The Latest Update

Monday, January 15, 2024, is supposed to be the cut-off for anyone pre-ordering THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES: BEGINNINGS getting their name included on the SPECIAL THANKS page. The deadline has now been extended to January 22, 2024, for a couple of very good reasons. Actually, three.

One: I’m awaiting a proof copy of the book to establish if the cover art placement meets with my satisfaction. That should be arriving sometime later in the week. Two: I still have to proof the digital files being sent to the printer. Most importantly, three: I still have four of art to finish.

I took a little more time than anticipated primarily because I was reworking a couple of sequences I originally thought were more straightforward than they actually were. It was only while working on the sequences that it occurred to me if I made an change here and an adjustment there that I could tie my M25YL chapters, my story THE STORM along with SHATTERED TOMORROWS in a way that really nailed their continuity in the grand scheme of things.

I originally envisioned THE STORM as one in a series of stories that took place during THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES but were not a part of main story action. If anything, the series of stories I envisioned were meant to add to the broader world perspective from the main story.

In THE STORM, we see the relationship between certain characters whose interactions would detract from the main focal point of the story, but whose actions have relevance to the bigger picture. Likewise a story planned about Lien-Da’s personal life doesn’t work as part of the main narrative, but it does reveal layers of a pivotal character to the greater narrative. These stories constitute what I consider part of the ELSEWHERE narrative.

I’ll talk more about the ELSEWHERE stories at a later date, but suffice it to say, it was only while working on a sequence that I saw how to tie that story even tighter into the main narrative that I felt it worth the extra time time to make the effort.

Beyond that, I had worked in a cushion to allow me time to do a final polish before shipping everything off to the printers. The overall schedule remains the same, with the arrival of the printed copies arriving sometime in late April or thereabouts, the pre-orders being sent out to those awaiting them once I have the copies in my possession, followed by the book’s official premiere at the San Diego Comic-Con in July.

Before I get back to my drawing board, in answer to more than a few requests I’ve been receiving lately, it’s actually a Cintiq Pro 24 that I use a stylus upon it’s calibrated touch screen. It’s comfortable and I wouldn’t think of using anything else to create THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES with. You can see it in the photo above.

As usual, anyone still having questions can always email me. Please allow time for a response. Thank you.