Popularity Papers, zombie-comedies in India, and advice on writing solo

Here's page 52 of Tomb of the Undead, which you can read here, from the scene Trapped in an airplane. I hope you like it. I've really enjoyed designing 'flash back' scenes in ancient Bethany so far. There are definitely some more old scenes like this to come that tell more of the mythology of Lazarus, so I hope you're interested in seeing more of that soon.


These pages are a real departure from many of the things I've ever drawn before, clothing design and fashions have never really been where I spend my time doodling (I usually focus on dinosaurs, given the choice). But researching this stuff has been interesting, and executing it in a believable way has been challenging. I hope you agree, it's been worthwhile and provides legitimacy to the narrative of Lazarus.

Graphic novel news
I've got another update on the 'Popularity Pages' comic from Amy Ignatow, which is getting a lot of good press. I like the simple style, it really emphasizes how childish the concept of popularity can be, especially when you're young, when popularity means so much.

I've got a great post on how to write a graphic novel, too, which stresses again that a writer should team up with an artist, as graphic novels are very work-heavy when combined under one roof. Good thinkg I enjoy it so much right now.

And I've got a third update on a neat zombie-comedy/ graphic novel scheduled to be written, set in India, which is cool, too. Read all about it.


Corner: 'Popularity' sequel: Amy Ignatow's inner 5th-graders romp on
By Karen Macpherson
ScrippsNews.com

When author/artist Amy Ignatow's book agent rejected her proposal for an adult graphic novel, he also had a word of advice.

"He told me, 'I don't want to offend you, but I think your work is very childlike,' and he suggested that I write for kids," Ignatow said in a recent talk with members of the Children's Book Guild of Washington, D.C. "The moment he said that, I thought, 'Yes! That's what comes naturally to me.' "

So Ignatow created "The Popularity Papers" (Amulet/Abrams, $15.95, ages 8-12), which was published last spring. Subtitled "Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang," the book is presented as a colorfully illustrated, hand-lettered journal kept by the two fifth-graders as they try to figure out how to become popular.

Funny and realistic, this first volume of "The Popularity Papers" has become a smash hit with girl readers, and garnered rave reviews in School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and The New York Times. Now, Ignatow has just published a sequel, "The Popularity Papers: The Long-Distance Dispatch Between Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang (Amulet/Abrams, $15.95, ages 8-12), in which the friends must cope with a six-month separation when Lydia's family moves to London.

Click to read more.

The Saturday Interview - Serious about comedy
Mini Anthikad-Chhibber
The Hindu

Author Samit Basu talks about his latest release, a zom com, his long-term plans and more

When “The Simoqin Prophesies” came out in 2004, we caught our collective breaths at the sheer inventiveness of the narrative that bounded unbridled through Greek myth, literary allusions and zany situational humour with joyful abandon. The 23-year-old writer, Samit Basu, was hailed as India's first fantasy writer. With “The Manticore's Secret” (2005) and “The Unwaba Revelations” (2007), The Gameworld trilogy was complete. After a break, Samit was back last year with “Terror on the Titanic,” a wild ride through alternate history followed by “Turbulence,” a superhero novel set in millennial India. Samit talks about “Turbulence”, his fascination for monsters, and long-term plans that which include making a movie and writing a zombie comedy.

Why a zom com?

Why not? India is the perfect place for a zombie story. There are so many people!

Will this be a novel?

I have been planning it as a graphic novel. In fact, this is the only deadline I have missed. The artistes kept disappearing. The earlier story I was working on was this conspiracy theory involving Alexander the Great, greedy corporate houses and hidden monsters outside Kolkata. Unlike a novel, which is completely in my hands, a graphic novel is a collaborative effort. And, working on film even more so, as you finish your part of the work, but have no idea whatsoever when it is going to come out. But, am planning to do more work on film.

Click to read more.

How to write a graphic novel by Dylan Loh
by Tony
GraphicNovelNews.com

There are really many factors to consider when writing a comic strip or a graphic novel. You have to decide on your writing style,drawing style,publishing woes,distribution etc…
It is never an easy ride.

Writing
The best way in this case is to find a partner and pool your talents together. Creating a graphic novel is rarely a one man show. Most importantly, as a WRITER, you must start honing your writing skills and let people critique your work. The more criticisms the better! Look for criticisms and embrace them for they will always spur you on and help you your skills. Do remember that you cannot please everyone.

Publishing
Where do you submit your work after you have completed your grand masterpiece? My website has the resources that shows where exactly to go and what to do.
Here are some useful tips on publishing.

Click to read more.