Finally, a good sketch for the lightning strike

I've been working (only part time) on the illustrations I want to do for Take The Wind Up With You for a few months now, and it didn't feel like I was getting anywhere with them until recently, when I realized I was seeing this image more and more clearly in my mind with every boring sketch I made. Last night I finally got the basic idea down. Hooray!

This isn't the final version, but I'm beginning to understand both the process of development, and also the look that I want the illustrations to have.

Now on to the next one!

Ha-Tuk arrives!

Bowen and Morris

Morris has a new buddy, the young actor who will be playing Ha-Tuk in the movie. His first name is Bowen, but I don't know much about him yet, except that he's really smart.

He'll be starting work soon, but you know how it is when the budget is small—things happen very s-l-o-w-l-y.

However, I hear the movie theme song is almost finished, and will probably be the next video clip we'll see.

And speaking of exciting announcements, TTWUWY (the Kindle edition) is on a countdown deal right now in the UK! It runs from today through February 9th.

Morris and Deke shoot their first scene together

In the very first shoot, things fall apart as the lack of a makeup artist scuttles the guys' attempts to act their parts.

On The Set With Morris now viewable on youtube

The first video from the set of TTWUWY is now viewable on youtube! Morris Mouseman shows the set where the first scenes will be shot, and introduces us to Deke Bixby...well, he tries to.

Top actors signed for "Take the Wind Up With You: Making The Movie"

Deke Bixby

The auditions and screen tests are finished for the two lead roles in "Take The Wind Up With You: Making The Movie", and the two lucky actors are now preparing for their roles. The exciting young actor, Deke Bixby, fresh from his starring role in "Vampire Eagles," will play Tlocan, while the role of Ha-Keen will be taken by screen legend Morris Mouseman. Mouseman has worked exclusively on the British stage for the last two years; this is his first movie since "Mouse of Cards." This role could be a breakout role for Bixby, labeled "most promising" and "underrated" in the Hollywood press.

Morris Mouseman

Portions of the screen tests can be seen on youtube for both Bixby and Mouseman.

Filming for the movie is scheduled to begin after the first of the year.

Countdown deal on Amazon starts Tuesday, Nov. 25th

Yesterday I took my book poster and cards to a Christmas Bazaar and talked to several people about Take The Wind Up With You (TTWUWY for short). It was exciting to connect to people about it, especially the young people who like to read fictional animal stories.

TTWUWY will be an Amazon Countdown Deal from Tuesday, Nov. 25th through Dec. 1st, and the price will be 99 cents.

One young man asked me if it will be available in stores. For now the answer is no, the kindle version is all there is. I do want to make a print version, which will also be available on Amazon, but I haven't started working on that yet, so it'll be at least another year. I will announce on this blog when I start that work. At this time I'm still working on the first songs, which are coming along nicely and should be done this year, and my next project will be some short videos.

Free Book Day Tomorrow!

Kindle copies of Take The Wind Up With You are FREE tomorrow, all day on Amazon! The more copies that go out, the happier I'll be. Just one day—Saturday, Oct. 4th—this time.

Please tell your friends!

I had a very productive afternoon, working on the music for Ha-Keen's song.