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Ancient Adventures
Cretaceous is a new full-color graphic novel written and illustrated by Tadd Galusha and coming soon from Oni Press. “When a Tyrannosaurus Rex is separated from its family unit, it embarks on a harrowing journey to reunite with them before the raw, real dangers of the Cretaceous Era separate them for good. This heart-wrenching story takes to the skies and dives into the sea—and explores everywhere in between—in this research-based, fictional account.” Want more? Go check out the detailed preview over at SyFy Wire.
image c. 2019 Oni Press
Commercial: Frekkel
Member Spotlight: Leilani Wilson
On the cusp of her first novel release, we get a chance to sit down with Leilani Wilson and talk about her writing.
Tell us about your most recent project (written or published). What inspired it?
Symphony of Shifting Tides has been cooking for a long time! Like, a decade! It was originally going to be a video game. I’m actually glad it ended up being a book instead, though. The story ultimately works much, much better this way!
My inspirations come from strange places. I’ll freely admit that basically none of the inspirations were literary for me—at least at the outset. I grew up playing a lot of classic JRPGs, and the way that they told stories changed drastically over the span of about 15-20 years. I always found it interesting the way that the genre’s stories got stranger and stranger as time went on. The stark difference between Dragon Quest (1) and say, Kingdom Hearts (as a series) is very big. The worldbuilding is often very finely crafted in some of these longer series that share a world. The amount of planning these scenario writers do is ridiculous.
I think there are expectations when it comes to the genre about what the games contain, but often those preconceptions point towards the much older games that were about simple good and evil. Anymore, things have become a lot more complex and nuanced. These are the same stories that inspired Undertale and Deltarune, after all.
Some of these stories have a lot to say about religion, politics and philosophy, as well as non-linear storytelling. Stuff like in the Xenoblade series, and its predecessors Xenogears and Xenosaga. Then there’s behemoths like Suikoden and Trails in the Sky! Those are all the types that inspired me. I tried to hit the sweet spot between ridiculous amounts of lore like those, and more straight-forward stories like in Grandia or Wild Arms.
What’s your writing process like? Are you a “pantser,” an outliner, or something in between? How do you find that this helps and/or hurts your writing style?
I’m almost entirely a pantser. My process is completely sideways, though. With Symphony of Shifting Tides in particular, I actually composed the soundtrack to the book first. I wanted to let the music guide the story, and what that created was actually a huge mess. Don’t know if I’d recommend that creation process!
That said, it did make for a bit of an entertainingly unorthodox trajectory for the story and its characters. I used the music for all my locations and major plot points, and pantsed the gaps. It’s a bumpy ride for the first draft, and at times will lead to spots where you know your destination but have no idea about how on earth you’re going to get there. It definitely has some drawbacks, but it feels like reading the story while writing it.
What’s your favorite kind of story to write?
I like stories about people dealing with their emotions. I love a good setting and I love complex world-building, but I can’t enjoy it without the characters. I like to write about characters who would be side-characters in any other story. I like to focus on people who aren’t heroes. Morally gray stuff is typically my jam.
Which character from your work do you most identify with, and why?
When it comes to Symphony of Shifting Tides, there’s a lot of me in all five of the characters who end up sticking together (eventually). I’d have to say I probably I identify with Cecelia and Verse the most.
Cecelia is very much how I was when I was her age, and Verse grapples with depression and anxiety the way myself and many others do. None of these characters have the normal dispositions of ‘heroes’ I guess, but that’s honestly their appeal to me. All of them are doing the best they can to get by, and so are all of us.
Which authors or books have most influenced your work?
It’ll sound cliché, but George R.R. Martin made me want to actually try my hand at writing. Around the time I was realizing that making a game wasn’t going to work out, I was reading his work. One thing lead to another, and that was that. I wouldn’t say my writing resembles his in any way, shape, or form, but he’s who inspired me to start.
What’s the last book you read that you really loved?
Queen of Arts by Frances Pauli! The characters in it are really well-written, and that’s what made me fall in love with it. I ended up genuinely wanting them to do well and be happy, which is a sign of really well done characters!
Besides writing, how do you like to spend your free time?
I try to keep busy with anything I can get my hands on. Currently, that’s a circle track car, and working on various video game soundtracks and albums.
Advice for other writers?
Write. Don’t continually revise your first chapter over and over again. Don’t get stuck in the trap of worldbuilding and never writing. Don’t just make settings, make characters. Don’t talk about writing, just write. Everything will absolutely fall into place in the long run. Trust yourself.
Where can readers find your work?
Symphony of Shifting Tides is for sale through Goal Publications! The rest of the series will eventually be available through Goal as well, as well as the albums that accompany each book!
What’s your favorite thing about the furry fandom? Why write furry?
I guess I’ve always loved animal characters from a young age. I like the idea of using these types of characters to tell stories for adults and not just children. I think there’s so much that can be done with furry characters! Whether you’re using their type of animal to talk about the personality type of a character, or as an allegory for something much larger, I think it’s an important tool most writers don’t consider.
There’s a lot to be said for the differences between us and our animal counterparts. Through furry literature, we can find the commonplace between all living creatures. Plus, let’s face it. Animals are (almost always) adorable and really cool in general. Humans can be both things, too, but not as often.
The fandom is a very welcoming and friendly place, and I’ve felt at home in and around it since I first started meeting other furries! As soon as I found out there were a lot of other furry authors, I jumped in headfirst!
Trailer: Beastars
A new anime (Beastars) [1] that's coming to Netflix and Fuji TV from Toho animation. This is based off a rather Manga [2] that looks to be the rather dark anime version of Zootopia. "A world where carnivores and herbivores coexist. While meat is considered a felony, a "food-and-death case" occurs in which students are slaughtered at the high school, Cherryton Academy, a boarding school. In the swirling school of anxiety, Legoshi, the idiot of the theater club, the gray wolf, was living quietly against the "big body" and the "sharp fangs. However, encounter with a small rabbit girl student Haru shakes the heart of such Legoshi. "Are you in love with her? Is it your appetite?" What he really met, it was his own instinct-" [1] https://bst-anime.com/ [2] https://www.akitashoten.co.jp/works/beastars/
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“You’re all just saying words. Idiot words”- Max Dlabick’s queer webcomic André and Karl
This is a song with the same four chords
I use most of the time
When I’ve got something on my mind
And I don’t want to squander the moment
Trying to come up with a better way
To say what I want to say
John Darnielle
Max Dlabick (pronounced duh-lay-bick as his website helpfully points out! )is the self described “queer, trans” artists behind the frenetic slice of life web comic loonacy that is Andre and Karl. Centred around the eponymous pair, a musician and artist respectively along with their friends including budding actress and Andre’s partner Kim, musician Jack and the unemployed fancy rat Clinton among others,Following their day today exploits in life, work, love and the pairs constantly un-named and re-named band.
Max’s creation is a webcomic that has a rough and ready, DIY zine aesthetic that perfectly compliments it’s subject matter,giving more a strong sense of capturing a time and place,more concerned with locking a sense of place, person or feeling onto the pager rather than technical accuracy, which his gorgeous illustration work is the lush polar opposite of! Immediacy is key here and they have a fevered, frantic “this literally just happened!” feel to them that gives them a sense of urgency.
Early strips are super sketchy and a little more in your face and snarky, but quite early in it feels like Max discovered a strong and confident voice with the later strips gradually starting to show off the introspection and self questioning lives of the characters that has become the strongest part of a comic with queer identity baked right into it’s core. As they grown and develop the comic hits it’s stride with Max seemingly more comfortable talking about the subjects he want’s to address or explore, such sexuality or gender identity. The latter shown through our lead feline Andre finding it difficult to understand himself often with the exasperated sigh of “gender stuff”.
These strips are self deprecating funny and unafraid to poke some light mocking in the direction of his characters and just how complicated it can be not just navigating the world today, but yourself. Raw, rough and very funny Karl and Andre is a perfect snapshot of a group of friends each trying to find themselves, and connecting with those around them.
Max’s artwork lives over at his personal art site while Andre and Karl can be read here and supported over at Patreon.
Archantael [24 Mar 2019] - South Afrifur Pawdcast
Today we have our returning guest, author, fursuiter and novelist Archantael, to discuss discourse and argue about arguments. Catch Archantael on Twitter! https://twitter.com/phoenixtheblade Find us on Twitter: @South-Afrifur, https://twitter.com/southafrifur, on Tumblr, http://south-afrifur.tumblr.com/, and on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/southafrifur Also, for more local news, check out the Zafur forums! http://forum.zafur.co.za/
Guan Gong & Cat
Short student film produced at Malaysian based The One Academy [1] and the god statue is right to be worried as cats do tend to knock things off tables. "One day GUAN GONG ( God statue ) finds a cat sleeping on his altar. He tries to shoo the cat away but the cat ends up dirtying his censer. God statue gets angry and the chaotic fight begins!" [1] https://toa.edu.my/
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TigerTails Radio Pies Xavier
S8 Episode 11: Furries of Color – Part 1 - Tugs is joined by guests Hyboran and Watcher to discuss how being a person of color in society and the Furry Fandom is more than meets the eye. Catch Part 2 next week! - NOW LISTEN! - Show Notes Special Thanks
NOW LISTEN!
Show Notes
Special Thanks
Hyboran, one of our guests
Watcher, one of our guests
Sebastian
Patreon Love
The following people have decided this month’s Fur What It’s Worth is worth actual cash! THANK YOU!
Artorias Ichisake and Kit
Rifka, the San Francisco Treat and Baldrik
Lokimutt and Guardian Lion and Dusky and Katchshi
Plus Tier Supporters
Skylos
Snares
Ausi Kat
Chaphogriff
McRib Tier Supporters
Lygris
Roliga
Music
Opening Theme: RetroSpecter – Cloud Fields (RetroSpecter Mix). USA: Unpublished, 2018. ©2011-2018 Fur What It’s Worth. Based on Fredrik Miller – Cloud Fields (Century Mix). USA: Bandcamp, 2011. ©2011 Fur What It’s Worth. (Buy a copy here – support your fellow furs!)
Space News Music: Fredrik Miller – Orbit. USA: Bandcamp, 2013. Used with permission. (Buy a copy here – support your fellow furs!)
Bumper 1: Mystery Skulls – Ghost. USA: Warner Bros Records, 2011. Used with permission.
Fifty Sheds of Grey: Kevin MacLeod – Spy Glass. Licensed under Creative Commons: by Attribution 3.0. Visit Incompetech for more.
Patreon: The Tudor Concert – Inflammatus. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0.
Closing Theme: RetroSpecter – Cloud Fields (RetroSpecter Chill Mix). USA: Unpublished, 2018. ©2011-2018 Fur What It’s Worth. Based on Fredrik Miller – Cloud Fields (Chill Out Mix). USA: Bandcamp, 2011. ©2011 Fur What It’s Worth. (Buy a copy here – support your fellow furs!) S8 Episode 11: Furries of Color – Part 1 - Tugs is joined by guests Hyboran and Watcher to discuss how being a person of color in society and the Furry Fandom is more than meets the eye. Catch Part 2 next week! - NOW LISTEN! - Show Notes Special Thanks
TigerTails Radio Season 11 Episode 47
Ep 80 – The Value of Furry Lit - Let’s talk about the value of Furry Literature. Does it have value? Do people appreciate it like other works? What can you do to add value to your work? The cast explores what it means to value your work and what’s needed
Let’s talk about the value of Furry Literature. Does it have value? Do people appreciate it like other works? What can you do to add value to your work? The cast explores what it means to value your work and what’s needed to set expectations.
Ep 80 – The Value of Furry Lit - Let’s talk about the value of Furry Literature. Does it have value? Do people appreciate it like other works? What can you do to add value to your work? The cast explores what it means to value your work and what’s needed to set expectations.Episode 20: "And we're back!" (2019-03-25)
But the Little Dolls Understand
Somehow we missed this last year: Plush, a new full-color comic miniseries from Antarctic Press, written and illustrated by Holly Daughtrey. “Carrie, a crafty plushie maker and artist has lost a great deal in her life, but she’s coping with the help of her late mother’s gift: A special cat plush that suddenly comes to life one night to help. Yet not everything seems right. Is this truly magic? Or is it all in her head?” Check out the preview pages over at Antarctic.
image c. 2019 Antarctic Press
Overture. Hit the Lights.
So Animation World Network recently brought us a big announcement from the folks at Warner Brothers. Here’s the highlights: “Bugs Bunny! Daffy Duck! The Looney Tunes are back! The classic Warner Bros. Animation characters return in Looney Tunes Cartoons, a series of new shortform cartoons debuting at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which runs this year June 10-15. The next chapter of the iconic Looney Tunes story, featuring a cartoonist-driven approach to storytelling, will have its world debut on Monday, June 10, as part of the Opening Ceremony festivities, with Looney Tunes Cartoons shorts playing in front of the previously announced opening film, Playmobil: The Movie… Looney Tunes Cartoons is a series of new short form cartoons starring the iconic and beloved Looney Tunes characters. With a crew of some of the premiere artists working in animation today, each ‘season’ will produce 1,000 minutes of all-new Looney Tunes animation that will be distributed across multiple platforms — including digital, mobile and broadcast.” We’ll see how things work out this time. We know from several recent attempts at “new” Looney Tunes that the old Warner Brothers magic is hard to recreate — especially the timing. Stay tooned.
image c. 2019 Warner Brothers
[Live] Bottomant
We chat about our awesome Furnal Equinox experience, then catch up on news.
Link Roundup:- VICE: The Emerging Fetish of Laying Alien Eggs Inside Yourself
- SyFy: “Meet the most famous furry in the world”
- Gray Muzzle Geekery Podcast
- This Is What Cars Built for Centaurs Would Be Like
- Tumblr suffers 150 million drop in traffic after porn ban
- BBC: Teen ‘Furries’ on what their costumes mean to them
- Tanglewood Game
- TwoFurryBros music video from NFC: Furries – The Song
- Not just a costume: A look at Regina’s furry community
- #FE2Me Highlight Reel Contest
- BBC article on Customer Service Wolf: How a bookshop wolf handles awkward customers
- Furry Film Festival now open for submissions
- The Fandom – EP1 Introduction
- Dogbomb Celebrating ALS Fundraising & Achieving Bucket List
