him. He had a particular mad on for John Romita JR, who is kinda hot, but who I never dated. Oh yeah, and Frank Miller. Actually when I began getting these letters, I had never met most of these people. I certainly wasn't dating them.

There were no laws against stalking in the 1980's. so he could write whatever he wanted and drive me nuts and annoy my publishers all he liked.

For awhile, he was running a campaign to have A Distant Soil banned.

At one point, Harlan Ellison called the guy up and railed at him, scaring the shit out of him. We didn't hear from the guy for about two years. Then he came back. Oh joy.

Fortunately, the laws changed and as time went on, police began to take stalking seriously.

The guy showed up at a convention with his mother in tow. She was a dead ringer for the mummified cadaver of the whore of Babylon. She was wearing teeny tiny skin tight tights even though she was 942, and she was decked out in every color of the rainbow, except for her face which was plastered with Kabuki makeup.

She walked up to me and began stroking me, telling me how much her son loved me. I about lost my shit.

I had also brought along my mother who was packing a taser, but before my mom had to fry anyone, the cops took the weirdos out.

This sent the guy into an even bigger frenzy, and he began calling every fan magazine in sight, claiming I was a criminal about to be arrested and all kinds of weird shit.

Keep in mind this all began when I was 19 years old.

And I just enjoyed a blissful few years of silence, thinking it had all gone away, and then THIS YEAR I had another encounter.

I can't make this long story short, but I'll condense it by adding this link:

http://www.adistantsoil.com/blog/?p=1617

So, nothing ever really happened to any of these guys except they have been interviewed by the police and told to leave me alone.

I have not heard from the main stalker guy directly in years, so he used his creepy proxy to try to get my attention several times, but since the proxy is now on notice, maybe we won't hear from him anymore, either.


c

I would've used violent negotiations on the pricks.

[colleen]

Allan Heinberg is a TV writer (The OC, Grey's Anatomy) who was put on the re-launch of Wonder Woman with the #1 issue.

His lateness (5 issues in like a gazillion months) and his general disdain for the character (whom he professes to love) really turned me off. As I learned more about the situation, I got even more angry.

I probably said some nasty things about him, on one board or another. OTOH, he never apologized, nor did he ever take responsibility (as opposed to, say, Jim Lee or Kurt Busiek).

But as silly as it sounds, and I do understand that it sounds silly, Heinberg is the reason (as I understand it) that Wonder Woman is not approaching issue #600. And for that, if for nothing else, I won't forgive him.

Anyway, that's my personal issue, obviously. I have issues. Yeah.


Yeesh, OK. Told you I was out of touch.

Honestly, if it doesn't come in a trade paperback, I hardly ever buy it. I suppose I shouldn't admit to that, but I live a 3 hour round trip from a comic shop, so staying on top of things is hard for me. A couple of times a year, I go into a comic shop and spend a lot of moolah, and even then only get a look at a tiny fraction of the stuff available.

Not having seen the work, I do get the impression that lots of people in Hollywood and elsewhere think working in comics must be fun and easy. Don't know of anyone who has worked in comics who walked away with that impression.

I'm not sure what you mean about #600. You mean they restarted the series with #1?

To what purpose? Was there a major revamp or something?

I used to read Wonder Woman religiously when George Perez drew it, and Gail taking it over has inspired me to seek it out. I get to go into town this week and I can't wait to get a look at it.


c

[AaronJ]

I'm not sure what you mean about #600. You mean they restarted the series with #1?

To what purpose? Was there a major revamp or something?

They were going to re-number the Wonder Woman series to #586 or whatever.

Heinberg demanded, working for Time Warner, that it be a #1, since those sell better.

Wonder Woman could be at #600 now. Instead, because of Heinberg, it is at #16.

[TCJohnson]

Not having seen the work, I do get the impression that lots of people in Hollywood and elsewhere think working in comics must be fun and easy. Don't know of anyone who has worked in comics who walked away with that impression.

He got the job because when he was head writer of the OC, he made one of the characters a major comic book geek, even mentioning names like Bendis and Millar and Rucka on the show. He also shares office space with Geoff Johns and co-wrote several issues of the JLA before getting a solo book. He really did write great stuff, just had a hard time balancing the two careers.


I'm not sure what you mean about #600. You mean they restarted the series with #1?

To what purpose? Was there a major revamp or something?


Yeah, it was a revamp...they brought in the Diana Prince secret identity from the TV show, having Wonder Woman live as a mortal to see what it was like. Getting mixed results from fans.

[TCJohnson]

Heinberg demanded, working for Time Warner, that it be a #1, since those sell better.


That is just something from the rumor sites. Never been confirmed...and I really doubt it. Heinberg is pretty honest with his audience so far, being openly gay and admiting one of the plot lines was based on his own experiences with steroids.

[colleen]

They were going to re-number the Wonder Woman series to #586 or whatever.

Heinberg demanded, working for Time Warner, that it be a #1, since those sell better.

Wonder Woman could be at #600 now. Instead, because of Heinberg, it is at #16.


HM.

It might have been better to use his new take on the character as a prologue to the milestone 600, then do some totally outrageous storyline, then bump it back to #1. That way, WW would have gone to 600 AND he could have his #1.

Just my opinion.


c

[Solaris]

I would've used violent negotiations on the pricks.

Quoting someone I know...

"Good friends help you kill the bastard. Really good friends help you kill the bastard---and get rid of the body."

:D

You know, you'd think with all the frickin' laws on stalking that by now, jerks like these guys would be doing time somewhere that their only concern is what lipstick to wear for Bubba tonight.

Someday, one or both of them will piss off the wrong person... maybe someone with "Family"-type connections... and without even the victim knowing about it, they will become "dust in the wind."

It happens. Sometimes. Which is why it's a very good idea NOT to be a stalker. You never know who knows whom, and what may come of it. "Friends of a friend of the victim" may well take things into their own... well, you get the idea.

I don't approve of murder, professional hits, etc.... because it's wrong, all kinds of bad karma, something that's on your own conscience for life, etc. (summing it up in the short form)... but, there's no getting around the fact that there are other people in this world who don't have those kind of scruples, and if you piss them off, you really don't know what you'll get.

[colleen]

He got the job because when he was head writer of the OC, he made one of the characters a major comic book geek, even mentioning names like Bendis and Millar and Rucka on the show. He also shares office space with Geoff Johns and co-wrote several issues of the JLA before getting a solo book. He really did write great stuff, just had a hard time balancing the two careers.



Yeah, it was a revamp...they brought in the Diana Prince secret identity from the TV show, having Wonder Woman live as a mortal to see what it was like. Getting mixed results from fans.

Hm. If he's my age, he may have a warm fuzzy place in his heart for that old WW TV show and wanted to bring that to the book.

Just the other day, I found a Youtube video of Debra Winger as Wonder Girl. That made my head hurt a bit.

c

[DungeonmasterJim]

I get to go into town this week and I can't wait to get a look at it.


c

I can't help but think of Pa from Little House on the Pararie hitching up the wagon when I read or think of the above statement.

I find entertainment in the strangest ways.

DM Jim - hopefully not being insulting because I'm not trying to be.

[colleen]

I can't help but think of Pa from Little House on the Pararie hitching up the wagon when I read or think of the above statement.

I find entertainment in the strangest ways.

DM Jim - hopefully not being insulting because I'm not trying to be.

You're not far off the mark.

I do live on a mountain. There is no town. There is no store.

There are cows, and someone up the road has a couple of ostriches.




c

[Pink Bat Maxine]

You're not far off the mark.

I do live on a mountain. There is no town. There is no store.

There are cows, and someone up the road has a couple of ostriches.




c

My parents live in a place like that. It's very peaceful. Only insead of ostriches, there's a deer farm.

[Gail Simone]

Heinberg is a TV writer who is also a major comicbook geek. He is the one who created Young Avengers for Marvel. I highly recommend picking up the trades, some of the best super hero comics to come out in a while.

He is a really good writer, but because he is balancing the TV thing (executive producer on Grey's Anatomy) he has trouble getting stuff in on time.

Well, okay, yes, he's on the top show on television, or one of them, and he was late with issue five, but Allan wanted to only do four issues. He knew that was his limit, and was kind of talked into it, if I understand correctly.

Alllan's a great guy. Devin's great, too, one of the most deep thinkers I've met in comics.

Gail

[colleen]

My parents live in a place like that. It's very peaceful. Only insead of ostriches, there's a deer farm.

Oh, nice.

We have a lot of wild deer out here and get entire herds in the yard. They come right up to the house and eat everything in sight. I went out to the vegetable garden one day only to find an entire row of beans wiped out.

Next year, we are adding more raised beds and fencing.

They also feast on the fermenting persimmons and get tipsy. That is quite amusing.

[TCJohnson]

Well, okay, yes, he's on the top show on television, or one of them, and he was late with issue five, but Allan wanted to only do four issues. He knew that was his limit, and was kind of talked into it, if I understand correctly.

Alllan's a great guy. Devin's great, too, one of the most deep thinkers I've met in comics.

Gail


Ok...but he was also really late on several issues of Young Avengers. Not that I mind too much because I felt he made up for it with quality on that series. I really hope he can get around to Young Avengers vol. 2.

[DungeonmasterJim]

I use to live on a mountain. My parents still live there. Nowadays though, it's so built up with $500,000+ and usually more $$$ houses there's traffic ,sometimes quite heavy for a rural road, every hour of the day. We never use to see deer or any other animals but now flocks, and I'm talking up to 25 at a time, of wild turkeys wander through the yard. Deer pass through a lot but not in such numbers. I was able to sneak up on two young deer a few yers back like I was Wolverine or something. I got within 15 feet before they hauled ass out of there. And I got a little bit nervous when I saw my first coyote only a year or two ago in my parent's back lot of their 5 acres.

I miss those old days. :(

DM Jim

[colleen]

Wow. Well, we are not nearly so upscale here, living in rural Appalachia. Development hasn't reached us yet, but we do see wild game in the yard, and get turkey, foxes, skunk, the usual suspects.

We've got about 30 acres here and the nearest neighbor is about 1/3 mile away.

The deer out here can be very bold, and will stand and stare at you, but they can also be very aggressive. Run in rutting season.

We also have quite a lot of bear. I have not seen any myself, but we get bear scat in the front yard, and I know my mom and I were out one night and smelled one. I think we were being stalked and we high tailed it in the house.

A neighbor shot one just over the hill.

I saw a wolf last year, and we get some beautiful sightings of foxes, but there are enough dangerous animals out that we often go for walks with our firearms in hand.

I got me a pair of high laced snake gator boots because there are so many snakes and we do a lot of maintenance because it is a tree farm.


c

[colleen]

BTW DungeonMaster, where did you live?

[Solaris]

Wow. Well, we are not nearly so upscale here, living in rural Appalachia. Development hasn't reached us yet, but we do see wild game in the yard, and get turkey, foxes, skunk, the usual suspects.

We've got about 30 acres here and the nearest neighbor is about 1/3 mile away.

The deer out here can be very bold, and will stand and stare at you, but they can also be very aggressive. Run in rutting season.

We also have quite a lot of bear. I have not seen any myself, but we get bear scat in the front yard, and I know my mom and I were out one night and smelled one. I think we were being stalked and we high tailed it in the house.

A neighbor shot one just over the hill.

I saw a wolf last year, and we get some beautiful sightings of foxes, but there are enough dangerous animals out that we often go for walks with our firearms in hand.

I got me a pair of high laced snake gator boots because there are so many snakes and we do a lot of maintenance because it is a tree farm.


c


You are *truly* "up in the mountains." :) I grew up in northwest GA, in one of those broad rolling valleys between the mountains---but I lived for a while in Brevard, NC---where there's not so much valley, and lots more mtns. :D

When I was a kid (my parents have close to 130 acres on the farm, IIRC---most of it woods), we never saw deer. Since the reintroduction programs, they have a lot of deer up there, and wild turkey as well. Rumors of coyotes, but no bears as of yet. I'd love to see some wolves---unless it's one that's been man-raised (or one that's rabid), a wolf is more scared of you than you are of it. Bear, and rutting deer, are a whole nuther kettle of fish, as you said.

BTW, I hope I didn't freak anyone out with my post above re: stalkers.

First of all, I was repeating an old hoary joke with the quote from that person I know. It's something of a tension-breaker, and not in any way meant to be taken seriously. *That* would be terrible.

Second, I don't believe in taking the law into your own hands: that way lies madness, in many aspects (personal, and societal). However, I *do* believe in karma---and knowing that there are people in this world who are willing to take things into their own hands, it figures that at some point, some stalker somewhere is going to piss off the wrong person's family or friends... and end up wearing concrete shoes, or hearing some fellow playing banjo and talking about his "purty mouth." :eek: Which, if I was a stalker, might just make me think twice. Doing that kind of thing in a way is sort of playing russian roulette---I think they count on the fact that most people won't take the law into their own hands, and that the cops won't do much to stop them. But, there's always the golden beebee principle---and IMO, for someone to do stuff like that, they're gambling that they won't run into the type of people who will take direct action on the problem.... and sooner or later, all gamblers lose.

But, whether or not their odds run out in this lifetime, I believe that they still have to face their karma: either here, or in the afterlife. As does anyone. Which, for me, is one of the many reasons I *don't* believe in taking the law into your own hands.

However, I also think it's healthy to both vent your anger over such treatment, and to pursue all *legal* and nonviolent means within your grasp, in dealing with someone like that. Which, for me, means not just doing all we can to deter individuals like the ones stalking Colleen, but also supporting groups that address the minimal protection people like Colleen have experienced to date. As I said before, these guys ought to be in jail for the repeated harassment, intimidation, and invasion they have brought into her and her family's lives. (Whether or not the guys end up wearing lipstick for another con---which *would* be poetic justice, but probably wouldn't happen.) The point is that people who behave this way truly don't belong out in the public, being allowed to not only be free, but also to continue harming others as they have been doing. It's just not right, and something needs to be done to get the police and the courts to put these guys behind bars.

[DungeonmasterJim]

BTW DungeonMaster, where did you live?

I live in Massachusetts. The town I'm talking about is Wilbraham which is right next to Springfield. Springfield's the third biggest city in the state. We're closer to Hartford, CT than Boston. Because of the development of the town is why we now see all the wildlife. They don't have to many places to go anymore.

My uncle lives in the Berkshires which is a mountain area without a lot of development. He's got a black bear that lives nearby and it shows up in their yard. It was the first place I saw wild beaver. Yeah, I expect goofy comments over that one. And they love the otters that play around the pond they live on. Every now and then they get a courgar or a fisher passing through which usually results in small dogs and cats disappearing around town.

There are also decent stretches of nothing out there. When my brother and I drove up my brother had to take a leak and pulled over. It felt like a horror movie or something as he disappeared into the woods on a lonely stretch of road. Considering is felt like 5 minutes before he came back, probably only 3 really, it began to feel like a horror movie! LOL!

DM Jim

[Cam63]

Wow. Well, we are not nearly so upscale here, living in rural Appalachia. Development hasn't reached us yet, but we do see wild game in the yard, and get turkey, foxes, skunk, the usual suspects.

We've got about 30 acres here and the nearest neighbor is about 1/3 mile away.

The deer out here can be very bold, and will stand and stare at you, but they can also be very aggressive. Run in rutting season.

We also have quite a lot of bear. I have not seen any myself, but we get bear scat in the front yard, and I know my mom and I were out one night and smelled one. I think we were being stalked and we high tailed it in the house.

A neighbor shot one just over the hill.

I saw a wolf last year, and we get some beautiful sightings of foxes, but there are enough dangerous animals out that we often go for walks with our firearms in hand.

I got me a pair of high laced snake gator boots because there are so many snakes and we do a lot of maintenance because it is a tree farm.


c

You're not Australian, are you ?

[Pink Bat Maxine]

My uncle lives in the Berkshires which is a mountain area without a lot of development.
DM Jim

Well, there's Pittsfield. I spent my formative years there. Was a nice little town to grow up in. Alas, it's seen better days.

[MacQuarrie]

Well, there's Pittsfield. I spent my formative years there. Was a nice little town to grow up in. Alas, it's seen better days.

One of my longtime co-workers was from Pittsfield.

[DaveRothe]

Wow. Well, we are not nearly so upscale here, living in rural Appalachia. Development hasn't reached us yet, but we do see wild game in the yard, and get turkey, foxes, skunk, the usual suspects.

We've got about 30 acres here and the nearest neighbor is about 1/3 mile away.

The deer out here can be very bold, and will stand and stare at you, but they can also be very aggressive. Run in rutting season.

We also have quite a lot of bear. I have not seen any myself, but we get bear scat in the front yard, and I know my mom and I were out one night and smelled one. I think we were being stalked and we high tailed it in the house.

A neighbor shot one just over the hill.

I saw a wolf last year, and we get some beautiful sightings of foxes, but there are enough dangerous animals out that we often go for walks with our firearms in hand.

I got me a pair of high laced snake gator boots because there are so many snakes and we do a lot of maintenance because it is a tree farm.


c

Was I the only one to think of Mel Torme when I read about bear scat? Skiddly bop poop dee doo. Yes it is very late...

[Corrina]

Well, there's Pittsfield. I spent my formative years there. Was a nice little town to grow up in. Alas, it's seen better days.

Small world. My mom's from Pittsfield--and I still have some extended family there. I remember my mom taking me to the old England Brothers department store on the main strip. It's been gone for years now. It's a nice place, though not always in the industrial section, which is looking pretty deserted nowadays.

I remember the road next to Lake Pontasuc when it used to be right next to the water, before they moved it back.

We get big, big black bears here in rural upstate CT. A mother and two cubs knocked over my garbage last year. And coyotes, too, a neighbor hit one and ruined his car that way. Not to mention the deer. And the hawks. I suspect we also have bobcats but they're pretty hard to spot.

Weirdly, I see more wildlife here than I did growing up in rural Vermont. I figure the woods were thicker there and less need for the bears & such to come out and be visible.

[colleen]

You are *truly* "up in the mountains." :) I grew up in northwest GA, in one of those broad rolling valleys between the mountains---but I lived for a while in Brevard, NC---where there's not so much valley, and lots more mtns. :D

When I was a kid (my parents have close to 130 acres on the farm, IIRC---most of it woods), we never saw deer. Since the reintroduction programs, they have a lot of deer up there, and wild turkey as well. Rumors of coyotes, but no bears as of yet. I'd love to see some wolves---unless it's one that's been man-raised (or one that's rabid), a wolf is more scared of you than you are of it. Bear, and rutting deer, are a whole nuther kettle of fish, as you said.

BTW, I hope I didn't freak anyone out with my post above re: stalkers.

First of all, I was repeating an old hoary joke with the quote from that person I know. It's something of a tension-breaker, and not in any way meant to be taken seriously. *That* would be terrible.

Second, I don't believe in taking the law into your own hands: that way lies madness, in many aspects (personal, and societal). However, I *do* believe in karma---and knowing that there are people in this world who are willing to take things into their own hands, it figures that at some point, some stalker somewhere is going to piss off the wrong person's family or friends... and end up wearing concrete shoes, or hearing some fellow playing banjo and talking about his "purty mouth." :eek: Which, if I was a stalker, might just make me think twice. Doing that kind of thing in a way is sort of playing russian roulette---I think they count on the fact that most people won't take the law into their own hands, and that the cops won't do much to stop them. But, there's always the golden beebee principle---and IMO, for someone to do stuff like that, they're gambling that they won't run into the type of people who will take direct action on the problem.... and sooner or later, all gamblers lose.

But, whether or not their odds run out in this lifetime, I believe that they still have to face their karma: either here, or in the afterlife. As does anyone. Which, for me, is one of the many reasons I *don't* believe in taking the law into your own hands.

However, I also think it's healthy to both vent your anger over such treatment, and to pursue all *legal* and nonviolent means within your grasp, in dealing with someone like that. Which, for me, means not just doing all we can to deter individuals like the ones stalking Colleen, but also supporting groups that address the minimal protection people like Colleen have experienced to date. As I said before, these guys ought to be in jail for the repeated harassment, intimidation, and invasion they have brought into her and her family's lives. (Whether or not the guys end up wearing lipstick for another con---which *would* be poetic justice, but probably wouldn't happen.) The point is that people who behave this way truly don't belong out in the public, being allowed to not only be free, but also to continue harming others as they have been doing. It's just not right, and something needs to be done to get the police and the courts to put these guys behind bars.

The one common thing I have seen in everyone I have ever encountered who engages in this behavior is that they are not particularly interesting or successful people in their own right. I know this isn't universal, this is just my personal experience. But I do know that it is common for the stalker type to be a loser in life.

On the one hand, they have the punishment of living as themselves, and that may be punishment enough.

In the detective work on the latest weirdo, we found his address, income, neighborhood info, etc, and sure enough, a neighborhood with a lower middle class income, low housing values, and not much going for the guy. Just another shlep looking to make himself important by tagging on to someone else's coattails.

There's nothing wrong with being low income or living a modest life, but when you try to inflate yourself by deflating someone else, there's a lot wrong with that.

These people have to be extraordinarily unhappy.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to prosecute across state lines. In the past, I have been discrete with this sort of problem, but now I am very likely to publish names, or threaten to publish stuff about them on my blog. That usually sends them scurrying. With one weirdo, long before I had a blog, we began copying his letters and sending them to his acquaintances, none of whom had any idea what he had been doing.

Like cockroaches, they scurry for cover when you turn the light on.

Then again, there is the sort that loves attention, and even bad attention gives them a thrill. But most of the creeps I have wrangled with would die if their colleagues and friends knew what they were doing.


Which gives those of us who have to deal with them a measure of power.

c

[colleen]

You're not Australian, are you ?

Nope. But I will be in Australia later this year.

Hope to see you!


c

[Solaris]

The one common thing I have seen in everyone I have ever encountered who engages in this behavior is that they are not particularly interesting or successful people in their own right. I know this isn't universal, this is just my personal experience. But I do know that it is common for the stalker type to be a loser in life.

On the one hand, they have the punishment of living as themselves, and that may be punishment enough.

In the detective work on the latest weirdo, we found his address, income, neighborhood info, etc, and sure enough, a neighborhood with a lower middle class income, low housing values, and not much going for the guy. Just another shlep looking to make himself important by tagging on to someone else's coattails.

There's nothing wrong with being low income or living a modest life, but when you try to inflate yourself by deflating someone else, there's a lot wrong with that.

These people have to be extraordinarily unhappy.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to prosecute across state lines. In the past, I have been discrete with this sort of problem, but now I am very likely to publish names, or threaten to publish stuff about them on my blog. That usually sends them scurrying. With one weirdo, long before I had a blog, we began copying his letters and sending them to his acquaintances, none of whom had any idea what he had been doing.

Like cockroaches, they scurry for cover when you turn the light on.

Then again, there is the sort that loves attention, and even bad attention gives them a thrill. But most of the creeps I have wrangled with would die if their colleagues and friends knew what they were doing.


Which gives those of us who have to deal with them a measure of power.

c


Yes to all of the above.

I just wish it didn't take so much work on the *victim's* part, to send these yahoos packing. Sigh. It affronts my sense of fairness (which by my age is a pretty battered relic, but still up and functioning, nonetheless ;)).

[Cam63]

Nope. But I will be in Australia later this year.

Hope to see you!


c

Where and when ?

[colleen]

Where and when ?



I am going on a Lord of the Rings tour and cruise. It takes about a month, starts in New Zealand and ends in Australia. No, I am not rich, this was paid for on my behalf.

I am staying an extra week in Australia, and they are trying to set up some kind of seminar for me to teach while I am there. Also, I want to look into doing some signings or appearances. i have never been to Australia and am very excited.

I know I will be staying in Sydney at least part of the time.

c

[Winslow]

I am going on a Lord of the Rings tour and cruise. It takes about a month, starts in New Zealand and ends in Australia. No, I am not rich, this was paid for on my behalf.

Do you get to see the film sites?

If so, take pictures!

[colleen]

Yes, of course. That's why it's a Lord of the Rings tour. To see Lord of the Rings stuff, natch!

BTW, for those interested, I just posted some info on my blog about free business courses you can download from the Sloan School of Management at MIT. No reason you shouldn't do yourself a favor and take advantage of this resource. They includes courses on copyright, patent and intellectual property law.

There are 1800 FREE downloadable courses on a huge variety of subjects at MIT...including one on Godzilla and Japanese pop culture.

Go for it.

c

[Cam63]

I am going on a Lord of the Rings tour and cruise. It takes about a month, starts in New Zealand and ends in Australia. No, I am not rich, this was paid for on my behalf.

I am staying an extra week in Australia, and they are trying to set up some kind of seminar for me to teach while I am there. Also, I want to look into doing some signings or appearances. i have never been to Australia and am very excited.

I know I will be staying in Sydney at least part of the time.

c

Very cool. I hope you enjoy your visit, Coll'. :)

[colleen]

How could anyone NOT enjoy a visit to Australia? I imagine it must be about the coolest place in the world. I have wanted to visit for years.

[Major Comma]

I really enjoyed my visit to Australia.
The 18 hour flight was murder on my body though,
I slept almost 12 hours the night I arrived home.

[colleen]

I had a 36 hour flight to Singapore, and was sick almost the whole trip. It was miserable.

I had to be awake about five hours after I arrived, and giving a lecture that morning. I was a basket case.

And since the other artist guest lecturer was a no-show, I had to do all of his appearances over the nest few days, too.

Not a good time. I wish I had been a better guest for my hosts, but I am sure I gave a lackluster performance.

38 hours to get home.


c

[Cam63]

All your travelling ills will be cured once you've hugged a koala... if a WhiteRose or a Nicola Scott isn't available.

[saintsaucey]

I have a friend flying to Cyprus 19 hours. She is taking a Bill Cosby short story book with her.

[Solaris]

I had a 36 hour flight to Singapore, and was sick almost the whole trip. It was miserable.

I had to be awake about five hours after I arrived, and giving a lecture that morning. I was a basket case.

And since the other artist guest lecturer was a no-show, I had to do all of his appearances over the nest few days, too.

Not a good time. I wish I had been a better guest for my hosts, but I am sure I gave a lackluster performance.

38 hours to get home.


c


Have you tried the air/car/seasickness pills? I forget what the heck they're called. They might help, so long as you remember to take one about 30 minutes before your flight. Can't remember if you're supposed to eat, or not eat, when you take one.

Anyway, here's hoping that your flight is nice, smooth, and filled with long hours of restful sleep. *crosses fingers* :)

[Cayman]

Hi Colleen,

I read The Nightmare Factory last night and wanted to say how much I enjoyed your art in the opening story.

[colleen]

Have you tried the air/car/seasickness pills? I forget what the heck they're called. They might help, so long as you remember to take one about 30 minutes before your flight. Can't remember if you're supposed to eat, or not eat, when you take one.

Anyway, here's hoping that your flight is nice, smooth, and filled with long hours of restful sleep. *crosses fingers* :)

Well, I don't get air sick. I had a migraine.

Before I left, I pulled an all-nighter, trying to make a deadline. So, I worked until about 3 AM and then had to leave for the airport about 4 AM.

So, by the time I got to Singapore, I had been without sleep for two full days, and had developed a ripping migraine somewhere over Ohio. Which did not go away.

When I get migraines, I puke.

c

[Solaris]

Well, I don't get air sick. I had a migraine.

Before I left, I pulled an all-nighter, trying to make a deadline. So, I worked until about 3 AM and then had to leave for the airport about 4 AM.

So, by the time I got to Singapore, I had been without sleep for two full days, and had developed a ripping migraine somewhere over Ohio. Which did not go away.

When I get migraines, I puke.

c


Sigh. Me too. The only thing that helps me is to take a muscle relaxer and go lie down on the heating pad for about 6-8 hrs. If I try to stay up or do anything, I puke too. *Especially* trying to ride or drive anywhere.

You have my *profound* sympathies. I don't even want to *think* about being stuck on a long flight like that, with a migrane.

[colleen]

I have a friend flying to Cyprus 19 hours. She is taking a Bill Cosby short story book with her.

Well, cool. What's she doing in Cyprus?


c

[colleen]

Sigh. Me too. The only thing that helps me is to take a muscle relaxer and go lie down on the heating pad for about 6-8 hrs. If I try to stay up or do anything, I puke too. *Especially* trying to ride or drive anywhere.

You have my *profound* sympathies. I don't even want to *think* about being stuck on a long flight like that, with a migrane.

I get them so bad I go blind sometimes.

There's nothing for it but to sleep it off. Heating pads never made a difference for me. Wish I had a magic formula.

I don't get them as much as I used to, though.

[Cam63]

I've only had two and no, they aren't much fun.

[Cayman]

I found Zomig pretty helpful for migraines. Unfortunately my current insurance won't cover it or any other migraine medication.

[colleen]

I didn't know you could only have a couple of migraines. Wow. That must be heaven.

I used to have at least two, oh, every three days.

Now I may have a couple a month.

May I ask why your insurance won't cover the cost of medication? If that is not too personal, that is.

Is it experimental medication?

I usually don't get very severe migraines often any more, so I just go to bed. I take a couple of extra strength Advil.

I do get auras and hangovers, though. Not debilitating, just annoying.


c

[Cam63]

Two a month is bad enough.

Here's hoping research comes up with better treatments.

[Corrina]

I get migraines and finally got prescribed something in the tryptan family. I take a low-dose each night and it really works.

But flying plays havoc with my head still. The last three times that I've flown, I came down with migraines plus a sinus infection. Very draining.

Migraines suck. Mine would last for a week before the meds. The meds work great, though. Aside from flying, the meds have basically eliminated them completely.

[Cayman]

May I ask why your insurance won't cover the cost of medication? If that is not too personal, that is.


I'm actually not sure why they won't cover it. Our previous plan did, but when they switched over to a different plan, they dropped that coverage.

I should probably write them and ask for an explanation. It seems a strange thing not to cover given that most of my sick days have been due to migraines.

[Darediva]

I've had migraines since I was a teenager. Nothing helped at all until Zomig, and that is a very recent prescription. Thankfully, my neurologist at the VA understands enough to get it for me even though it's a non-formulary drug through them. I'm sure it's expensive.

I also have the auras, the nausea, and sometimes the blackout/blindness that goes along. I've spent time in the ER getting shots to keep me from puking my toenails up. I've found since then that I can take a phenergan when it first hits along with the Zomig, and I will escape some of the nausea.

My sympathies for having one on a long plane trip. That happened to me on the way over to Okinawa, on a 747 flight full of Marines smoking cigars. Thought I'd die before I got there.

[colleen]

I get migraines and finally got prescribed something in the tryptan family. I take a low-dose each night and it really works.

But flying plays havoc with my head still. The last three times that I've flown, I came down with migraines plus a sinus infection. Very draining.

Migraines suck. Mine would last for a week before the meds. The meds work great, though. Aside from flying, the meds have basically eliminated them completely.


Every night? OMG that's just awful!

OK, I had some bad bouts that could last for days many years ago, but I never had anything like that. Wow, that just sounds brutal.

I can relate to the flying problem. I almost always get an infection when I fly, and also when I travel to cities, which is why I don't travel nearly as much as I used to.

My old condo was a big problem: it seems that it may have been a "sick building". Since I moved out to the country, I hardly ever get sinus problems.



c

[colleen]

I'm actually not sure why they won't cover it. Our previous plan did, but when they switched over to a different plan, they dropped that coverage.

I should probably write them and ask for an explanation. It seems a strange thing not to cover given that most of my sick days have been due to migraines.

I just did a little web surfing, and saw some insurance companies even cover Botox treatment for migraines.

[colleen]

I've had migraines since I was a teenager. Nothing helped at all until Zomig, and that is a very recent prescription. Thankfully, my neurologist at the VA understands enough to get it for me even though it's a non-formulary drug through them. I'm sure it's expensive.

I also have the auras, the nausea, and sometimes the blackout/blindness that goes along. I've spent time in the ER getting shots to keep me from puking my toenails up. I've found since then that I can take a phenergan when it first hits along with the Zomig, and I will escape some of the nausea.

My sympathies for having one on a long plane trip. That happened to me on the way over to Okinawa, on a 747 flight full of Marines smoking cigars. Thought I'd die before I got there.


That has to be on the list of cruel and inhumane tortures that the Geneva Convention should disallow.

c

[DungeonmasterJim]

Bowing out of this thread for the time being because of migraine talk. I can't stand them. I don't even like to think about them. I curl up in the fetal position in the dark and shiver popping more pills than the rest of the year combined.


DM Jim

[colleen]

Then we will discuss your comic, instead.


c

[colleen]

What, this is MY welcome thread. I should discuss my comic!

What an idea!


c

[Cayman]

What, this is MY welcome thread. I should discuss my comic!

What an idea!


c

Do you have anything else like The Nightmare Factory coming up in the future?

[DungeonmasterJim]

Then we will discuss your comic, instead.


c

Okay, I couldn't resist peeking. And I was muffed over all the camping going on on the server in Call of Duty 4 I was playing on just now.

But no taunting me on my comic! :(

:p

DM Jim

[colleen]

Hm... good question.

I am not sure if this would qualify, but I am on the final round of art for Stealth tribes a Vertigo graphic novel I am drawing for Warren Ellis.

This is hard core science fiction. It is cyberpunk in the extreme. It is also darkly funny and very pervy.

Here is a link with pics. Scroll down.

We actually started five years ago, and then went on a four year hiatus.


It is far more edgy than Nightmare Factory, I think. but thanks for bringing up that book. I truly enjoyed working on it.


c

[colleen]

Oops. Forgot link.


http://adistantsoil.com/blog/?cat=40

[Cayman]

Oops. Forgot link.


http://adistantsoil.com/blog/?cat=40

It's looking great so far.

[Shisho]

Ugh. I'm always late to the party. Welcome Colleen! I just popped over to your blog, and I'm so crushing on your LOTR cards. Aragorn=*Swoon* The one with the hood is my fave.

Excited to hear about you working with Warren Ellis. Can't wait to pick that up!

[colleen]

I can't believe I get paid real money to draw Aragorn.

I've been waiting five years for the finished script on Stealth Tribes, but in my opinion, Ellis is worth waiting for. I'm still waiting on some polishes on the text by Warren, but I have plenty to draw right now.

I'm waiting to hear about another short assignment. If that falls through, I got a short notice invite to a convention in Spain, and I would love to go, but not if it messes with my schedule. We'll see.


c

[DungeonmasterJim]

Awhile back Colleen asked where I live. I found a photo, an old photo of my parents' house on my oldest brother's website.

The back of the house has changed considerably. The barn behind the house is way long gone, before my parents bought the house back in the 1960's. All the flat farm land is now over grown with tons of trees.

http://www.rocketroberts.com/wilbraham/images/morgan1.jpg

DM Jim

[colleen]

That is brilliant! What a treasure!

Our house is only 30 years old, but it is built on top of an old farmstead, and we keep finding things under the ground, like flagstones, sleigh bells, and pieces of pottery.

The people who built the house we live in built the house themselves and were very unhappy to sell it. But the patriarch has Alzheimers, and the lady of the house could no longer care for him.

They had installed complicated locks on all the doors and windows, so he wouldn't wander off, and I must say it is frustrating living with those locks.

The gentleman had worked for the CIA (there's a lot of retired government types out here, as well as many Russian dissidents who were relocated courtesy Uncle Sam), and the local rumor is there is a secret room in the house. We haven't found it yet, but we think it's just the little room behind the bar.

Anyway, their family is so attached to this house, sometimes they just show up to visit.



c

[Winslow]

The cards look great and I really REALLY wish I had seen the hobbit feet messenger bag on your web site a month ago. My 15 year old daughter would have loved that for Christmas.

And the art in Orbiter is fantastic . . .

And welcome to YABs (although I'm not much of a YABster)

Glad you like it!

Seriously, the image shows up much better on the t-shirt. And it looks really nice on the beer stein.

*paging collen*

My daughter expressed interest in the Hobbit Feet Messenger bag again ... (and yes I realize it's too late for Christmas, but I don't mind letting her know it's coming on Christmas day ... a little tacky - but she's cool with my tackiness ... besides she didn't let us know until yesterday).

But alas! It is no longer available on your web site.

Is there back stock any place? Or am I just out of luck?

[colleen]

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I've been on a draconian internet diet and no longer frequent this site.

I can make the messenger bag available again if you are still interested.

c

[Mermaid]

Awhile back Colleen asked where I live. I found a photo, an old photo of my parents' house on my oldest brother's website.

The back of the house has changed considerably. The barn behind the house is way long gone, before my parents bought the house back in the 1960's. All the flat farm land is now over grown with tons of trees.

]http://www.rocketroberts.com/wilbraham/images/morgan1.jpg

DM Jim


Hope you don't mind but i took the liberty of restoring the photo a little for you.
I couldn't resist having a try, I love old photographs.

Black and White:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/melbournemermaid/DungeonMasterJim.jpg




Sepia:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/melbournemermaid/DungeonMasterJimsepia2.jpg

[colleen]

That is fantastic! What a great job. How long did that take? And what were your primary tools?

[Mermaid]

Thanks Colleen. :smile:

It took about 15 minutes.....and I used the same programme i use for all my stuff, Macromedia Fireworks. The tool I used the most was the cloning tool.
I would've liked to have made the sky "cleaner" which I could have done but it wouldn't have looked in keeping with the rest of the photo I thought.

[Cam63]

Nice job, Fish.

[Winslow]

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I've been on a draconian internet diet and no longer frequent this site.

I can make the messenger bag available again if you are still interested.

c

Sweet!

I'm still interested. PM sent.

[Winslow]

I can't believe I get paid real money to draw Aragorn.

I am a total nerd for the Tale of Beren and Luthien.

Have you drawn any of the characters from the Silmarillion story?

And do you have a gallery of your Tolkien art anywhere online?

[colleen]

Thanks Colleen. :smile:

It took about 15 minutes.....and I used the same programme i use for all my stuff, Macromedia Fireworks. The tool I used the most was the cloning tool.
I would've liked to have made the sky "cleaner" which I could have done but it wouldn't have looked in keeping with the rest of the photo I thought.

Wow, cool.

That clones stamp is a handy little bugger.

[colleen]

I am a total nerd for the Tale of Beren and Luthien.

Have you drawn any of the characters from the Silmarillion story?

And do you have a gallery of your Tolkien art anywhere online?

I don't have most of my Tolkien art up, but you can see some of it at this link.
(http://http://adistantsoil.com/blog/category/fantasy/the-lord-of-the-rings/)

I would absolutely love to do a GN of the Tale of Beren and Luthien. A point I belabor. A lot. Have you noticed?

There should be a few Silmarillion drawings up. Maeglin and Idril, as well as one or two of Glorfindel. Hope you like them!


I have a number of unfinished LOTR paintings I really want to get back to, and I have been working on some idealizations of the Ent Wives as well. There are a few color pieces in that link, most of them conceptual works intended for my portfolio, but none are complete.

Click this link for Concept Art from other projects, including an unfinished animation project with Warren Ellis. (http://http://adistantsoil.com/blog/category/colleen-doran-art/concept-art/)

c

[Cam63]

Nice work, Coll'.

[Winslow]

... I've been on a draconian internet diet and no longer frequent this site.


That is indeed sad and tragic news ....

I don't have most of my Tolkien art up, but you can see some of it at this link.
(http://http://adistantsoil.com/blog/category/fantasy/the-lord-of-the-rings/)

I would absolutely love to do a GN of the Tale of Beren and Luthien. A point I belabor. A lot. Have you noticed?

The story has HUGE potential for GN, film, or animation. And your style and sense of design would work well for the story!

There are some plot inconsistencies regarding timing and pace that would have to be cleaned up. For example, Beren being caught in Sauron's lair on Tol Sirion while Luthien escapes from her tree house imprisonment, gets caught by Celegorm and Curufin, imprisoned against her will on Nargothrond, befriends Huan, and then escapes on Huan. The later takes way too much time for Beren to survive in the pits of Tol Sirion. A simple adjustment would be to have Luthien escape prior to Beren's imprisonment and be following him .... the escape from Nargothrond could happen once she heard of beren's imprisonment on Tol Sirion.

I've given this way too much thought ...

While we're on the subject of Beren and Luthien, I couldn't help but notice this form your blog:

This tonal drawing below is an early attempt to dream up some ideas for Mirkwood interiors. Since elves don’t like dark caves, it’s odd that they would be living in caves in Mirkwood. What would light, bright elvish caves look like? What would make Legolas sneer at walking under the dark Earth to Gimli in Lord of the Rings, while he comes from an elvish society that has its stronghold in caves as described in The Hobbit? It would have to be a pretty cave.

The concept art is great.

I don't know if you've read The Lays of Beleriand: The History of Middle Earth Part 3, (and if you have I just typed a bunch of this in vain), but your hunches for elven caves are spot on. Thranduil's palace was probably similar to Thingol's ... although not nearly as amazing in scope or wonder ... but I'm guessing the themes between the two were similar.

Here's a beautiful excerpt that gives some fantastic imagery of Thingol's palace:

Downward with gentle hand she led
through corridors of craven dread
whose turns were lit by lanterns hung
or flames from torches that were flung
on dragons hewn in the cold stone
with jeweled eyes and teeth of bone.
Then sudden, deep beneath the earth
the silences with silver mirth
were shaken and the rocks were ringing,
the birds of Melian were singing;
and wide the ways of shadow spread
as into arched halls she led
Beren in wonder. There a light
like day immortal and like night
of stars uncluded, shone and gleamed.
A vault of topless trees it seemed,
whose trunks of carven stone there stood
like towers of an enchanted wood
in magic fast for ever bound,
bearing a roof whose branches wound
in endless tracery of green
lit by some leaf-imprisoned sheen
of moon and sun, and wrought of gems,
and each leaf hung on golden stems.
Lo! There amid immortal flowers
the nightingales in shining bowers
sang o’er the head of Melian,
while water forever dripped and ran
from fountains in the rocky floor.

The Lays of Beleriand, The History of Middle Earth 3, page 228


There should be a few Silmarillion drawings up. Maeglin and Idril, as well as one or two of Glorfindel. Hope you like them!

The links didn't work on your last post for some odd reason (I use Firefox, don't know if it's some browser glitch) ... so I didn;t see the Silamrillion art ... I will keep looking. But I am browsing through your blog and l love what I see!

The concept for Thraduil is fantastic.

I have a number of unfinished LOTR paintings I really want to get back to, and I have been working on some idealizations of the Ent Wives as well. There are a few color pieces in that link, most of them conceptual works intended for my portfolio, but none are complete.

Ent Wives! I don't believe I've seen anyone tackle that concept before.

Click this link for Concept Art from other projects, including an unfinished animation project with Warren Ellis. (http://http://adistantsoil.com/blog/category/colleen-doran-art/concept-art/)

c

Thanks for your time. I enjoyed browsing through your site.

You hit my Tolkien geek button with the response and links ... sorry for the long response.

[colleen]

Hey Winslow,

My site server has had a complete crash, so it may be another day or two before things get back up. My site is down entirely. I hope to have the messenger bag up ASAP. My images are on an external, and until I get back online, I can't reach my stuff.


c

[Cam63]

You did get monks to copy everything you've done ?

[colleen]

LOL! Well, I actually do have a lot of stuff, but some is on discs.

My host called me about 15 minutes ago and says there is no serious problem, but everything will need time to get back up.

BTW, Winslow, thanks for all the nice comments about the LOTR stuff. Like you, I am very fond of Tolkien and have a large collection of books and collectibles.

I absolutely love the Tale of Beren and Luthien. Seriously, someone would be doing small art books of heavily illustrated Tolkien poems and songs. Wouldn't you love to see songs by John Howe, Alan Lee...and, it is to be hoped, me?


c

[Cam63]

You should hook 'em up.

Them monky buggers got lotsa time on their hands.

[DungeonmasterJim]

Hope you don't mind but i took the liberty of restoring the photo a little for you.
I couldn't resist having a try, I love old photographs.

Black and White:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/melbournemermaid/DungeonMasterJim.jpg




Sepia:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/melbournemermaid/DungeonMasterJimsepia2.jpg

Hi Mermaid.

First: very nice job.

Second: I'm sorry for not responding sooner. I picked up a nasty virus on my PC that basically forced me to do a format C: over the past 4 or 5 days. Ugh!

DM Jim

[Mermaid]

Thanks Dungeon! If you got anymore you want fixed up just let me know. :wink:

Sorry to hear bout the virus, sounds like you knew how to deal with the bugger though.

[Deathstroke]

But no one has asked the lovely Ms. Doran the most important question!

Do you still have the musical love for Whitesnake?

[Winslow]

Hey Winslow,

My site server has had a complete crash, so it may be another day or two before things get back up. My site is down entirely. I hope to have the messenger bag up ASAP. My images are on an external, and until I get back online, I can't reach my stuff.


c

No Problem! I noticed your site is back up.

By the way, sorry for the delayed response. I changed careers to teaching high school math and this is amy first year teaching. It's been a little crazy getting back into the swing of things after winter break.

BTW, Winslow, thanks for all the nice comments about the LOTR stuff. Like you, I am very fond of Tolkien and have a large collection of books and collectibles.

I absolutely love the Tale of Beren and Luthien. Seriously, someone would be doing small art books of heavily illustrated Tolkien poems and songs. Wouldn't you love to see songs by John Howe, Alan Lee...and, it is to be hoped, me?


c

Your very welcome.

and absolutely!

[Reverend Smooth]

Do you still have the musical love for Whitesnake?Some things should never be subject to terminal decrepitude. <3