A story of disabled life, art, and disabled sexuality. Collects the first 6 chapters into one volume.
For any of you who were interested in my new book, it's up and running. I'm currently working on page 104 out of 114, so it's almost ready to print. The link is here.
Hey, everyone. I wanted to talk with you about my work and career going forward. There are several reasons why.
First, SoW is still something I want to bring to life, and at present it looks like the best route is as an indie film, perhaps a short film. If this happens, I will share EVERYTHING I possibly can with you. I want you to be a part of that, should it happen, as you supported the project from the start.
Second, working on the Strip drawing caricatures is getting to be too much wear and tear on my body to do long term, so I need to create new works to support me, especially as my aidcare now that I'm on my own is more than my rent each month. I have to survive, and art and storytelling are all I have as useful skills. My inability to finish SoW as a comic or graphic novel is not that I got bored or flaked out - my co-creator died. I am unable to put in the daily grind on my own to complete it.
Third, with the current state of things in the US, my existence as a disabled person is far more tenuous than ever. I need to survive and make a living.
All of that said, here is my proposal: Any future projects I launch, you will get for free. I will price in printing and shipping for any of you who want a copy, and will NOT ask you to pledge for it. Maybe it's not your thing, which I understand, but this offer will stand on every one of my future works until you have received content equal to your pledge on SoW.
Future projects will not be as Larime Taylor. No, not because I'm trying to hide the fact that I couldn't fulfill this project - if that were true, I wouldn't be writing this update. Anything Sylv and I made together will remain by Larime and Sylv Taylor, like if I do more with A VOICE IN THE DARK, or KEEP STARING. You never know!
All work made by me after Sylv's passing will be made by Lenore Soleil. Hi. I'm trans. I've always been trans, as was Sylv, but it wasn't until I was alone that I realized so much of me passed when Sylv did. There's a reason all of my leads are women.
Future works will not be put out for crowdfunding until everything is at LEAST 75% complete, and the last 25% will be finished by the time the crowdfund ends. I've never had the luxury of completing a work before soliciting it for funding because I've needed my art to pay our bills. I still do. So what's changed?
How I work has changed. I'm using DAZ3D Studio to make my comics, with line art and various after-work done to make it more comic book in feel instead of plastic looking renders. Yes, I'm still drawing, it's not just pushing 'render' and it's done. There's way more to it than that, but it is SO much faster. All the characters are completely designed by me, taking generic male and female models and shaping the hell out of them. I often retexture outfits, background elements, and put a lot into camera work and lighting. Doing things this way, I can make as many as 5 finished pages over 24 hours. I average 3. My average before this, the old way, was 1 every two days.
I'm working the Strip for one last year to support me while I get new content ready. The first, called HEXED, is about half-way done in 2 months. It'll be finished by the end of March. You can actually go see it in webcomic form right now at hexed.thecomicseries.com. It's a queer romantasy set at a college for magik. Yes, it's fluffier than my previous stuff, but have you seen the world we live in? In dark times, lighter fare does best. Readers get enough grim/dark in daily life, enough struggle and adversity, and look for escape. It's also much better for my mental health to be making something fun and ultimately uplifting right now. My daily existence as a crip trans femme is fraught enough. It's about a young woman on the spectrum with pure empathy trying to navigate college life in a magical world. Her best friends are a blind woman of color and a trans man of color. It celebrates ALL bodies, all types of beauty and love. It even has a minotaur instructor that, I've found, many are surprisingly thirsty for.
Maybe it's not your thing! I get it. Maybe what I do next will be. At any rate, you can have anything I make going forward for free. If I get to a place where I'm comfortable financially, I'll offer refunds on this project for those who want. I'm doing the very best I can to do right by you and still support myself.
I'm open to feedback, and won't flip out if I don't like everything I hear. I'm trying. I appreciate you.
I've made it a year, today.
I'm not entirely sure how. I'm not great, mentally/emotionally. Part of me thinks I'll be fine, I made it through the first year, which should be the hardest. Part of me has no idea HOW I made it, and doesn't think I can do this. I know instinctively that I can, and will, because I don't know how to do anything else EXCEPT survive, and I kind of hate that. I hate that I get to keep surviving but not truly living. No donations or projects can make that different, either. It's just how it is.
I also know that I don't think I can complete this, and I feel utterly terrible for that. This project was THE single most personal thing I've done, and I can't put in the 12 hour days on it anymore. It destroys me. When I started this deeply personal and vulnerable work with Sylv, I had no idea I'd lose them so soon after. When filling out the "potential obstacles" section of a Kickstarter to show backers that you're prepared for everything, does anyone really plan for that? I'm sorry I'm letting you down, and more sorry that I can't give refunds. Just surviving this year has wiped me out financially several times. Please understand it was never my intention, and I will never ask you to back another project again.
I love you, Sylv, and I still miss you so fucking much.
My health has been a rollercoaster, and I'm honestly still struggling to work consistently on the comic at present for both physical/health related reasons and personal reasons. I'm sorry for the long delay, but losing my co-creator, best friend, and the person Eden is largely based on has been difficult. I'm not intending to give up, though, and appreciate all of you.
Taking Zoey for her daily run, then checking myself in at Sunrise Hospital. My wound is forming an abscess and not draining like it usually does. This is only the second time in the 20 or so years I've had it that it's done this. The first time, about ten years ago, I was in for about a week. Hoping it's not as long this time.
My aids are still going to come over twice a day to clean up for Zelda and Zoey, make sure they have plenty of food and water, and give them a bit of company. It's leaving them home alone that I'm most upset about. They get very sad and mopey, especially after Sylv passed.
I'll be leaving instructions with a few people on what to do if the worst happens, but I'm fairly sure it won't come to that. Still, since it's just me, now, I need to be prepared.