The Liebster Award: 4th and 5th Nominations!

Thank you so much to David Blake (davidblakeimagemaker.wordpress.com and thebearggrr.wordpress.com) for nominating me a fourth time for the Liebster Award! Don’t forget to check out David’s fascinating work.

And thank you so much to Annamita Virosa (annamitavirosa.wordpress.com) for nominating me a fifth time for this award! Check our Annamita’s awesome doodles and dream memories.

To view the post from my first and second nominations, click here, here, and here.

I’d like to apologize in advanced for my answers to David and Annamita’s questions — I found a number of these queries a bit confusing. But I tried to answer to the best of my ability!

As I mentioned previously, I continue to accept these awards because I love being able to share/promote other talented WordPress bloggers by nominating them. So please take a look at the list of nominations below!!

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Rules

1. Post eleven facts about yourself.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you and create eleven questions for people you’ve nominated.
3. Choose eleven people to give this award to and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.

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Instead of eleven facts about myself…

Some of My Favorite Japanese Words

1.  めちゃくちゃ, mechakucha: absurd, nonsensical, incoherent.
2. 奪う, ubau: to snatch away, to steal.
3. 見失う, miushinau: to lose sight of, to miss.
4. 罰, batsu: punishment, penalty.
5. はしゃぐ, hashagu: to make merry, to frolic.
6. 飛び立つ, tobitatsu: to fly away, to take off, to leap to one’s feet.
7. 吐き出す, hakidasu: to spit out.
8. 叫ぶ, sakebu: to shout, to cry out, to yell.
9. 降り注ぐ, furisosogu: to rain incessantly, to downpour.
10. 山椒魚, sanshouuo: salamandar
11. 鹿煎餅, shikasenbei: rice crackers for feeding deer (in Nara).
12. 理事長, rijichou: board chairman.
13. 伯爵, hakushaku: count, earl.
14. 恐ろしい, osoroshii: terrible, dreadful, frightening.
15. 戸惑い, tomadoi: losing one’s bearings, confusion, wonderment.

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David’s Questions

1. What encouraged you to start blogging (honestly)?

I wanted to share my work with the world.

2. Heart broken or never touched. Would you rather risk it all for love or not at all?

Neither. I’m not a romantic. But I have a wonderful boyfriend!

3. What is your favourite medium to write, paint, draw or generally create with?

Difficult question. If I could only have one implement, I would choose a black felt-tip pen.

4. I love to day dream (but I’m also very proactive ). Are you a dreamer?

A dreamer, yes. But also a “radiant pessimist” — I hope for the best, but expect the worst.

5. Skipping this question.

6. If you were an artist, living or deceased, who would you be?

Myself. Not that I’m “the best” artist — I just have no desire to be anyone else.

7. In answering 6, do you think you have the qualities to do that person justice?

I hope I do myself justice.

8. What is your favourite hot drink?

Chai.

9. What quality do you admire most in people?

Determination and ambition without being self-absorbed.

10. Did you believe I was a bear (ggrr bear)?

Frankly, no.

11. I love imperfection, to me it is true beauty. What do you love?

Creativity and culture.

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Annamita’s Questions

1. Hello, do you know me? ( Biffy Clyro – Living is a problem because everything dies) I’m not sure — do I?

2. How did you get that way? (Lana Del Rey - Millions Dollars Man) What way? What?

3. Do you believe ? (The cardigans – Do you believe?) Not so much.

4. Are we safer or in danger? ( Otep – Confrontation) I’m guessing “in danger.”

5. Can anybody help me make it better? (BFMV – Tears don’t fall) Err…

6. Do you have an opinion? (Garbage – Special) Yes.

7. What was said about this man? ( Chevelle – sma, the man can be anyone you want) What man? Who?

8. Someone who’ll protect you? (Muse – Deadstar) Myself.

9. Remember me when you clinch your movie deal ? (Placebo – Special Needs) If I must.

10. How do we made it? (Black Infinity – Rise of the blackstars) I think I misread something.

11. Do you have any questions? (Annamita Virosa) No, I don’t want to know.

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Nominations

In no particular order… but each one filled with talent and creativity!

1. tabascocatart.com
2. arisbethcruz.wordpress.com
3. juannavarro.wordpress.com
4. shashinkaichiban1.wordpress.com
5. emilyfellah.wordpress.com
6. mysilvermemories.wordpress.com
7. lewisleanne.wordpress.com
8. sharonmanndesigns.com
9. loudhailer.net
10. judywatson.wordpress.com
11. oldkingcurry.wordpress.com
12. kathrinspycher.com
13. thedrawingshop.wordpress.com
14. craftedincarhartt.wordpress.com
15. madmanchegan.com
16. hamsterandthebee.com
17. myhomemakes.com
18. synkris.wordpress.com
19. gribouilleuselondon.wordpress.com
20. joannadunn.co.uk
21. violetgallery.wordpress.com
22. wildersoul.wordpress.com

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My Questions

1. What is the strangest dream you’ve ever had?
2. What is/was your favorite subject in school?
3. When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
4. Who is your role model?
5. What is your favorite holiday?
6. What is your least favorite vegetable?
7. What is your guilty pleasure?
8. Are you an optimist or pessimist?
9. What are your short-term goals/New Year’s resolutions?
10. What did you last eat?
11. Do you have any special and/or bizarre talents?

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on facebook, tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

Check Out “The Poet and the Flea”!!!

Yesterday, I posted the 20th page of The Poet and the Flea… What!? Wow!!

The Flea premiered online November 28th, 2012 and has already received more than 10,000 views.

I have been honored to received a number of wonderful reviews thus far, such as those by Sarah Goode and Hannah Meiklejohn, as well as an incredible invitation to speak to The Blake Society in London this coming May.

Self-publishing The Flea online has been an incredible experience so far and I thank everyone for their enthusiasm and support!

Best wishes,

G. E.

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FYI, to receive information about The Flea on your Facebook news feed, please “like” me at facebook.com/gegallas!

For those of you who have yet to check out The Flea (and for those who wish to read the first 20 pages over again), I’ve included links below. Enjoy!

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Start from the beginning!

Cover

Title Page

Note

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Page 8

Page 9

Page 10

Page 11

Page 12

Page 13

Page 14

Page 15

Page 16

Page 17

Page 18

Page 19

Page 20

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Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

Package from The Blake Society

Related Posts: Correspondence with The Blake Society and G. E. Gallas Invited to Speak to The Blake Society!

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At the beginning of March, the chair of the Blake Society Tim Heath confirmed my invitation to speak to the society as well as asked that I put together a title, description, and bio for this year’s programme of events.

To give me a better idea of what to write, Tim offered to send me a copy of last year’s brochure. And, late last week, this beautiful printed booklet arrived (see photos below)!

I can’t wait to see how this year’s programme will turn out!

P.S. I only just realized that Philip Pullman is the president of the Blake Society. What!? I mean, it makes complete and total sense, but I’m still trying to wrap my brain around that fact.

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on facebook, tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

First Zine Progress and Contest: Round Two!!

Related Posts: First Zine and Future Shop and First Zine Progress and Contest!!

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A few weeks ago, I finished the pen work for my first zine. I’ve been very busy recently, but hope that sometime soon I’ll be able to get this zine scanned, printed, and watercolored. Then, once The Flea plush toy is ready, I’m planning on opening my online store!

Here are a few closeups of some pen work for the zine:

As I mentioned before, my first zine is an illustrated Pre-Raphaelite poem. The poem will remain a secret until closer to the zine’s release. But I’ll give one free copy to the first person who can correctly guess which poem it is.

I’ve realized that I made this contest a little bit too hard. Thusly, I added a few more hints (#4 and #5). Also, be sure to check the comments of my post First Zine Progress and Contest!! for even more hints. I will be shocked if no one produces the correct answer this time!

Hint #1: The Seven Deadly Sins.

Hint #2: The poem is not “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti.

Hint #3: More specifically than Hint #1 — The Seven Princes of Hell.

Hint #4: More specifically than Hint #3 — Mammon.

Hint #5: The poem was written by ONE of the three original Pre-Raphaelites — either William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, or Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

For a chance to win, either leave a comment below or (if you’d like to keep your guess secret from other contestants) shoot me an e-mail at gegallas@hotmail.com — subject “First Zine Contest.”

Best of luck!!

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

The Flea’s First Fan Art!

Yesterday, I was incredibly excited to discover that the awesome Ms. Blake Woodruff of imoutoart.wordpress.com (I’ll call her Ms. Woodruff as to not get confused with Mr. Blake!) posted a fan art of my graphic novel The Poet and the Flea. As far as I know, this is the first ever fan art of The Flea and feels like a huge milestone in The Flea‘s progress!!

I asked Ms. Woodruff for permission to repost her illustration here on my blog (see below) and hope that all my readers/followers will take a look at the impressive work on her blog and website!

I especially admire the deep colors/tones she used for this piece and get a total kick out of The Flea lurking in the background!

Next, I plan on creating a fan art page on thepoetandtheflea.wordpress.com and will post Ms. Woodruff’s piece there as well.

I wholeheartedly welcome all The Poet and the Flea fan art and would be more than delighted to showcase your work on my blog!

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

First Zine Progress and Contest!!

Related Post: First Zine and Future Shop

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For the past month or so, in between working on Elias & the City of Cats and The First Reich, I’ve been sneaking in progress on my first zine.

Here are a few closeups of some pencil work for the zine:

As I mentioned before, my first zine is an illustrated Pre-Raphaelite poem. The poem will remain a secret until closer to the zine’s release. But I’ll give one free copy to the first person who can correctly guess which poem it is.

Hint #1: The Seven Deadly Sins.

Hint #2: The poem is not “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti.

Hint #3: More specifically than Hint #1 — The Seven Princes of Hell.

For a chance to win, either leave a comment below or (if you’d like to keep your guess secret from other contestants) shoot me an e-mail at gegallas@hotmail.com — subject “First Zine Contest.”

Best of luck!!

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

Internship at Zest Books!

Disclaimer: I do not own this image!!

Only January, and I can already check #10 off my New Year’s resolutions list (New Year’s Resolutions, Anyone?). I have finally gotten an official internship in a field of my interest.

At the end of the month, I will start working at Zest Books, a publishing company focused on readers in their teens and early twenties!

Last week, I had an interview with Ann (Marketing and Editorial Associate) and was hired for the internship on the spot. It’s a small office in a really cool building/neighborhood and, on first impression, extremely friendly staff.

For this internship, I really feel like I’ll be able to utilize a number of my skills (writing, editing, social media, Japanese language & culture, etc.). I might also have an opportunity to do some freelance illustration work for them as well, which would be absolutely amazing! Plus, the internship is only a couple days a week, so I’ll still have ample time to continue my independent projects like The Poet and the Flea. Most of all, I’m excited to learn everything I possibly can about the business side of publishing!!

One really cool aspect of Zest Books is their Teen Advisory Board. They have a number of teen readers who work as interns and help the publishers figure out what kind of books teens would like to read/see published. According to Ann, the current Teen Advisory Board is really into anime/manga and Doctor Who — so I think I’ll get along with these kids just fine!

Zest focuses on non-fiction titles, from memoirs to how-to books. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been really looking into their titles and have found a number of books that pique my interest. I’ve complied a list of my favorites below, so check them out!

1. Super Pop
2. Dear Teen Me
3. Dead Strange
4. The End
5. The Look Book
6. Reel Culture
7. The Dictionary of High School B.S.
8. Uncool
9. Indie Girl
10. Crap

Anyway, I’m really looking forward to starting this internship and will share my learning experience with all of you. Wish me luck!!

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For more Zest Books…

• Homepage: zestbooks.net
• Facebook: facebook.com/BooksWithATwist?ref=ts
• Twitter: twitter.com/zestbooks
• Pinterest: pinterest.com/zestbooks
• YouTube: youtube.com/zestbooks

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Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

Note on the Taishō Period

For many years, I have been fascinated by modern Japan — everything from the Meiji period (1868 – 1912) to current day. One of my favorite periods is a rather short one known as Taishō (1912 – 1926). What strikes me most about Taishō is the amazing blend of Japanese and Western aesthetics.

I think my interest in Taishō really began when I read Yukio Mishima’s novel Spring Snow (Haru no Yuki). This novel is actually a period piece — published in 1969, but set around 1912 – 1914. Mishima gives a detailed look at the Japanese class system of the period through a romantic tragedy (although I’m not sure Mishima saw this story as such).

My interest in Taishō developed further through a series of college courses on modern Japanese literature. I even did a project involving costume designs for a Taishō-set short story, involving research on fashion of the period from Kimonos and beyond.

I also find advertisements from this period interesting. Actually, the Shiseido ads from the 1900s through the 1930s are really remarkable! You can find out more about these ads on MIT’s Visualizing Cultures website.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a number of my favorite images:

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following images!!

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Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas

Much Ado About Bubbie: Bubbie’s Mad About Hamm

This is an idea I had a while back for a comedic blog about my Bubbie and her antics. If you all enjoy this, perhaps I’ll write a few more, such as how Bubbie voted entirely Democratic except for Mitt Romney because she thinks he’s handsome or how Bubbie now has a crush on Jake Gyllenhaal because he’s a “nice Jewish boy.”

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Much Ado About Bubbie

Bubbie (noun): A term of endearment for a Jewish Grandmother.

Example: My Bubbie doesn’t keep kosher outside of the house.

My sister Sydney, Bubbie, and me.

Bubbie’s Mad About Hamm

My Bubbie Isabelle has a crush on Jon Hamm.

Just like the rest of the family, Bubbie tunes into Mad Men every Sunday night to watch the admen of 1960s Madison Avenue drink, smoke, whore, and gossip – not to mention dish out sexist, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, and anti-Semitic dialogue by the second, all of which (with the exception of the anti-Semitic variety) go unprotested by my Bubbie, a true product of the time.

To me, the series is a literary masterpiece on film regardless of how small the screen. To Bubbie, it’s just another one of her “weekly stories,” on par with General Hospital and The Young and the Restless.

Jon Hamm plays the brooding protagonist slash advertising genius, Donald Draper, on the show. Ever since reading in The Kansas City Star that the handsome actor is a St. Louis native, Bubbie – who’s lived in Missouri for over seventy years – has harbored a vicarious pride for Mr. Hamm. Much to my family’s embarrassment, this is not Bubbie’s first crush on a man that is at least a decade younger than my dad.

One time on vacation, while my family was checking into the Waldorf Astoria for a night, Bubbie was mesmerized by the dazzling charm and good looks of an Israeli desk clerk.

What a five-foot tall, eighty-something-year-old – complete with her teased-and-set helmet hair, her rhinestoned schoolteacher sweaters, and her constrictive girdle that makes her waddle – would want with a thirty-something-year-old desk clerk was not exactly a welcomed thought in my thirteen-year-old brain.

…a thought that was only exacerbated by the phrase Bubbie used to convey her attraction to the young man:

“He can put his shoes under my bed any day!”

Bubbie employs the same phrase in regards to Jon Hamm.

Whenever I phone Bubbie, my curiosity always gets the better of me. I can’t help but ask her what she thought of the most recent episode of Mad Men. And just like that, she goes off on her classic rant.

Firstly, Bubbie is angry at the show for not portraying the 60s how she remembers it, what with the show’s excessive drinking, smoking, and sex in the office. “When I worked in an office, they didn’t do that kind of stuff!”

Furthermore, Bubbie not only treats Jon Hamm as if he truly exists during the 1960s, but as if Jon Hamm is accountable for his character Don Draper’s actions. Whenever Don Draper does something that Bubbie doesn’t approve of (for instance, whenever Don has sex with a woman he’s not married to – an incident that occurs almost every episode and with what seems like a different woman every time), Bubbie is not only upset with but in disbelief that Jon Hamm would do such a thing, as if she’s oblivious to the profession of acting.

That’s when Bubbie whips out yet another one of her famous phrases, this time to express her disappointment with Jon Hamm’s behavior:

“Why, it’s disgusting!”

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Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas

Brief Update

Here is a brief update on my current creative projects and endeavors…!

★ “The Poet and the Flea 100 Day Countdown to the Premiere” is underway!! Join us on Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook!

Wednesday, October 24th

1. Uploaded portfolio to this blog.
2. Requested invite from DreamUp.com (not at all sure how this will turn out…).
3. Did some online research about zines, printers, etc.

Thursday, October 25th

1. Working on submission to Fantagraphics.
2. Continuing to work on some upcoming blog posts and project ideas.

Friday, October 26th

1. Meeting with Gabe went very well as always. Gabe took the time to cut and paste his entire story, Elias & The City of Cats, into a children’s book format to give me a better idea of what I need to illustrate. From this prototype, I’ll start working on a rough sketch storyboard!
2. Applied to the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival Screenwriters Competition. Information updated on “Applications” post, here.
3. Completed submissions package for Fantagraphics. Now, I just have to put in the mail!
4. Scanned character preliminary design for Elias and Ignis of Elias & The City of Cats. With this design, I was just experimenting with some Commedia dell’Arte (Pierrot & Harlequin) costumes which most likely won’t appear in the final children’s book. But Gabe seems to really like this image and wants to make some t-shirts. Any interest?

Saturday, October 27th

1. Last night and today, working on rough sketch storyboard for Elias & The City of Cats.
2. Did some experimenting with animation app on iPad.

Sunday, October 28th

1. Worked on figuring out the crazy California ballot (so many props!) so that I can vote early tomorrow.
2. Had a wonderful time with Wes today! Ate dinner at The Corner Store — both had these amazing “Grasshoppers” (crème de menthe, absinthe, chocolate, and vanilla ice cream). Can’t wait to see him again on Halloween! （○゜ε＾○）

Monday, October 29th

1. I voted today!!
2. Dropped submissions package for Fantagraphics in the mail!
3. Applied for a part-time writing job. Wish me luck!

Tuesday, October 30th

1.  Working on rough sketch storyboard for Elias & The City of Cats.
2. Discovered that my short screenplay Death Is No Bad Friend made it to the Kaos Films British Short Screenplay Competition 2nd Round Qualifiers (announced earlier this month). I have no idea how many rounds this competition is, but does that mean that judge Sir Kenneth Branagh has read my screenplay?  (｡♥‿♥｡)
3. Responded to a film director on Craigslist looking for a short screenplay, and got an almost immediate response of interest. Hoping this will be successful!
4. Sent an e-mail to Scout Books enquiring about collaboration and their Good Ink’s literary line.

Wednesday, October 31st

1. Completed rough sketch storyboard for Elias & The City of Cats.
2. Happy Halloween!!!  I had a great time at Wes’s house’s pretty dorky party, even though I don’t think anyone recognized my Daria costume (even though Shannon Woodward and Katy Perry dressed as Daria and Jane without my prior knowledge). Plus, Wes gave me a belated birthday present — meet Charles, the British alpaca!!

Thursday, November 1st

1. Recovering from last night!
2. Ran some errands…
3. Also, my mom’s (Irene Zweig) new postcards (see below) came in the mail!

Etcetera

• The Poet and the Flea: 49 pages of written script (1 page of script = 4-6 illustrated pages), and about 36 pages (1-24, 27-30 completed, and 25-26, 31-36 in progress) of illustrated work.
• The First Reich: Began work on the first few pages…!

To Do:

• Continue adding blog content to The First Reich.
• Continue to work on The First Reich.
• Continue to work on Elias & The City of Cats.
• November 2nd: meet with Gabe at 11 a.m.
• November 7th: Scary Cow Information Session with Shannon.
• November 9th: Cinema by the Bay with Wes at 7 p.m.
• Sign up with Top Web Comics: Comic Rankings.
• Sign up with OnlineComics.net.

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas