I got a digital tablet for christmas, so i want to start doing some drawings with that and see what comes out. I also got engaged, so I'll likely be busy with wedding plans. But I can't wait to get started doing some artwork again. Thanks for the roland reference.

http://io9.com/5086663/5-ways-that-sandman-changed-the-world

Roland?

I was thinking about my friend Jeff as a model for Roland.

sorry about the link, I'm going to try to get that fixed, but try this: http://www.jamestpreston.com/Design/start.html

I love this Kengir uprising as a resource for the faerie castle and the turmoil and darkness surrounding this land. Are we to imagine Roland, Faerie, and Sarala as "politicals" in Faerie?... plotting to overthrow the evil rule of the king? I think this bit of history is awesome and could really make for interesting storylines!

I took a quick look at your most recent post about the audio/visual project, but I'll want to look into it further later. It looks like your doing some pretty cool stuff right now. Enjoy your holiday. Hope to get something on paper soon...

In case you didn't have enough drawing assignments from me...

Look at this page. It is a little summary of an ongoing art project I've been working on. The idea is to tell the story of the human experience through songs and quotes, and eventually pieces of drawing and painting. I have given the whole project (about 60 tracks/3 hours) to artist friends with the assignment to just sit with the music and see if it inspires any art. The ultimate vision is to give all those pieces of art to me and they will become a part of the project, sort of like a little gallery of the human experience.

If you are interested I can find a way to get you the music.

The Kengir Uprising

James. Read this little wikipedia entry. I was reading up a bit on the gulag seeing if hte castle can be modeled after it. I am in Kaldis Coffee right now - it's break so for campus ministers that means basically 5 weeks off. Great for creative time, that's pretty much all i've been doing.

I am trying to brainstorm characters and plots for part 2. Hard to say where ideas will come from but right now I am just trying to write as much brainstormed stuff about a whole gallery of characters. Like putting lines and images into a blender and seeing what sort of smoothie comes up. I've never really tried to write this way before, but it seems like the best way to learn about the world of faerie is just to explore, which is what this feels like.

Anyway, check out the kengir uprising... isn't that interesting. I wonder what it means when it says that arts and culture rose in the 40 day period of freedom? I came across this and was just so fascinated by the interesting things that can happen on planet earth...

I looked for the site, but I couldn't find it. Is it still up?

james' website

Check out my new website at jamestpreston.com, and let me know what you think.

James. Thanks for the encouragement. I'll have to give the soundtrack a try... it could stir the creative juices. It is good to hear that you are thinking that it is getting better. I forget the possibility that people might actually enjoy the story and when I get feedback like that it encourages me to keep writing.

Get that computer drawing pad! That sounds awesome. Take all the time you need. Any scene you are thinking of sketching first?

Lord of the Rings soundtrack while I read...

I listened to the Lord of the Rings soundtrack while I read your latest version... and it was incredible! There is a lot of great imagery going on here, and I really like the way you are structuring the foreshadowing. I think in the last version, the reader may have been given a little too much ahead of time. I know that part of that had to do with the fact that you weren't considering the graphic novel as a medium for your story at that time. But now I think you've tapped into the potential of coupling graphic narration with your well-crafted written narration. Keep up the good work... I will try to work on some sketches, but I apologize ahead of time if I don't produce much before the end of the holidays. I'm also hoping to get a wacom digital drawing tablet pretty soon, so that will hopefully light a fire under my rear. I love the story - it keeps getting better!

Thanksgiving was great. How was your holiday? I haven't had a moment to spare lately, but I am actually in the process of reading your new version right now, so I hope to get back to you soon.

and this is me and john mccain

How was your Thanksgiving?

This is Billy