REPORTING RESUMES AGAIN--FINALLY
It's been two years since the QEW Publishing Quarterly's last publication. But after a long bout of waning motivation with continuing to meet every new publication's timely release dates, the time has thankfully come again to resume this periodical's quarterly reporting. A lot has been accomplished here at QEW Publishing and a lot is presently occurring. So there are plenty of updates that need to be shared. QEW Publishing Quarterly needs to resume principally both as a matter of record and as an exercise in the discipline of consistency. It's important to document the creations and projects of QEW Publishing's developing and ongoing productions. A journal of the progress or setbacks of its present ventures and engagement of new ones should be maintained. After two years of delay followed quickly by literally nothing, QEW Publishing Quarterly is returning here with a renewed earnestness on presenting its timely quarterly releases.
SCRIBBLERS WEB
Stories don't write themselves. Writer's write. And there's strength in numbers. That's now the impetus of what's gradually become the cornerstone of the writers group, Scribblers Web. Initially, it had just comprised two aspiring writers meeting periodically at their local Starbucks. Quenton Shaw, writer and chief editor of the comic book and graphic novel producer, QEW Publishing, and Rick Rosenkranz, science fiction-fantasy author of the novels Luminarium One: Dark Evasion and Luminarium Two: Bright Manifest. Their meetings entailed with them discussing their own respective projects, character development, story structuring, scene composition, and tips for overcoming the occasional bout of Writer's Block. Over time, Scribblers Web had gradually become a mutually supportive exercise, encouraging creativity and contributing to the discipline required for writers to engage their craft. There hadn't been any sessions in nearly a year with the advent of imposed lock-down policies, but the first session was finally and very happily convened this summer of 2022 at Candor Coffee in Renton, Washington. Both writers were very happy with their reunion, resuming their activities exactly as they had been before the lockdowns, and they are enthusiastic about subsequent future sessions. Another pleasing development of Scribblers Web is that there are now possibly prospective new writer invitees, who may be joining the group. Jesse Alcott and Julian Camarillo. After being apart for so long there's finally now promising potential Scribblers Web could also be beginning to grow.
BLOOD ROOT MANUSCRIPT
Composing prose for a novel is difficult enough, as any writer knows, but a writer cannot become an author until he's completed and published a body of written work. Writers are constantly reminded that overcoming severe cases of Writer's Block is simply a matter of will. This has been the primary excuse for not completing the working manuscript for Blood Root, QEW Publishing's first novel production of vampire fiction. Despite composing rough drafts of twenty chapters, so far, progress has drastically suffered because of the stagnation of motivation dominating the last several years. Writer's Block has been the main culprit accused, but the truth really is a simple lacking of will. However, efforts to rejuvenate Blood Root's production are finally beginning to stir. A new tool specifically designed for structuring chapters has been implemented and has helped with drafting and fully laying out rough chapters more precisely and succinctly. And now by applying some ample sheer will, a sincere effort is being made to complete what has been started. There's hope here that the inner narrative voice, which enables novel production, can again be restored.
MAJOR STORY ART COMPLETION
Comic scripting is crucial for storytelling, but it's the comic story art that ushers it into visual fruition. Illustrations are the cornerstone of every comic book production and it's talented illustrators who help bring the scripting into visual life. QEW Publishing has been very pleased with the completion of the illustration phases for some of its productions. Illustrations have been fully completed for comic projects, Repo Katz, Arachne, The Bugs Next Door, and finally even the mini-series, Hellion. Other comic projects, Antares, P.I. McQueen, and Big Green Monster are steadily on track with having their illustration phases fully completed as well. There are significant quantities of time and financial costs invested in achieving these goals. A larger operating budget would help expedite and streamline the subsequent production phases of inking, coloring, and lettering. Nevertheless, QEW Publishing will continue its efforts with carefully maintaining and utilizing those quantities of its limited resources to remain steadfast on its present course.
ZOMBIES MINUS ZERO RESURRECTED
Zombies Minus Zero had always been intended to have been produced as a full-length horror comic book series. It was supposed to comprise a total of twelve issues. Unfortunately Zombies Minus Zero #1 was the only comic book issue that was ever published and released, and that was eight years ago. Thanks to a renewed interest, motivation to see production of this series resumed has been revitalized. Seeing several successful feats of online crowdfunding by other ventures and reviewing the earlier notes drafted for Zombies Minus Zero #2 is a major contributor to this inspiration. QEW Publishing is no stranger to online crowdfunding, but such campaigns have never been successful. This time around, however, there will be a new approach to promoting and marketing efforts for online crowdfunding. There will also be a devoted effort to reach whatever monetary goal is set within whatever time line is established. QEW Publishing's only publication of Zombies Minus Zero #1 will be fully utilized to help with this campaign for the efforts of producing the next comic issue, Zombies Minus Zero #2.
MAGISPHERE
This modern-day, sword-and sorcery fantasy comic mini-series has had a number of starts and stops with its production. Artist, Narayan Baidya has had an on-again-off-again performance. After his last absence and having received no communication from him for quite some time, QEW Publishing had officially deemed Magisphere's production defunct. The series' production had remained inert for about a year until Narayan himself reconnected to humbly proposed if he could resume with its illustrative production phase. QEW Publishing happily accepted his proposal and reactivated the project's production. To help salvage his renewed commitment, Magisphere's original length had even been reduced from a 4-part mini-series to only comprise a 56-page graphic novella. Narayan had only remained engaged and responsive to communications for a short period until he again begin to cease his timely updates and responses. So, unfortunately, Magisphere's production is stalled yet again. However, rather than deem the entire project defunct as before, production of the Visual Plot script edition will continue until it's fully completed.
EAT & RUN RE-DO
It was decided that a full-blown, re-do of this horror comic project was necessary. Eat & Run #0 had been initially released in 2015 as a special single-edition, introductory comic book prior to an eventual publication and release of its 75-page graphic novel edition. A few years later after its release and after a careful assessment, the comic's interior art was deemed incompatible with its content. QEW Publishing dutifully and regretfully addressed this matter with Eat & Run #0's illustrator, Nick Olivo, and settled with him. Once that was done, the search for new artist with a more suitable illustrative style begin and was done. QEW Publishing has submitted a proposal to MJ Hiblen, the illustrative artist of the graphic novel, Cover of Darkness, written by George Michail and Chris Cam and published by Source Point Press. MJ is scheduled to begin his collaboration on the Eat & Run re-do sometime in autumn of this year. For the sake of this refurbished reproduction, the original length of the Eat & Run graphic novel will be reduced from a 75-page book to a 56-page book.
BACK TO THE COMIC CONVENTIONS
QEW Publishing has chosen to ease back into the comic convention circuit this year. Lockdown policies that were imposed last year stifled any preparations and travel plans for exhibiting. Attendance was canceled for Olympic Collectible Expo in Silverdale, Washington. Reservations for Lilac City Comicon in Spokane, Washington and Bellingham Comicon in Ferndale, Washington had been floated to future schedule event dates. This year QEW Publishing happily exhibited at Lilac City's 2-day event. It was nice reconnecting with old and new colleagues, engage with new comic purchasers, and review QEW Publishing's exhibit for future presentations. Plans will be made for next year to attend convention events, Lilac City Comicon, Olympic Collectibles Expo, Crypticon Seattle, Bellingham Comicon, and perhaps even Summer Con.
*NEXT EDITION SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
