Nick Davis's Blog, page 68

Matt Smith stands down from Eleventh Doctor Who the era of the bow tie is over…

It was going to happen eventually, but now it is official Matt Smith is officially leaving his role as the Eleventh Doctor and will be leaving Doctor Who after the Christmas special (click here for BBC America source). I was wondering when he was going to vacate the role, we have had over the last season a pretty poor Doctor Who show, though no fault of Matt who has carried some pretty ropey writing and shown no matter the material he can make it fly. It is though a good time for Matt to leave and the timing might bring some of its lost viewers back.And what a perfect time to leave… It means the Christmas special will be watched by Whovians the world over as they wait to see what causes the death of the Eleventh (please let it it be an actual Machiavellian Master) and who will be number twelve.  Maybe this would be a good time to take the show off the air to give Moffat some room to write and vet good scripts and make us wonder when or how the Doctor will return.

Thank you Matt for embracing the role of the Doctor, for making the unwatchable watchable and for taking ball and running with it. You brought a unique playful spin to the Doctor, who has interacted with fans more, opened up and carried the show more than you should have had too. Thank you… I enjoyed your performance.

 

My first public speaking engagment I talk to 5th Graders about why I write and why we are nation of storytellers

Engaging 5th Graders – How hard can it be?

I have never done this before, sure it is easy talking to people one-on-one at conventions, but I have never stood up in front of a large group of people and talked. Today I undertook my first ever public speaking engagement.  I was invited to talk to my stepson’s 5th Grade class for their Author Tea Event to talk about writing, why I write, why we are a nation of storytellers and why they should write. It was short notice with less than 24 hours from learning about the Author Tea and getting a confirmation that I could do the talk. The talk was hurriedly put together last night and with the help of a PowerPoint put together a small 20 minute presentation, and then I went to bed with dreaded feeling that everything that could go wrong… would go wrong… After all I am student of school movies and Top Gear… bumble… bumble… Now everything is on fire!!!

I am happy to report the Speaking Engagement went well, the audience was very attentive. I talked about my books, about why I write, and showed the children through example that we are a Nation of Story Tellers. I might of even inspired a couple of kids here and there to write as well. In all I enjoyed myself and I am open to exploring this opportunity further… So if you are in need of a Public Speaker of the Author/Writer type let me know!

I also want to take a moment to thank Miss Vornadore (sorry for bumbling your name) and her class for letting me talk today… Now get writing!!!

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NEW!!! Teddy Bear Tales T-Shirt ‘Join the Grand Teddy Bear Army’ Available Now!!!

Join the Grand Teddy Bear Army T-Shirt

Inspired by a new Teddy Bear Tales Promo Graphic by Dan Nokes – The Join the Grand Teddy Bear Army T-shirt is a unique and fun gift for all ages. The shirt is snug-fit and is 100% cotton with a clean clear Teddy Bear graphic. Proclaim your love of all things Teddy Bear with this cool new T-shirt this summer.

Anvil Fashion Fit Tee

4.5-ounce, 100% ring spun combed cotton

Modern fit with extra softness

Tubular with shoulder-to-shoulder tape

Features 100% combed ring spun cotton for light, extra-soft comfort

Double-needle stitching on sleeve and bottom hem

Graphic Red on Black

You can also pick up this shirt as part of the $35 Backer Package for the Kickstarter Teddy Bear Tales Comic Project – Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders by clicking here.

Color – Black (Unisex Only)

Size

Men (Unisex) S – XXL

Please note there is an extra charge on both sizes for XL upwards

Center Chest – Printed Teddy Bear Tales Graphic ‘Join the Grand Teddy Bear Army’ in Dark Red on Black

Sizes




Small $24.99 USD
Medium $24.99 USD
Large $24.99 USD
XLarge $27.99 USD
XX Large $29.99 USD

Doctor Who Teddy Bear Illustration by Dan Nokes inspired by Tristan & the Teddy Bear Tales

Dr Who Teddy Bear by Dan Nokes

Teddy Bear Tales Artist Dan Nokes is a huge Whovain and this illustration was inspired by one of his favorite Doctors, the fourth Doctor played by Tom Baker. Taking a cue from Tristan the Teddy Bear he knocked out a pretty cool piece of work. If you would like a print of this illustration check out the latest Teddy Bear Tale Kickstarter project an all-ages Teddy Bear action comic Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders. Learn more about this project please click here – http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/altworld/tristan-and-the-cuddly-defenders-an-all-ages-comic

One Year and about Two Months ago I picked up a pencil and began the climb out of depression

Captain America Bear by Nick Davis

Miss America Bunny by Nick Davis

Let’s start this post with some good news – I am now a Certified Grumbacher Acrylic Instructor which means sometime in the near future I will be teaching art and the use of Acrylic’s at a Michael’s Craft Store near you. I started the journey to become an instructor for a very specific reason, I wanted to pass on what art has done for me and how it helped me.

Before we get too deep into this post I also want to say because this is the day for it and gives a context to the opening image of Captain America Teddy Bear,  have a Happy Memorial Day and please take a five minutes of this day to remember those that have fallen to protect your freedoms. Cherish them and never… Ever give them away.

With that being said I want to draw light on something that happened to me last year. As you know 2012 was a very turbulent year for me I came closer than I would like to getting deported over a Filing Technicality, I had lost my job, I was unable to work and we were perhaps two months away from losing our home. I was depressed… I had given up with no hope of getting my old job back, in every aspect I was failing as my duty as a father to my children and as a husband. I gave up going to bed just falling asleep on the coach and getting more and more desperate every day as I tried to figure out just how… How could I make it all work… I was going to lose everything.

Then something strange happened, I picked up a pencil and started drawing – you can read the story behind that here in ‘Drawing your way out of a bad life moment‘

Tristan the Defender by Nick Davis

What happened next is I got my motivation back, by creating I reignited by will and pulled myself line by line, watercolor and ink out of a depression. Without the use of anything other than expressing myself through art I managed to turn myself around. Within a month I had got my immigration status back, my work authorization and found a new job. All through the power of picking up a pencil.

It has had quite a significant effect on me… And really I’ve only been back in the art saddle for a year and relearning my long dormant skills and while I am no great artist I am finding the joy in my creations, being able to bring my writing into visual form and lighting the creative fires inside me. It helped bring Tristan to life to me I could draw my heroic Teddy Bear and now with the help of Dan Nokes, and with the use of Kickstarter we are trying to launch a my first Teddy Bear Action comic ‘Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders’

My work can be found here at My Art, Teddy Bear Tales Art & The Cuddly Sketch Cards and I’ve actually had people buy my work which surprised me and in all creating, drawing, illustrating has been nothing but a positive experience for me and now I get a chance to pass this on.

I never claimed to be a great artist, indeed my art education while I was learning Graphic Design was pretty poor and the artist of my family actually is my older brother. But…I am now a Certified Art Instructor.

So now I can pass on how Art over the last year has literally saved me from falling into a huge depression. The power it had to pull me out of nose dive is amazing. If I can show this just one time and help someone in the way it helped me… Then in the long run it should be worth it. Kinda wish it was simpler than is has been to get this far though.

One Year and about Two Months ago I picked up a pencil and began the climb out of depression. I hope you join me at my Art Lessons once I start with Michael’s as an Instructor and learn the power of art, of being creativity… Onwards..!

A Teddy Bear Tale Bedtime Story – Archer the Teddy Bears Little Big Adventure by Nick Davis

This is the story of one Teddy Bear’s adventure, not Tristan the Defender, but of another Teddy named Archer. As his names suggests this Bear is skilled in the use of a bow and is known throughout the World within a World as one of Tristan’s Cuddly Defenders – the protectors of Children, the innocent and the weak against the Evil Bogeyman and his Legions of Monsters under the Bed.

One day Archer and Tristan had an argument, it was a simple one, one that many friends have, they argued over which direction to take. Tristan wished to return to Safe Harbor and meet up with Wilma and their airplane the Golden Goose; while Archer wished to continue on the path they were on to see where it would lead. In time our friends parted for it was hard to argue with a Teddy Bear who does not speak. Tristan with shield slung over his shoulder going his way and Archer with stubborn pride continuing on the path he was set upon.

After a while Archer came across a small upturn wagon, around which were several folk from Little West; now a word must be said about them, they were small western people, blue, red or green of any hue or color and made of plastic. Little West Folk were made up of those Cowboys and Indians figures that every child has, but always seem to lose and they can at times be a mite bit ornery.

This time was no exception; they were none too pleased to see Archer although they are none too pleased to see any of what they call the big folk. It was not until Archer helped them right their wagon did they tell him they were attacked by a Jug Head, who had upturned their wagon and would be returning with his Brother to carry them all away to serve as entertainment for the Evil Bogeyman.

This news startled Archer, for he heard word that no Monsters under the Bed were abroad this far in the World within the World, and Little West itself was always untouched by any troubles. Being as it was too small to be really noticed a fact that it’s folk took great pride in. As for Jar Heads they were amongst the largest of the Bogeyman’s Monsters even Tristan would be hard pressed to take them on, and Archer was not as strong as his friend. Bravely Archer volunteered to escort the Little West Folk to their Town and to see that they would not fall foul of anymore of the Monsters under the Bed.

For the most of the day they traveled along a dusty road, the Little Folk were not much for conversation but were long on means stares. Archer was soon finding himself glad they would be soon be upon Little West and they could part company. Indeed all they had to do travel through Two Horse pass and they would be in Little West.

Simple plans though are never that easy and Archer spied two Jar Heads blocking their way. These big hulking Monsters spotted Archer and his party as well, and started to charge toward them. With little time to defend his charges Archer bravely stood his ground and let his boxing glove arrow fly – And fly it did hitting one of the Jar Heads cleanly on the nose knocking him clean-over. His friend grew angry and his paced quickened.

Archer fired off several more arrows each one hitting their mark and not one slowed down the powerful Jar Head. He ordered the Folk to flee in their wagon into Little West, saying he would do his best to hold the Monster off. The Little Folk did not need telling twice and they rode off as fast as their wagon would let them – leaving Archer to face the now very angry and looming Jar Head.

With ease Archer avoided the Jar Heads charge, peppering the Monsters back with his sticky arrows. He dodged the second blow tripping the Jar Head with his bow, the third he ducked under, but the fourth caught the brave Teddy Bear and he went flying across the pass hitting a wall so hard he lost his breath.

Now dazed Archer stumbled away from the Jar Head, and not for the first time wishing his child had put some faith in him so he could be as strong as Tristan. He rolled with the Monsters next blow and found his feet spying a large loose boulder that might just fall if he hit it with an arrow on the Jar Heads… well… head…

Using two more arrows he distracted the Monsters and let fly with his last arrow knocking the boulder loose. With hope in his heart Archer watched as it fell, hitting the Jar Head squarely on his head. The brute groaned took a step forward, crossed his eyes and fell face first at Archer’s feet.

The tired and bruised Teddy Bear cheered, for he had won a great victory. Now quite tired from his fight sat down next to the Monsters pulling his arrows off its back. Luckily he noticed another large shadow fall over him and jumped up just as the Jar Head he thought knocked out by his Boxing Glove slammed both fists into the ground right where he was just sitting. Out of arrows Archer ran jumping from rock to rock, from cover to cover keeping just ahead of this second Monster hoping a plan would appear. He ran, dodged, jumped and ducked until he got to the end of the pass to find his way unexpectedly blocked.

The Jar Head roaring followed him angry at being knocked over by a very silly arrow and getting angrier that this little Teddy Bear would not stay still for him to hit quite hard. Blindly he chased the Bear out of the pass and skidded to a stop. In front of him stood Archer, arms folded and a grin on his face. Behind the smirking Teddy Bear was a large posse of Little West Folk on top of their mixed colored plastic horses all pointing their shooting irons at him. A blue colored Cowboy with a wide-brimmed hat and mustache rode next to Archer and pointed his little rifle at the Jar Head. He said that they had no argument with other folk unless they had an argument with them, and that they will defend them, there’s and folk that helps them from any disagreement, and he should get going while things were still all civilized and all.

While a Jar Head is big and not all that smart, unlike other Monsters in the Bogeyman’s employ he knew when he was out numbered. So the Monster shook his fist vowing he would return and left Little West to their own.

The Blue Cowboy turned to Archer, thanked him for his help and told him to get going too. For the folk of Little West did not take too kindly to strangers even those that helped them, wishing only to be left to their own style of doing things.

Archer smiled, thanked the Cowboy and his posse, and waved goodbye promising he would make sure no big folk would come to Little West unless asked first. The Teddy Bear then left, collecting his arrows along the way and was very soon picked up by Wilma Bunny and Fernando the Lion in the Golden Goose who had spent the day looking for him.

But that is a tale for another time… Safe to say this little tale is done in its telling for now…

The End

This is a story set around the events in Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders Comic, to learn more about this upcoming all-ages Teddy Bear Action Adventure Comic and how to contribute to its Kickstarter please click here.

Into Darkness Concept Art for the Kickstarter all-ages Comic Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders

Into Darkness – Concept Art by Nick Davis

I don’t always get chance to pick up a pencil and work on concept art for the Teddy Bear Tales. I am normally found with hand on the keyboard making sense of my notes and pulling them into story for the next Teddy Bear story – which in this case is Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders.

The concept features our silent hero Tristan, the feisty bunny Wilma and the newest edition to the Teddy Bear Tales Archer; and it is riffing off the Into Darkness poster from the latest Star Trek movie and is more me playing with markers and charcoal than anything real serious.

Enjoy the concept and if you are interested in learning more about our all-ages Teddy Bear adventure comic that is seeking funding on Kickstarter please click the URL here – http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/altworld/tristan-and-the-cuddly-defenders-an-all-ages-comic

How I would have written Clara Oswin Oswald the ‘new’ Doctor Who Companion

Now I’m not really what you would call a huge fan of Doctor Who, its a fun series to watch and it has been really cool seeing a revival of TV series I watched when I was kid; but it’s not really high up on my must watch chart. I have though seen a lot of Doctor Who as my wife is a born-again Whovian and seen some pretty good episodes. Sadly this entire recent season of Doctor Who has been lacking something…

Is is Matt Smith? Not really, we are seeing him act his arse off in this series single handily carrying each episode through some amazing set pieces and generally owning each scene he is in. However we seem to be missing something with his latest companion Clara Oswin Oswald played by Jenna Louise-Colemon. The character seems to be a bit of blank and brings nothing more than a character for the Doctor to show off too in each episode. Is it the fault of the actor? Not really because she was pleasant surprise in Asylum of the Darleks and a perfect foil for the Doctor in the Snowmen. So… When she reappears in Bells of St John I was expecting something special and it turned out to be nothing; the mystery of what she was turned out be a typical slightly feisty companion who was important for the universe/Doctor.

Maybe the most important girl in the universe thing has been all played out with Amy Pond, and we were given no clues to just how important Clara is beyond the Doctor saying she was impossible once an episode. Maybe it was the writing and a series of disappointing episodes that didn’t quite deliver that Dr Who experience. What was missing?

I feel one of the problems in this last season has been the companion. No I am not hating on Jenna Louise, or really the character Clara because she had a very strong introduction and was intriguing. I feel she was mishandled in such a way no one watching cared what happened to her, no one connected to her the same way they did to other companions. She became nothing more than a litmus for the Doctor and after seven episodes her development seemed to be pure eye-candy. Crap… When you have a Neil Gaiman episode that was a little blah… You know you have problems.

So what could they have done with Clara to make her the focal point? How would I have written her?

The answer is simple…

I would have killed her.

Yes you read that right.

At the end of every episode or mid-point, maybe even at the beginning she should have died in such a way that was accidental and completely out of the Doctors control, much in the same way she was introduced to us. Killing her would make every reintroduction that much more special, would have made the Doctor that much more manic as he did all he could to keep her safe and failing each time. Making every time she appeared in his timeline that much more heart stopping. Making her totally impossible and completely screwing with the viewers heads as the Doctor slowly finds himself going insane and darker in his methods to keep her safe.

Imagine the roller-coaster each episode would have been then? How we would all be that much more emotionally invested in her as she died each week. As we saw Matt Smith’s Doctor get more and more extreme with his efforts to save her.

That way the ending of this season would be so much more important as the explanation of who she is and how she is important to the Doctor would make sense. Become a total gotcha moment and completely hook you into the next season.

Okay rant over… The last episode hit with John Hurt as The Doctor so now we have to see how that plays into the anniversary special. Let’s all hope for writing that really delivers, eh?

Tristan Lives!!! New all-ages comic Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders Promo/Concept Art by Dan Nokes via Kickstarter

Tristan Lives!!! New evocative Promo/Concept Art from Dan Nokes for the all-ages Teddy Bear Action Comic – Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders currently seeking full funding on Kickstarter. With your help Tristan will live!!! Click the URL below to learn more about this amazing comic and share with all your friends… And if you can please back us!!! Click here to learn more

Marvel at the Alternative Cover for the all-ages Kickstarter Teddy Bear Adventure Comic Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders inspired by Avengers #1 by Jack Kirby

Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders #1 – Alternate Cover by Dan Nokes

Teddy Bear Tale Artist Dan Nokes has just knocked out an Alternative Cover for the Teddy Bear Tales all-ages comic book Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders. The cover was inspired by Jack Kirby’s Avengers #1 cover (see below after the jump)

Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders comic book is up on Kickstarter as we seek funding to get this 48 page full color Teddy Bear Adventure off the ground at this time we are 17% there… So please take a moment and check out this Kickstarter, spread the word and if you can please back it!!! Thank you!!! To learn more about Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders Click Here

Avengers #1 by Jack Kirby