I honestly can’t remember much of what we talked about, but almost certain I talked a good length about the CiS/Scholastic deal. How it came about, what I have planned, etc. Probably said some stuff I shouldn’t have. That’s sorta my thing.

Speaking of which, I’m closing in to finishing my work on the first book. In fact, I’m hoping to have the whole thing colored by week’s end. This means I should have some more frequent updates as we move forward into this year. Just make sure to stay subscribed to this blog (or keep checking back) to keep up on all of the fun news, art and other things I plan on posting.

As I mentioned in my last post, I will cease selling my two self-published Cleo books in June. Originally, I said I would not be ordering any more, but I had to do one last small reprint to cover book 1 orders due to me forgetting to close down my store while out of town (and selling out of stock while at MegaCon). For those who ordered one while I was away, they are at the printer right now.

But that’s it! I won’t be printing any more. So I’ve started keeping a stock in the store so everyone is aware of how many I have left. Last week, I also started offering a limited number of my first-ever convention sketchbook, Operation Space Cat, online. Stock info for those is provided below as well. (stock updated 3-26-13)

Cleopatra in Space #1: 16 left in stock
Cleopatra in Space #2: 57 left in stock
Operation Space Cat, vol 1: 14 left in online stock

I also answered a bunch of your questions in the comment section of the other week’s post about the Scholastic deal. So if you asked one, make sure to check back! :)

Well, I can finally let the word out. Publishers Weekly broke the news:

In a two book deal with Scholastic/Graphix, [David] Saylor and editor Cassandra Pelham bought the first two books in Mike Maihack’s new middle-grade graphic novel series, Cleopatra in Space, starring a cheeky teenage Cleopatra—yes, the teenaged Egyptian Queen—who is transported into the future and enrolled in an academy to train her to save the galaxy from an evil threat. Publication for Book #1, Target Practice, is scheduled for 2014. [The deal was negotiated and finalized by Judy Hansen of the Hansen Literary Agency]

Pretty exciting! Even more so that Cleo is going to share a home with so many of my favorite books and authors. And my experience working with everyone at Scholastic has been absolutely wonderful. I really think you guys are going to like these books.

Now I know there’s going to be some questions concerning the webcomic so I’m going to do my best to answer the ones I’ve already gotten via Twitter, Facebook, what-have-you, and a few I made up. Any others just ask them in the comment section below and I’ll get to them as soon as I’m able.

Q: Is this is a new story, different than the webcomic? And if so how does the webcomic fit in?

Yup! The first Scholastic book is something of an origin tale and spotlights how Cleo first arrived in the future. Hence why she’s a little younger than she currently is. So the Scholastic books (the first few anyhow) take place at the beginning of Cleo’s overarching story-path while the current webcomic tale takes place somewhere in the middle. In fact, it should be fun seeing some of the differences in the characters knowing what you know now. Everything in the webcomic is canon.

Q: Will the book series be different in tone than the webcomic?

Other than you won’t be seeing Cleo back in any “oases” again anytime soon, you can expect the exact same style, action, and humor the webcomic has always had. Maybe even more so (for better or worse).

Q: What does this mean for the future of the webcomic? Was this the reason for the hiatus?

The hiatus was partly due to this yes, but only in that I had to switch gears from working on the webcomic to working on a graphic novel instead. Scholastic has actually been very accommodating in allowing me to continue the webcomic up until I hand in the first book—which is how you’ve been able to read a large chunk of chapter 3.

I always intended on finishing this current webcomic story arc, but I underestimated the time it takes to work on a graphic novel and balance a family life. So unfortunately—and it really does pain me to say this—the current page (ch.3 pg 19) will be the last page of the webcomic. But I’ve already figured out how to work the ending into the book series if I’m (hopefully) able to publish past two books. So, well… longest cliffhanger ever I guess.

Q: How far into the book are you?

As of writing this, the first book is already completely drawn and I’m about half-way through coloring it. Should have it completed by June. I immediately jump into working on the second book as soon as it’s done.

Q: Do you have more than two books planned?

Yes.

Q: What does this mean for the current books. Will those still be available?

The current books will only be available until June and I won’t be reprinting either of them. So, best to get them while you can. Prints and other CiS merchandise (if I ever decide to make some) will still be for sale.

Q: Can we expect the same amount of spelling and grammatical errors we’ve grown so accustomed to in the webcomic?

No, thank God. I have an incredibly great editor who’s making sure that doesn’t happen. I’ve even had someone update my font so it doesn’t have serifs on all the I’s! Only professionally written comics from here on out. :)

As some of you may know, I started working on a graphic novel a few months ago, and that pretty much takes up my Monday through Friday. Saturday is family day. And Sunday is just me and Oliver day. Any extra time I have in between all that is spent on various freelance or whatever else the wind blows (or sometimes gusts) my way. I used to have a lot of freedom during the week to juggle all my various jobs and a webcomic, but now with a whole new person living in the house that time just isn’t there anymore. And honestly, the last thing I feel like doing after drawing comics all day is draw more comics. Don’t get me wrong, I love drawing comics. But after spending five days stuck in a chair, going to the park with my son is slightly more inviting at the end of the week.

But here’s the thing, I don’t want to give up on this comic completely. I had an entire beginning, middle, and end planned for this story and I’m SO CLOSE to that end. So instead of trying to update weekly, missing those updates, and then you having to read this story in gaps, I’ve decided to simply work on the webcomic whenever I can. Once it’s all done, then I’ll start updating the comic again–either weekly, bi-weekly or maybe even every day. I have no idea how long that’s going to take, but am going to do my best to finish it. And hopefully, a few of you will still want to read it.

So that’s that. Sorry that it’s not the news a lot of you probably wanted to hear. Life is what it is and I’m just trying to enjoy every bit of it.

Vote for Cleopatra In Space at Top Webcomics

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*Besides in the title banner up above of course.

Vote for Cleopatra In Space at Top Webcomics

I didn’t do a lot of sketching at this show, but a few that I did are below. Except that last one of Concrete which I drew while waiting for my flight back to Tampa. Sorry about the bad images. They were all taken with my phone. Apparently the Baltimore Convention Center had some weird green lighting I wasn’t aware of.

Oh- and new Cleo pages start again on Monday!

Along with Heroes Con, BCC is one of the best kid-friendly shows on the east coast and there’s going to be a lot of events and activities going on. So if you have children, make sure to bring them by. My attendance was something of a last minute thing, but hopefully I can squeeze in some sort of activity or demonstration as well. Maybe show the kids how to draw space cats or sumthin. At any rate, should be a fun time and I look forward to seeings some of you there!

Also, don’t hurt me, but since BCC is this weekend, I’m going to take just one more week off of CiS. But I promise it will return the following monday, Sept 17th, with regular updates.