Nick Davis's Blog, page 96

How did A Teddy Bear Tale begin?

It all began with a moment of whimsy and one little Teddy Bear…

When I was at the A Teddy Bear Tale book signing at Ukazoo books, one of the questions I was asked was what inspired the story and how did it end up as an illustrated tale; as I told the tale of the story I realized that although the production blog follows the Kickstarter part of its creation I never told the origins of Tristan the Teddy Bear.

The story began over five months ago as small paragraph that came in my head after looking at one of Jean's abandoned Teddy Bears on a shelf. The little fella was dusty, leaning to one side and had long been ignored; however the amber eye still sparkled and there was still a smile on his face. The paragraph couldn't of been more than 4-5 lines long, but as I read it to Jean she teared up and said I should expand this bears story. As with many things, life stuff got in the way and I didn't return to this paragraph until our writing group started their Impossible Things Anthology.  Even then I submitted a story about a Steampunk Pilot's last flight.

I then returned to the tale of this little Teddy Bear because the Anthology had room for a second story, and from there the tale of Tristan really began. The story is about the love our Bear has for the child that grew up playing with him, turned into an epic fight for his child's innocence on the last night before this child packs him off into the attic. I was heavily influenced by the work of Roald Dahl with his fantastical grotesqueness comical delightful descriptions of the bad guys and went over the top with the Monsters, and the story became a total wonder to write. At the time the story was just called Unconditional.

I finished the story in late September and submitted it for the Anthology. I figured I would release the story as a solo eBook once the edits came back and the Anthology was released for a couple of months. Then something very interesting happened, Dan Nokes an indie artist I knew from the Comic book convention circuit started to run a Quick Sketch challenge were he challenged you to submit a description and he would draw it.

And what an image it was, it summed up everything about the story in one illustration and it got me thinking. Should this story be an illustrated tale? I asked Dan for quote to see how much, he sent it to me and I knew although I couldn't afford it I would kick myself if I didn't give this a go.  So I turned to Kickstarter to find my funding and as Dan told me, he sent the quote that night, and when he woke up in the morning he saw a Kickstarter project with his sketch attached to it.

To describe the story within a line, I changed it from Unconditional, to A Teddy Bear Tale it summed up the story perfectly. After that everything else just fell into place, Dan worked through a series of sketches for Tristan, the Bogeyman and the Monsters pretty much hitting the look on their head each time and at the end of October we hit 200% funding! Again I want to take this moment to thank everyone who believed in this project to fund it!

Dan busied himself through November getting the color illustrations done, repeatedly knocking the ball out of the park with a series of beautiful ink washed pieces of art.  I worked the book layout as I got the art and as Dan wrapped up his end. I completed the production end and the book was published by December 10th 2011, from inception to completion it was a five month time line, but taking out the life stuff the entire production time including writing to finished product was about 2 months. The entire story was a magical adventure and although the tale is the end of Tristan's time with his child, it is just the beginning his adventures. I hope you stay with us as we explore Tristan's world and discover all the wonder (and Monsters) waiting for him.

A re-imagined trailer for the failed NBC Wonder Woman Pilot

Over 2011 we followed the ups and downs of the NBC attempted relaunch of the Wonder Woman franchise on their network.  After the teaser release of the Wonder Woman outfit, and the amusing outrage it produced, the entire production fell to series of focus groups and poorly thought out rewrites.

The final product was so bad, and remember NBC are the network who released the Cape, that the Pilot of was shelved and we may never see the final cut. Bits and pieces have leaked out on the net, some of it dire, some it mediocre and some of it actually looked okay. Yesterday I discovered a re-imagined trailer for the raw footage from the Wonder Woman Pilot, I think it contain clips from all the action sequences and actually doesn't look that bad. Take a look for yourself after the jump.

Sigmartyr Vol.3 of the Epic Stikfas action web comic – Fire Fight!

Volume Three of Sigmartyr the Stikfas Action Web Comic continues. Fire Fight!!! Omega & Alpha vs Omega, with Alpha Team backed against the wall and trapped by the Omega Troopers all they can do it hold out and hope for reinforcements. Click here to view this epic story…

End of the World Prophecy seems to be good for the God business

You know I thought we saw the last of this with the Harold Camping Family Radio phony rapture prediction, that no one would be stupid enough to run the same con again. But I was wrong, completely and utterly wrong, surely they cannot be that many gullible people left? However, it looks the Ronald Weinland, Former Preacher of Worldwide Church of God, now of the Church of God – Preparing for the Kingdom of God (Is there a random Church Org name generator on the net somewhere?) is predicting the End of the World on May 27, 2012… Again with the month of May! And just to be certain, our good Preacher has stated that January 8 is the beginning of 'Half-Time' read more about this new run at peoples money here.

So here we go again, another Shuckster out to make money out of peoples fear with another prediction where he can say, when it doesn't happen, oopsie my bad… Lets try for this date, cause this is when its going to happen… Honest… Really!!! REALLY!!! The God business must be good, for someone to think this piece of snake oil will work again.

Okay, as ever when ever I run into these conmen I can only urge you all to think for yourselves and decide for yourself just how true it is. Is this Preacher giving up his worldly goods? Asking for your money to spread the word? Because surely all he would say is tell your neighbor. Or arranging that book tour that just happens to have dates past their rapture prediction? The greatest gift God has ever given us is our minds and the ability to know it to gift us choices, choose wisely

Well, this is all I have to say about this… Roll on May 27th because I want to see the next date he picks. I'm really in the wrong business…

Just how hard can it be? A Top Gear Birthday Cake by the Sweetsfairy

A Top Gear Birthday Cake? Just how hard can it be? Well, the Sweetsfairy (aka as my wife Jean) set out to find out creating my 39th birthday cake. What do you think? We have the Stig, a Top Gear race, something on fire and Clarkson being absolutely useless as normal… Thank you my Dear, its a great cake

A Teddy Bear Tale makes an appearance and gets a new home on the shelves of Ukazoo Books

Today A Teddy Bear Tale had its debut release at Ukazoo Books in Towson, MD.  I was joined by the Dan Nokes the artist who brought this story to life and we introduced this story officially to the world. It was a good experience seeing parents reactions to this tale first hand and its another small step to bringing this tale of a little Teddy Bear defending his child from the Monsters under the bed.

Plus I'm very happy to announce that A Teddy Bear Tale, and The Wonder Tales now have a new home on the shelves of the Ukazoo Bookstore, kind of cool to know my books are on the shelves are real bookstore. Thanks to Dan for coming up for the book release and you can enjoy our mini-gallery after the jump.

This Saturday from 1 to 4pm the Debut Book Signing for A Teddy Bear Tale at Ukazoo Books

This is it, this is what all the work and the Kickstarter campaign was for, to produce this book about a little Teddy Bear and tell his story in the best way that I can. This Saturday is the Debut Book Signing & Release party for A Teddy Bear Tale, the story of Tristan the Teddy Bear protecting his child from the Monsters under the Bed at Ukazoo Books in Towson, MD

At this event you can come buy your copy of A Teddy Bear Tale and get it signed by the Author and by the book's artist Dan Nokes, also you can chat about the book, find out what may be happening next, meet Tristan the Bear and listen to an Author reading for the opening passages of the book.  I've even heard a rumor that The Sweetsfairy is providing Teddy Bear Tale themed treats!

This event all kicks off in Ukazoo Books, the biggest independent bookstore in Maryland and is located at 730 Dulaney Valley Rd, Towson, MD 21204. You can RSVP for this event here - http://www.facebook.com/events/268801279834344/

See you all there!

DCnU52 Justice League Reboots by Paulo Siqueira

Wonder Woman my reboot by ~PauloSiqueira on deviantART

Artist Paulo Siqueira had his own take the DCnU52 reboot, with an interesting mix of muted colors and retro outfits. Check out his Wonder Woman and other A-listers from the Justice League by clicking the Wonder Woman above.

On the subject of Prayers & Miracles

After yesterdays blog On the subject of Faith, it is only fair that I finish off on something else I touched upon briefly in last nights rambling, the subject of Prayers and Miracles. This is an interesting subject so here are my thoughts, my opinions of what I believe, what I feel is true and in many ways I think it does make a lot of sense. I always say in these type of blogs when I talk about religion is that the greatest gift we ever got from God is our own minds, use it, don't be lead by the nose, think for yourself. 

I will start this mash up of ideas with a little story. When I was working for a company that specialized in metal fabrication I got into an odd discussion with the shop foreman – he was a large chap, drove a pick up truck, rode a Harley at the weekend and is a devout Christian. To the point you couldn't take God's name in vain in his presence without him saying something about it. I respected that and always apologized when I did, even if I found it odd. Anyhow one day he asked if I went to church and I said no, he asked if I pray and I said no; he then rolled out what I call patent speech number one – Did you stop praying to God because he never answered your prayers when you were a kid? I smiled and said no, I don't believe in praying in the traditional way, but I do pray everyday.

This of course confused him and I think it might of confused you too, so I will explain. We are given gifts by God that we use everyday, using these gifts is my way of praying to him, to thank him for the ability I have by trying to be the best I can be. It's perhaps not perfect, but I feel a much more practical way of praying than verbally sending God praise. I have faith that my actions being my prayers is a better way to give thanks. This stunned him, and he thanked me for my perspective even offering to get me to speak at his church – which I declined because I feel I hadn't anything of substance to say. After all what I believe in my mind is not anything revolutionary, it just made sense to me.

This of course leads to the second subject of this blog – Miracles.

Let's start off by saying this, Miracles happen to everyone and not just to those that believe, sorry it isn't an exclusive club just because you go to church, we are all subject to miracles. Now what is the definition of a Miracle? A celestial unexplained event? If we go with the celestial explanation it wasn't too long ago seeing the Sun rise in the morning would of been considered a Miracle… Well maybe it still is, certainly there are moments a sunrise will take your breath away with the majesty and beauty of it.

I will define the classic miracle as something unexplained happening that brings us hope, like the mysterious cure of a sick loved one, to the reappearance of your car keys after they were missing for two days.  To me while we do have mysterious things happen it is all cause and effect.

A miracle is that Surgeon who trained his skills to save a life, that has used his gifts to become the best that he can at what he does that is the miracle. The engineer who figures out that tolerance that keeps  building upright during an earthquake is a miracle. The sportsman who trains hard and wins against the odds, that is a miracle. The artist who creates emotion with a flick of the wrist. Everyday, in every way we are surrounded by little miracles you just need to open your eyes to see them. A miracle isn't a celestial event, the heavens to do not part, the choir doesn't sing, it really is just us, all of us trying to be the best we can; that is the miracle, using our gifts in the best way we know.

Fairly simple explanation really, right?

To sum up, my faith comes from my independent thought, a manifestation of hope and the belief of something more than just this.  I pray with the skills I have to give thanks, and using these skills I can produce miracles. Now I'm not saying the unexplained doesn't happen, life can be quite mysterious, coincidences do happen, things crop up to keep us moving forward and things can be quite challenging at times, but nine times out of ten that miracle is powered by us. We are given the self-determination, the free will, the ability to breakdown walls, to leap oceans, to touch the stars, this my friends is the nature of miracles and the subject of prayers.

It isn't the hardest thing in the world to get your head around, just the evidence of the unseen and the substance of all things hoped for. Thank you for listening.

On the subject of Prayers and Miracles

After yesterdays blog On the subject of Faith, it is only fair that I finish off on something else I touched upon briefly in last night rambling.  How do I pray and what is a miracle? This can be a thorny subject as these are my thoughts, my opinions what I believe, what I feel is true and in many ways I think makes a lot of sense. I always say in these type of blogs when I talk about religion is that the greatest gift we ever got from God is our own minds, use it, don't be lead by the nose, think for yourself. 

To start this mash up of ideas with a little story. When I was working for a company that specialized in metal fabrication I got into an odd discussion with the shop foreman – he was a large chap, drove a pick up truck, rode a Harley at the weekend and is a devout Christian. To the point you couldn't take God's name in vain in his presence. I respected that and always apologized when I did. He asked if I went to church and I said no, he asked if I pray and I said no; he then rolled out what I call patent speech number one – Did you stop praying to God because he never answered your prayers when you were a kid? I smiled and said no, I don't believe in praying in the traditional way, but I do pray everyday.

This of course confused him and I think it might of confused you too, so I will explain. We are given gifts by God that we use everyday, using these gifts is my way of praying to him, to thank him for the ability I have by trying to be the best I can be. Its not perfect, but I feel a much more practical way of praying than verbally sending God praise. I have faith that my actions being my prayers is a better way to give thanks. This stunned him, and he thanked me for my perspective even offering to get me to speak at his church – which I declined because at the time I didn't feel I had anything to say. After what I believe to my mind what not anything revolutionary, it just made sense to me.

This of course leads to the second subject of this blog – Miracles.

Let's start off by saying this, Miracles happen to everyone and not just to those that believe, now what is the definition of a Miracle? A celestial unexplained event? If we go with that it wasn't too long ago seeing the Sun rise in the morning would of been considered a Miracle… Well maybe it still is… Certainly there are moments a sunrise will take your breath away with the majesty and beauty of it.

I will define the classic case of a miracle is something unexplained happening that brings us hope, like the mysterious cure of a sick loved one, to the reappearance of your car keys after they were missing for two days.  To me this isn't really the case, while we do have mysterious things happen it is all cause and effect.

A miracle is that Surgeon who trained his skills to save a life, that has used his gifts to become the best that he can at what he does that is the miracle. The engineer who figures out that tolerance that keeps  building upright during an earthquake is a miracle. The sportsman who trains hard and wins against the odds, that is a miracle. The artist who creates emotion with a flick of the wrist. Everyday, in every way we are surrounded by little miracles we just need to open your eyes to see them. A miracle isn't a celestial event, the heavens to do not part, the choir doesn't sing, it really is just us, all of us trying to be the best we can; that is the miracle, using our gifts in the best way we know.

Fairly simple really, right?

To sum up, my faith comes my independent thought, a manifestation of hope and the belief of something more.  I pray with the skills I have to give thanks, and using these skill I can produce miracles. Now I'm not saying the unexplained doesn't happen, life can be quite mysterious, coincidences do happen, things crop up to keep us moving forward and things can be quite challenging at times, but nine times out of ten that miracle is powered by us. We are given the self-determination, the free will, the ability to breakdown walls, to leap oceans, to touch the stars, this my friends is the nature of miracles and the subject of prayers.

It isn't the hardest thing in the world, just the evidence of the unseen and the substance of all things hoped for. Thank you for listening.