*NEWSFLASH*

Latest renderings sent from the creative group in charge of things I will never control (such as cover and promotional art and things they really should listen to me about). I was sent a couple character digital art pieces but this one was the closest...while simultaneously being the furthest from my imagination. It's just like being a mother strolling the mall, passing Abercrombie and Fitch and seeing your son in an larger than life androgynous shirtless ad plastered in the window. Um, yeah... awkward. 

Dear target market (ladies 15 to 25) what do you think of the art I've been sent? Feedback would be helpful. If you're wondering about the tone of the novel in question just reference posts with The Company tag or read the ad copy I was sent by the marketing team...


There were seven, and Langdon always pictured them lounging in shadows like lazy kings, two at the center of the fray with wilder, hungrier eyes, battling for the final say. Unhinged, nameless, unattached, they ruled from the alleys and smoke-filled drug dens, controlling the pulse of pleasure. And so, the very heartbeat of Nysius was run by teenage tycoons reveling in the shadows of the Eastern temple and smirking at the sins of the clergy. This was the Company, and even Langdon didn’t really know them, but goddess almighty, he wanted to be them. 

What I think--sardonically, I might add--about the art I have been given:

Every time I stay up late the night before I get strange ideas, staring up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. This is when I usually argue with characters, but last night I was a God. Only in the sense that I made another fictional life. His name is Thomas Gables and he's everything Southern and everything dead. 

His world is based off an idea that I had years ago, so I decided to resurrect it, not unlike Thomas himself. I have a knack for writing really rotten people and he's no exception. Anyway, hopefully I won't just let this project mold over like Star Born (for which I reserve a special place in my heart --also a side of myself that is more cavalier/inappropriate). I've posted the prologue, a bit of LIVING Thomas before being dead and all, to my wattpad account, which you can check out here or by clicking the homemade image to the left. 

Be warned, as it was a late night project, it's bound to be offensive, so I've rated it MATURE for things like light innuendo and general asinine behavior.  

Also, on the beta read front set for 9/2, it's all coming together, peeps. Look for an email this Labor Day weekend! 

<3 Ama

Below is another Photoshop fiddle...

I'm not the best artist in the world. I'm sure I've said this before, but I want to start this entry off with a disclaimer because what I am presenting to you is purely dabbling...

I've been working with a graphic artist for the upcoming Beta Read this month, and as he is a highly visual person I have done my best to provide him some aids to work off of... I have come up with the mess of art before you. His work will far eclipse all this, I assure you, but I thought I'd share. After sifting through a few tutorials and goofing with my sketch pad I finally came up with something very slap dash, but as close (with my limited abilities) to some of the characters as I could come. I'm a much better cartoonist, frankly.

I dabbled with some photoshop to give a few of these dimension, but I'm convinced I don't have a future in art. Anyway, there you have it, my Wednesday Waste of an Hour: 

Sometimes we just need to be ourselves... Ahem, let me correct that! ALL THE TIME WE NEED TO BE OURSELVES...within reason. If you're a baby eater you should probably keep that on the down low. The preservation of self extends into so many areas, but how do you preserve yourself in your writing? I was pondering this question earlier in the week. With commissioned writing projects, sometimes it can be hard to remember my own voice. To keep it real, I play a game I like to call Word Ninja. I pick the most immediate inanimate object in sight, inject it with a personality, and write a five hundred word story about it. Lets' see if you can pick up on the item of choice, enjoy!

In the spirit of sharing art, I thought I'd preview some of my own. I dabble with a little Photoshop myself, but I'm no pro. Presently I am working to create character profiles for the Beta Read coming up at the end of the month. I'm creating banners for each of the characters. and given some of the art for the character Deimos/Demon yesterday afternoon, I thought I'd share a vague snippet that I hope will merely fuel your own unique interpretations of the content. As I think I've said before, I'm a little eyes obsessed.

On a completely separate note: This morning I was writing a chase scene for one of my commissioned projects, and in turn flooded my ears with a little Beastie Boys, and went to Youtube for some creative inspiration. I was never a Star Trek fan, but the reboot is more palatable for an individual that loves the epic grandeur of sci-fi but not the nitty gritty tech focus (Star Trek < Star Wars), and I've enjoyed the recent sequel. Rolling with sci-fi, chase scenes, and millennial rock, I give you a little road action that inspires...

Stellar title, yes? No, oh well. I write half aware, here and on my actual work related projects (do not do this). So I have been neglecting my fan fiction readers and it is an atrocity, I also have been neglecting my editor, neither of which I am proud of. It is stupid to commit to too many projects at once. So, here's a shout out to all those who think I have forgotten them, I haven't and I'm getting to you, I promise, I promise... and don't hate me, and I'm punishing myself, I'm promise (no Arrested Development or Mojitos). I've decided to take five minutes and mind vomit on you. 

Now that we've covered me being neglectfully evil, I'd like to move onto something called Androgyny. I don't like it, man, I mean, honestly I don't really care if you're a he or a she or an it, but given current social protocols it helps to know. It would have helped to know especially when I was in the service industry and approached a guest with, "How are you doing today, ma--erm, sir--erm, friend?" You don't know how many times teenage boys foiled me with long hair, and I totally humiliated myself by calling them "sweetie" as they looked away from me... it had that condescending effect that made me look like a jerk and simultaneously made them aware of their confused sexual appeal--unpleasant for all parties involved. ANYWAY!! Sometimes I'm sent art, for fan fictions, for original fictions, by really wonderful people who read my work. I love seeing how what I've described comes to life visually, but at the same time I worry about the effect an image can have on readers. I was asked recently why I haven't shared most of the art.

I don't know about you, but I read all the Harry Potter books before I watched the movies, now if I'd watched the movies and then read the book, I would have envisioned the characters as they were in the film instead of what my own mind was able to concoct from Rowling's words. Point is, I enjoy letting the reader explore the world and characters for themselves, though at times I do gush over fan art. I bring up androgyny because it seems the feminine artistic default, and though I dearly love sharing what has been shared with me, when an individual sees an image, especially of a depicted character, it can often color the way they henceforth perceive the character when they read. And with all the kindness and love in my heart I have to say, ladies, boys don't look like girls--not usually. I am not the hottest artist, when I draw people they all look like women so I really can't say anything. 

With this in mind, I want to announce that I will be sharing original fan art, but for readers to note that each picture is an original depiction of the artist and not necessarily my perception. And that's fine, because I want you to see the world as vividly and uniquely as you see it. Please note, however, I'm never going to prance around with an "not-approved" stamp, because well, that's just uncool. 

Explanation over I can now share with you the art that so inspired the discussion. Original Art of the Day by M.Ira

**To be honest, I wish I could go in with a sharpie and draw angry eyebrows, because this character is not the least bit woeful or angsty, but everyone it totally at liberty to draw what they'd like. I love you M.Ira <3**

To highlight the androgyny discussion M.Ira has created the following. Her original drawing was done via stylis on a virtual interface and treated with various Photoshop filters. The first image below is roughly the original sketch with a texture filter, we note here that he still looks coarse:

I get commissioned to do graphic art occasionally and I've posted some new pieces to my Behance account. Feel free to check them out before they go live on my client's blog. Observe my new pieces and leave your feedback, many of them are created by request but they each possess a bit of me.  The image to the left, for instance, was done for a friend for her new blog (click the pic to see all things new in my art sphere). It seems I can't escape all things funky and retro and a little old while being a little new.

Today is the kind of Saturday that needs to be productive, but tempts me away because the sun shineth and all that. Stay swanky.

-Ama 

If you've blipped by and noticed the "Current Project" page has gone the way of the invisible man, not to worry, it will be back up shortly with new updates and a fresh look. I get anxiety when something stays the same for too long, I feel the impulsive need to change it... I'm not especially sentimental now that I think of it. Anyway, I have completed a Behance profile showcasing my retro art and I thought to share a few quirky pieces:

Love it or hate it, they were commission pieces for a site I blog for on and off in light of the irrelevant holiday swift upon us--and this isn't meant in bitterness, only in annoyance. This is because Valentine's day does nothing but clutter the aisles of Target with pink and red junk, and make it awkward for elementary school children who somehow feel obligated to pass out cheap card-stock hearts to every kid in class, even though they might revile one or two. It also makes boyfriends panic at the prospect of their girlfriends' distaste when they buy the wrong nougat creams or Godiva truffles... the whole thing is about as disastrous as Christmas without the refreshing scent of pine or cheesy suburban blow-up lawn snowmen. I jest, holidays aren't all bad--if you can manage your caloric intake.

Anyway, if you'd like to see the full retro/Victorian inspired collection, visit my Behance profile @         
http://www.behance.net/AmalynneO. There's far less jaded holiday commentary there and a little spunk, if I do say so myself. 


Wishing you all a pleasant Monday,

Amalynne <3