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Jun. 10th, 2022 12:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iolosdreamGood news on my publishing efforts. I just received the first four character drawings from artist Eldon Cowgur for Aero Rangers I, Tunguska Terror.
So here's the story: About 10 years ago, thanks to the efforts of my friend CB, I got contract to publish the first three Aero Rangers tales as YA stories. and the world was hopeful. Shortly thereafter, my editor proposed turning the Aeros tales into graphic novels, somewhere between pure text and comix. I had always hoped to include simple line-drawing illustrations in the Aeros stories, like some 'boys books' published in the 1930s, I particularly liked the illustrations in Robert Winston's "Divebomber" telling the author's adventures flying with the US Navy Reserve in the 1930s. In fact, Winston's books became invaluable research tools for the Aeros stories.
So when my editor suggested graphic format, I agreed. The artist selected for Tunguska Terror was Eldon Cowgur, who drew an online comic called Astray 2. Eldon got to work illustrating the first couple of chapters and the results were promising. One of the questions raised in the transition from text to graphics was the old saw about a picture being worth a thousand words. I asked our artist if it was possible to reproduce an entire E Burroughs ripping yarn in a single frame. Eldon accepted the challenge. In his illustrations for Chapter II, there was a single frame illustrating the gist of an entire jungle adventure: the lantern-jawed hero, his Jungle Princess, the professor with his rifle and monacle, the giant ape, a ravenous leopard, and lots of jungle foliage. In retrospect I should have asked for an anaconda as well. Anyway, Eldon proved his point.
After a brave start with the graphics, communications faltered, and after hearing nothing, I discovered my publisher was discontinuing their graphics department. I one swell 'foop' I had become an unpublished professional writer with few prospects. The same happened to our artist... at least we got our copyrights back and kept the advances.
Years later, I'm back in business, with a new contract with a new publisher, again hoping to create illustrated stories, much like Winston's "Divebomber" After consulting with my new editor, I contacted Eldon Cowgur, on the off chance we could include his character sketches. Eldon responded enthusiastically, on the condition he could improve bits where he thought necessary.
The first four sketches arrived a couple of days ago, and they are marvelous... much better than the previous ones. In a few days time we may see more, eventually proceeding to a fully paid book-cover. One never knows what the future may bring, but right now things look mighty good.
I have illustrations, a publisher, good stories and all seems right with the world. More later, DRW
So here's the story: About 10 years ago, thanks to the efforts of my friend CB, I got contract to publish the first three Aero Rangers tales as YA stories. and the world was hopeful. Shortly thereafter, my editor proposed turning the Aeros tales into graphic novels, somewhere between pure text and comix. I had always hoped to include simple line-drawing illustrations in the Aeros stories, like some 'boys books' published in the 1930s, I particularly liked the illustrations in Robert Winston's "Divebomber" telling the author's adventures flying with the US Navy Reserve in the 1930s. In fact, Winston's books became invaluable research tools for the Aeros stories.
So when my editor suggested graphic format, I agreed. The artist selected for Tunguska Terror was Eldon Cowgur, who drew an online comic called Astray 2. Eldon got to work illustrating the first couple of chapters and the results were promising. One of the questions raised in the transition from text to graphics was the old saw about a picture being worth a thousand words. I asked our artist if it was possible to reproduce an entire E Burroughs ripping yarn in a single frame. Eldon accepted the challenge. In his illustrations for Chapter II, there was a single frame illustrating the gist of an entire jungle adventure: the lantern-jawed hero, his Jungle Princess, the professor with his rifle and monacle, the giant ape, a ravenous leopard, and lots of jungle foliage. In retrospect I should have asked for an anaconda as well. Anyway, Eldon proved his point.
After a brave start with the graphics, communications faltered, and after hearing nothing, I discovered my publisher was discontinuing their graphics department. I one swell 'foop' I had become an unpublished professional writer with few prospects. The same happened to our artist... at least we got our copyrights back and kept the advances.
Years later, I'm back in business, with a new contract with a new publisher, again hoping to create illustrated stories, much like Winston's "Divebomber" After consulting with my new editor, I contacted Eldon Cowgur, on the off chance we could include his character sketches. Eldon responded enthusiastically, on the condition he could improve bits where he thought necessary.
The first four sketches arrived a couple of days ago, and they are marvelous... much better than the previous ones. In a few days time we may see more, eventually proceeding to a fully paid book-cover. One never knows what the future may bring, but right now things look mighty good.
I have illustrations, a publisher, good stories and all seems right with the world. More later, DRW
