Comics I Admire: “Quarterly Stories”

Today, I am pleased to present Joshua Kemble and his new online graphic novel Two Stories.

I stumbled across the website Quarterly Stories whilst on my search for autobiographical/non-fiction webcomics. I’m not sure how I came across this amazing work, but I sure am glad I did.

Two Stories is an autobiographical graphic novel that deals with themes of “…life, love, loss, and depression.” As far as I can tell, the novel will consist of a series of short stories that are all autobiographical, but will be presented in various styles, tones, and genres (“serious to silly”).

Not only are Josh’s illustrations absolutely stunning, full of texture and movement, but his storytelling is powerful and compelling. For this first chapter, it is not just a story of attempted suicide, but more astonishingly a step-by-step examination of the protagonist/author’s thought process — a complex mind that makes connections (from Shakespeare to It’s A Wonderful Life and back to reality) and plays tricks on itself (“The Suicide Game” on page 4).

Josh is a Xeric Award-winning cartoonist who works as a freelance illustrator as well as an adjunct professor at Laguna College of Art and Design. With such an impressive background and body of work, I’m expecting Two Stories to be quickly snatched up by publishers.

The following images belong to Joshua Kemble.

For more Quarterly Stories and Joshua Kemble, please check out the following websites…

quarterlystories.com

joshuakemble.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Joshua-Kemble-Illustrations/130292550362837

Store: joshuakemble.com/?page_id=241

Numb: www.amazon.com/Numb-Lost-Love-Broken-Memories/dp/B002O746WA

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Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

Brief Update

★ Don’t forget to check out my graphic novel, The Poet and the Flea!

A new page every Wednesday!

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

Wednesday, January 9th

1. E-mails, e-mails, e-mails…!
2. Worked on Elias & the City of Cats.
   
3. Worked on first zine!
4. Received my fourth nomination for The Beautiful Blogger Award!

Thursday, January 10th

1. E-mails, e-mails, e-mails…!
2. Worked on Elias & the City of Cats.
   
3. Continued work on first zine.

Friday, January 11th

1. E-mails, e-mails, e-mails…!
   
2. Worked on Elias & the City of Cats.
3. Continued work on first zine.
4. Today, set up an interview for a potential internship at a local publishing company! The interview’s Wednesday afternoon, so I have some time to prepare and de-stress beforehand.

Saturday, January 12th

1. Was going to go see Gangster Squad this weekend with Wes. But I’m definitely coming down with something. Hope I get better before the interview on Wednesday! ヽ(￣д￣;)ノ
2. I’m sure you’ve all heard about and seen the amazing giant squid footage recently captured by Japanese scientists. Well, I made a giant squid discovery of my own (see photograph below)! P. S. I love the Japanese word for giant squid – 大王烏賊 daiouika, which uses the characters for “big,” “king,” “crow/raven” (perhaps because squids have beaks), and “rebel/thief/bandit.” Yes, giant squid are awesome!!

Resident Squid at Woodhouse Fish Co.

Sunday, January 13th

1. Under the weather!
2. I just had to share something amazing with all of you. Recently, I’ve started watching a very strange show called Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy. The only way to describe it is Monty Python meets a live-action version of Yellow Submarine plus an unverified amount of crack. You might want to watch the whole episode if you’ve never seen it before to understand the humor. But I wanted to point you all in the direction of a skit about William Blake and The Ghost of a Flea (like The Poet and the Flea, but not)! Watch from 7:50 for The Flea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvx4QLHGUCs

Monday, January 14th

1. Worked on Elias & the City of Cats.
2. Continued work on first zine.
3. Prepared a bit for interview on Wednesday!

Tuesday, January 15th

1. Worked on Elias & the City of Cats.
2. Continued work on first zine.
3. Worked on preliminary design for  The Flea plush toy!!

Wednesday, January 16th

• Successful interview at Zest Books — will be starting internship at the end of the month!!!

Thursday, January 17th

1. Discovered this amazing review of The Poet and the Flea by Sarah Goode at University College Oxford on the British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies’s website!
2. Correspondence with The Blake Society.

Friday, January 18th

1. Brief but great meeting with Gabe! He seemed to really love what I’ve done so far on the final illustrations for Elias & the City of Cats. He didn’t make any changes other than adding a handwritten title to the cover and adding a second page for the part we call “cat craziness.” Plus, I sent Gabe a list of children’s book publishers I’ve compiled and he’ll look over it in the coming days. It’s wonderful to think that, once I’ve finished the final illustrations, Gabe will start working on submitting Elias to publishers!!! 
2. Began reading Wes’s screenplay!!

Saturday, January 19th

• Continued reading Wes’s screenplay!!

Sunday, January 20th

1. Received some amazing news — more details to come!
2. Saw Gangster Squad with Wes! Both of us agree that it wasn’t as bad as the 33% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Monday, January 21st

1. E-mails, e-mails, e-mails…!
2. Finished reading Wes’s screenplay!! Going to meet on Wednesday to go over it with him. (^-^)
3. Nominated for The Liebster Award for a second time!

Tuesday, January 22nd

1. E-mails, e-mails, e-mails…!
2. Worked on Elias & the City of Cats.
3. Submitted The Poet and the Flea to The Belfry WebComics Index.
4. Nominated for The Versatile Blogger Award!

Wednesday, January 23rd

1. Discussed screenplay with Wes today! I think he has a really strong screenplay (especially for a first draft) and already knows which elements need to be further developed. (︶ω︶)
2. Received Amazon order — William Blake’s Divine Comedy Illustrations and Charles Burns’s Black Hole!

Thursday, January 24th

• Worked on Elias & the City of Cats.

Friday, January 25th

1. Worked on Elias & the City of Cats.
2. Worked on preliminary design for  The Flea plush toy!!

Saturday, January 26th

1. Helped my mom, the abstract artist Irene Zweig, deliver her paintings to Gallerie Citi in Burlingame where she will be featured in a show sometime this Spring. You can visit Gallerie Citi’s homepage to learn more and even visit my mom’s profile on their page.
2. Had dinner with a lovely relative from out of town.

Sunday, January 27th

1. Had brunch with our lovely cousins.
2. Date night with Wes!

Etcetera

• The Poet and the Flea: 63 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: about 1-10 pages of illustrated work in progress.
• First Zine: about 6-8 pages of illustrated work in progress.

To Do:

• Add more information to my Behance.net profile.
• Add more information to my Coroflot.com profile.
• Continue adding blog content to The First Reich.
• Continue to work on The First Reich.
• Continue to work on Elias & The City of Cats.
• Complete script for The Poet and the Flea.

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

***

Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

Brief Update

★ Don’t forget to check out my graphic novel, The Poet and the Flea!

A new page every Wednesday!

***

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

Saturday, December 29th

• Did some more research on fellowships/internships/jobs.

Sunday December 30th

• Happy Birthday, Wes! Classic pizza and ice cream celebration in Haight-Ashbury. Wes loved his presents — a doodle of his future corgis, a ramen noodle chocolate bar, and a Moonrise Kingdom T-Shirt. (´ε｀ )♡

 

Monday, December 31st

1. New Year’s Resolutions, Anyone?
2. Spent New Years with Wes and his friends. Lovely company and lots of food and drinks!

Tuesday, January 1st

1. Recovering from New Year’s. Ate a tasty lunch in Japantown with Wes!
2. Did some more research on fellowships/internships/jobs.

Wednesday, January 2nd

1. Worked on Cannes paperwork.
2. Sent out a few query letters about potential internships.
3. Did some more research on production companies.

Thursday, January 3rd

1. Worked on Elias & the City of Cats.
2. Brainstorming ideas for The Blanks collaboration.
3. Worked on idea for possible first self-printed zine.

Friday, January 4th

1. Worked on Elias & the City of Cats.
2. Continued to work on an idea for possible first self-printed zine.
3. Worked on some new posts and other blog content.

Saturday, January 5th

1. Did some research on children’s book publishers.
2. Visited local fabric store to scope out materials for future project.

Sunday, January 6th

• Went with Wes to “Out of Character: Decoding Chinese Calligraphy” at the Asian Art Museum. Ate lunch at this amazing  restaurant called Absinthe. Later, ate phở for dinner. Such a fun day!
  

Monday, January 7th

1. E-mails, e-mails, e-mails…!
2. Helped with editing a family project.
3. Wes sent me his newly finished full-length screenplay to read — so excited!!! (^-^)

Tuesday, January 8th

1. E-mail correspondence for potential internship. Hoping I’ll get an interview!
2. Nominated for The One Lovely Blog Award + The Very Inspiring Blogger Award.
3. Wes bought tickets to Lewis Black in February — we’re gonna laugh ’til our stomachs hurt and I can’t wait!!!

Etcetera

• The Poet and the Flea: 63 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: about 1-10 pages of illustrated work in progress.

To Do:

• Add more information to my Behance.net profile.
• Add more information to my Coroflot.com profile.
• Continue adding blog content to The First Reich.
• Continue to work on The First Reich.
• Continue to work on Elias & The City of Cats.
• Complete script for The Poet and the Flea.
• 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 2013 by G. E. Gallas

New Year’s Resolutions, Anyone?

2012, My First Year in San Francisco!

I don’t usually do this “New Year’s resolution” thing. But I have so many short-term and long-term goals, I thought this would be a good way to organize my brain.

I’m not sure exactly how long it will take to complete this goal list, but I’m hoping to accomplish a good chunk within the coming months.

But, before that, I’d also like to make a list of my recent accomplishments. Often, I feel like nothing is moving forward, so hopefully this list will remind me that my hard work is paying off.

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Achievements of 2012

1. Have been working incredibly hard on my new online graphic novel The Poet and the Flea.
2. Have taken part in some wonderful collaborations and look forward to continuing/completing them: The First Reich and Elias & The City of Cats.
3. Entered several screenplays into a variety of competitions and have received a great deal of positive feedback (see résumé).
4. Nominated for a number of blog awards — Reader Appreciation Award, Very Inspiring Blogger Award (twice), Blog of the Year 2012 Award, Liebster Award, and Beautiful Blogger Award.
5. Accepted into The American Pavilion 2013 Cannes Film Program!!!
6. Plus, I now have an awesome boyfriend. (◕‿◕✿) 

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Goals for 2013

1. Complete materials for Elias & The City of Cats (hopefully before the end of January) and send out to publishers.
2. Finish first 10 pages of The First Reich and get them up online.
3. Begin working with Masa and Gabe on full-length screenplay collaboration The Blanks (working title), to be finished before June 2013.
4. Send out inquiry letters about my completed full-length screenplays to production companies.
5. Finish the script for The Poet and the Flea, hopefully somewhere between 60 – 75 pages.
6. Work on my first zine (possibly a tie in with The Flea) and self-print it.
7. Open up a Storenvy account to sell zines and other merchandise (prints, t-shirts, etc.).
8. Work on the next 10 illustrated pages of The Poet and the Flea. Then the next 10, and so on and so forth!!
9. Find a reliable and talented director and/or producer to turn one of my short scripts into a short film. Then enter the short film into a number of festivals.
10. Finally get an official internship, fellowship, and/or job in a field of interest.

Wish me luck!!

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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

Experience of APE

Related post: Plans for APE

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Wow, what can I say about APE?

Well, this was definitely an experience!

Firstly, I believe that APE (Alternative Press Expo) was a productive endeavor. I learned much more about the nature of each publisher I’ve been tracking online. I hope that Shannon and I managed to get the names of our projects (The Poet and the Flea and The First Reich) out there just a little. And I learned a lot about what techniques make a successful table.

As far as the bigger publishers go (Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly, Last Gasp, Top Shelf, etc.), I was glad to see them at the Expo — to see all their products laid out in front of me, rather than squinting at images on a computer screen. Some of them only had marketing representatives who didn’t know much about the submissions process, which was too bad. Others had more knowledgable people to talk to, who offered some useful advice. I guess it really just boils down to submitting material and seeing what happens!

I very much enjoyed talking to some of the smaller publishers. They were very enthusiastic, helpful, and informative. And just because they’re smaller doesn’t mean they have inferior products. They are extremely professional (but in a laid back sort of way) and their books are gorgeous!

I loved talking with the kind folks at Yam Books. Tim Hensley (creator of Ticket Stub) was shocked that someone in their twenties (me) was a Barbara Stanwyck fan!! Both Saturday and Sunday, we had conversations about the film noir starlet, exchanging movie titles and laughing away. He even drew me this awesome illustration of Barbara (see below) in Double Indemnity — bangs and sunglasses and all!

Also had good but brief conversations with the good people at A Raven Above Press and Never Press.

I’ve only recently become interested in learning more about the world of zines. And Tugboat Press seemed like a good place to start. I really admire what they’re doing. I’m glad I talked with them because I learned that, rather than taking submissions, they commission artists. I also received recommendations about which volumes of their anthology Papercutter to buy and realized that they are interested in a vast array of genres. I’m excited to really sit down and read my purchases.

Sunday, I finally figured out where Uncivilized Books got to (I just could not figure out that map!). Their chief Tom was excellent at patiently answering my questions and encouraging me to submit my work. I’m excited to start working on sending out some follow-up e-mails to everyone I talked with!

Also, I picked up a lot of interesting flyers, cards, stickers, etc. from around the expo and from the free table. Below are some of my favorites!!

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Here are my notes of what makes a successful table in case I end up getting one for APE next year!

(This is just a rough list for my personal use. In no particular order!)

• Need a billboard/banner advertising name of artist/graphic novel.
• Need a tablecloth.
• Need a sign (or maybe t-shirts) to hang off the front of the table.
• Wear one of your own t-shirts to further advertise your graphic novel.
• Perhaps a sign or two saying: “Pleas talk to us — we’re friendly!”
• Perhaps a big bowl of free candy.
• Attract customers with a selection of cheaper items ($1 pins or stickers?).
• Need a clipboard and form for customers to sign up for your mailing list.
• Provide plenty of business cards and/or postcards.

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Among the flyers and such was a postcard for the East Bay Alternative Book and Zine Fest, free and taking place December 8th in Berkeley. I’m very interested in checking it out!

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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

Plans for APE

I feel as though the APE (Alternative Press Expo) has snuck up on me from out of the blue!

I’m hoping that this event will be very informative, and help me take my graphic novel projects to the next level. Not only is this the perfect networking opportunity, but also a rare chance to talk with publishers I am interested in and get a better idea of what they’re looking for in a graphic novel.

Saturday (October 13th), I’ll be attending with Shannon, my collaborator on The First Reich. I think Wes, who is also a graphic novelist and screenwriter, will be attending both Saturday and Sunday. My mom will be checking out the expo too, so maybe she’ll cover ground I won’t be able to.

As a supplement to my business card, I’ve ordered postcards (see above) from Vistaprint advertising The Poet and the Flea and showcasing some of my illustrations. I’ll also bring my iPad loaded with scans of The Flea so I don’t have to shlep around my ginormous (and heavy) portfolio.

Furthermore, in preparation, I’ve been compiling a list of exhibitors/tables I’m interested in visiting.

(This is just a rough list for my personal use. In no particular order!)

1. 4th Dimension Entertainment
2. A Raven Above Press
3. Drawn & Quarterly
4. Fantagraphics Books
5. Last Gasp Books
6. Yam Books
7. Uncivilized Books
8. Tomorrow John Press
9. Top Shelf Productions
10. Tugboat Press
11. Sparkplug Comic Books
12. Puna Press
13. Pernicious Press Magazine
14. Perfect Day Publishing
15. Never Press
16. NBM Publishing Inc.

You can expect a future blog post about my experiences at APE 2012. Depending on how everything goes, perhaps I’ll plan on getting my own table (half-table?) at next year’s expo.

Please wish me luck!

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Update: Check out the last-minute DIY postcard for The First Reich. Now I just need to find a paper cutter…

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

***

Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas

Brief Update

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

In the midst of a horrible cold…  (✖╭╮✖)

Friday, July 13th

• In the mail, finally received “Documentation of Registration” for Who is Laurence Harvey? and The Golden Curator from The Writers Guild of America, West.

Saturday, July 14th

• On Craigslist, have responded to a few posts about writing and creative projects. We’ll see how it goes…

Sunday, July 15th

1.  After a nerve-wracking wait, Who is Laurence Harvey? did not make it into the quarter finals of The 2012 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards. But I’m still happy that the screenplay made it into the second round (the top 25%). Now I have 6-8 more contests/competitions to hear back from in the coming months. Next up, The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Competition Quarterfinal Round and the Film Independent Screenwriters Lab…
2. Looking into The Alternative Press Expo (APE) in San Francisco, October 13-14. I think it’s too late to get a table, but I’d like to attend, schmooze, get some more information about the publishers I’m interested in, and possibly promote The Poet and the Flea a bit.

Tuesday, July 17th

• Responded to a Craigslist post about someone writing a graphic novel who’s looking for an artist/illustrator. Had some e-mail correspondence with her. Planning to meet on Tuesday (24th). Looking forward to it!

Wednesday, July 18th

1. Craigslist, craigslist, craigslist…
2. Applied to The American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest! Information updated on “Applications” post, here.

Thursday, July 19th

1. Added behind-the-scenes images to my (almost-but-not-quite-forgotten) Pinterest: pinterest.com/gegallas.
2. Slowly but surely working on the-poet-and-the-flea.tumblr.com.

Friday, July 20th

• Craigslist, craigslist, craigslist…

Saturday, July 21th

• Attended The Pixel-Flick TV Actor/Filmmaker Alliance’s first meeting. Thought it went very well! The producer/director/CEO of Pixel Flick Entertainment, Brian Stephens, sounds like he has a lot of experience and knows what he’s talking about. He’s organizing this alliance to facilitate filmmakers in the Bay Area and showcase their work. Seems like a wonderful opportunity!

Monday, July 23rd

• Took care of some important e-mails today.

Tuesday, July 24th

• My meeting with the graphic novel author Shannon Brady went really well. I think her concept is really intriguing and she’s very passionate about the topic. I think this is going to be a successful collaboration!

Etcetera

1. The Poet and the Flea: 37 pages of written script (1 page of script = 4-6 illustrated pages), and about 36 pages (1-12, 14, 16, 21 completed, and 13, 15, 17-20, 22-36 in progress) of illustrated work.
2. Considering developing my short story entitled “Inside the Display Case” (about a Siberian pit viper named Peter) into a graphic novel.
3. Developing a new short film script called Death of the Poet.
4. Stumbled upon an idea for a children’s book…
5. My third full-length screenplay called The Modern Prometheus is currently resting on the back burner temporarily.

To Do:

• Sign up with IMDbPro.
• Apply to the Bluecat Screenplay Competition (before October 15th).
• Begin work on character sketches for Shannon!

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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

Graphic Novel Publishers, etc.

I’ve been looking into various outlets (publishers, etc.) for my graphic novel “The Poet and the Flea” once it has gotten off the ground. (This is just a rough list of ideas for my personal use. In no particular order!)

★My Perfect Pitch: Book Publishers Accepting Submissions by Category!

★ The Submission Guidelines for Every Comic and Manga Publisher in the Universe!

★ Additional list on post entitled “Plans for Ape.”

• The Xeric Foundation: grants for self-publishing graphic novelists.
• Drawn & Quarterly
• First Second Books
• Fantagraphics Books
• Top Shelf Productions
• Alternative Comics
• Gestalt Publishing
• SLG Publishing
• Last Gasp Books
• Study Group Comic Books
• Self Made Hero
• Image Comics
• Conundrum Press
• Mineshaft Magazine
• Domino Books
• Nobrow
• Picture Box
• Blank Slate Books
• Blurred Books
• Team Girl Comic (biyearly published issues, 4-page submissions)
• Koyama Press
• (TopatoCo)
• A Raven Above Press
• Yam Books
• Uncivilized Books
• Myriad Editions
• Tugboat Press
• Parcell Press
• Alterna Comics
• Ape Entertainment
• Arcana
• Arthur A. Levine Books
• Bayeux Arts
• Cellar Door Publishing
• Craigmore Creations
• Creator’s Edge Press
• Manic D Press
• Scar Comics
• Sumach Press
• Titan Books
• Transfuzion
• WestSide Books
• Visionary Comics
• …?

To be continued…

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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