12/17/07 - So, after many requests, I finally managed to find the time to figure out the computer language and such etc to create an RSS feed for Little Dee. The feed xml file is here at Dee Feed
So far, I've set up a Dee Feed at Livejournal. If anyone sets up more or creates widgets, let me know and I'll add them to the links column (which you may noticed just shifted to the right).
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12/15/07 - if today's strip makes you think you're missing something, allow me to refresh your memory: here (4th strip) and here (3rd strip).
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12/14/07 - Yesterday I walked into an old stone church which had been converted into a small shopping mall. It was not quite to my taste, so I wandered to a hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop and got a mozzarella and sundried tomato sandwich served on bread carved to look like a leaf.
Today I make a new friend. Life is good.
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12/13/07 - It's odd. I never quite realized how effective a business retreat could be. Not that I'm really on a proper retreat, but my travels this autumn have allowed me to step away from the day-to-day business side of things, and re-look at a lot of stuff I'm doing. And especially, since United Syndicate and I parted ways, it is time for me to pay more attention to the business side of things. If for no other reason because it helps support me continuing doing the strip. Which is fun. And you all like it. :)
On other news, amazingly, I used no white-out for today's strip.
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12/11/07 - For those buying Christmas gifts, well, hm, today is probably the last day you have much of a chance of things reaching you before the holiday.
11/27/07 - Jeeze-Louise, somebody is feeling wordy this week.
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11/22/07 - I'm afraid the Sea Shanty poster has SOLD OUT. Since I am on the road and could only take order for a couple weeks and couldn't carry them with me, I only did a small run. Little did I expect them to fly off the shelves so quickly. I'll try to have them available again as soon as possible, but it will be at least a few months.
11/19/07 - I'm afraid the Sea Shanty poster has sold out. Since I am on the road and only could take order for a couple weeks and couldn't carry them with me, I only did a small run. Little did I expect them to fly off the shelves so quickly. I'll try to have them available again as soon as possible, but it will be at least a few months.
The Sea Shanty Poster is NO LONGER available, 18"x24", and only $10! (shipping free only in US. Sorry!) It's SOLD OUT!
I'll be taking orders for it for the next week or two (I only ordered 100, so if I sell out, it may be months before it's in stock again) (oh, and it's for such a short time because I'm on the road will be shipping the posters personally, and I won't be able to ship anything for a while after that).
Plus, I opened a Little Dee CafePress shop. I only marked prices up $1, because their base cost is so prohibitive to begin with. But I wanted to make them available, and you all have been really supportive buying books and artwork. Thanks! (if you feel guilt about this, ummm, I guess donate or buy more oriingal strips or books).
Oh, and I only have a few products listed because they are the only products there which are "American Made" and thus, should be sweatshop-free. Other products of theirs may also be sweatshop-free, but they provide no information on it.
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11/14/07 - Thanks for the well wishes. I am feeling better. I am painting a mural for Peter and his wife's yet-to-be-born child (due in December), and I painted too long with not good enough ventilation. Didn't really notice until I stopped, and was dizzy and ill the rest of the night. Ick! (but I'll post pics when I'm done!)
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11/13/07 - Strip will be inked sometime on tuesday. But I'm feeling icky, and am just posting the pencils tonight.
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11/10/07 - Lots to blog about today. I'll start off with the fact that I have ads up now. Over the next few months I am going to be experimenting with various revenue sources in an attempt to more secure "Little Dee" as a career project. "Project Wonderful" seems like a good organization and comes highly recommended, so, please welcome them, bid for ads, and check out people who think "Little Dee" is good enough that they'd want to advertise here.
Vachel's name. So, up until this point I haven't mentioned how to pronounce Vachel's name. I knew I mis-pronounced it, and so I think I felt guilty imposing my mis-pronunciation on you. But now I have. Bwah-ha-ha-ha! (I mean, "sorry"?)
It started with the recording of the sea shanty, where we sung his name how I pronounce it, and so i thought I'd put it in the strip as well. So yes, "Vach-" rhymes with "watch" and "-el" rhymes with "bull."
Vachel is old french, and it means "small cow" which cracks me up. I think "Vach-" usually rhymes with "latch." I think I've also read is pronounced like "vay-shell"
Oh, and I forgot to mention, my brother and his cohort Ben's incarnation as the musicians/songwriters/producers "Hercules" also have a Myspace Page.
And I also wanted to holler out, Peter Zale has begun writing and drawing Helen, Sweetheart of the Internet again. So far he's posting a week at a time, every two weeks. She's still the relationship-failing obsessive computer geek neurotic we've always loved. A fun read. Check it out!
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11/10/07 - sigh. My memory has fond recollections of autumn in my childhood.
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11/07/07 - Below, in my last post, I give an update on the poster. but now, there's the video and an mp3 of the sea shanty "We Rogues of Wool."
I ask that you watch the video to hear it, and only use the mp3 if you wish to download the actual song. This will keep my bandwidth reasonable. Below is the link for the mp3. Right click or with Mac's "ctrl" click and then "save linked file", that way you don't have to reload it. Thanks!
The story is this: since I am currently visiting my brother, and he's a songwriter/producer when not being a mathematician, I asked him if he wanted to write and help record the song.
And so he wrote the music and played all the instruments and did some of the chorus backup, and had me sing the two leads (plus monologue). And it was fun and he's awesome and I am pleased. And then I thought I'd also put it to video (of sorts), playing it along with the frames from the corresponding strips.
Who has the awesomist brother in the world? I do!
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11/6/07- Update I found a vendor and am going to be shipping posters from on the road. I should have them by The 21st, and will be taking orders then and shipping all before December 1st.
or at least that is the current approximate plan.
Thanks for the helpful input from people.
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11/6/07- Hrm.
Yesterday, briefly, after hours and hours trying to upload the graphic file, I thought I had the Sea Shanty poster ready to be sold. But I was wrong. The printer's site I was using doesn't work how I thought it did. I'm back to the drawing board of how to do it and make it feasible while on the road.
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10/24/07 - So, thus ends the Sea Shanty, which I believe I am naming "We Rogues of Wool" from the Oct. 18th strip.
I have begun designing the poster-print of it, and have found a vendor. I will print one with the vendor first for myself (I have never seen their finished work), to make sure the quality is up to my standards, and then I will make them available.
Some people have asked whether or not this song will actually be recorded... well, being that my brother is a musician (as well as a mathematician), and I am visiting him, we are discussing it. I'll keep you apprised.
People have asked about the situation with Anna Cruz having bought all the shanty strips, and so I will explain. Whenever I am drawing a storyline and the same person buys the first two strips of it, i try to drop them a line and ask if they wish to purchase the entire set. Both because it's a logical possibility, and because I like the idea of a set story sticking together in one piece.
Today, Alan, a reader, went further to ask if Anna would want to share who she is and why she bought the series. I asked her if she wished to reply, and she did. She wrote:
"Hi Christopher,
I have been enjoying the series too and marveling at the fact that I scored the whole thing. I discovered Little Dee at comics.com and by the time I found out there was a web site and the originals were for sale, many of the ones that really struck a cord with me had already been purchased. Being a knitter myself, I especially enjoyed the knitting ones, so I jumped on them right away when the shanty started. I really hadn't intended to end up with so many, but I feel like they should be together. So that's the why. As far as who I am I'm not sure what to say about that. I'm just a working stiff who has a husband and 8 cats. Born and raised in Wisconsin. Been working at the same place for 31 years. Pretty boring. Have a second job and no time for the numerous hobbies I've acquired along the way. Feel free to post any of this you wish.
Thanks,
Anna"
Sigh. My readers are so awesome.
Anyhow. Oh, and much advice received on Philly, thank you. :)
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10/23/07 - People continue to send in happy thoughts about this week (plus) of the sea shanty (it ends Wednesday). Thanks for all the response! And yes, this week I'll be working hard to try to have a frameable poster done up.
Oh, and for the questions I receieved, "shanty" is an accepted alternate spelling of "chantey."
Oh, and I'm in Philly for a few weeks. Any suggestions of awesome things to do?
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10/20/07 - I got an awesome email from Mark Shanks, who gave me some info on the "long historic association of knitting with sailors." He said:
"There is strong evidence that it was Arab sailors who first spread knitting around the Mediterranean basin. Moreover, blue water sailors up until the late 19th century were famous for their knitting...as one of the traditional seagoing crafts right up there with scrimshaw, carving, and ropework...especially since the equiptment was small and portable, and could yield practical garments like socks, sweaters, watch caps, and mittens that would make cold nights more bearable.
A knitting sea shanty is a fair tribute to those long watches of knit one, purl two...."
And also, he happened to mention that Vachel's Sea Shanty was "utterly charmingly ludicrous." Thanks, Mark! :)
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10/19/07 - wow, people are really loving the knitting shanty. Thanks for all the emails. :)
And actually, due to me enjoying it too much, it's extending until next wednesday.
I am also looking into getting prints of it available, since the set of the strips has already been pre-sold, and people are asking for it.
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10/15/07 - If you're scratching your head, umm... well... it's like this: this week I decided to write a sea shanty for Little Dee. Only it's about knitting, and sailing a sheep. if you're looking for explanation beyond that, I am unsure I can help you. :)
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10/8/07 - Thank you all for a great book release. It went really well, along with many kind emails about my work. Thank you.
Books didn't go out as speedily as I wanted, they were delayed from the printer and I received the books staggered, in two shipments. But, as of Friday afternoon, all book orders had been shipped (and tomorrow, Tuesday I will go to the post office again (Monday is a holiday)). So all initial orders should be received by next Monday (if you do not receive them by the end of next week, write me!)
BUT I'm not off the hook that easy, someone has reported a problem in their book, that some of the pages were printed upside down. I have looked through stacks of them, none with any problems. And so, I am hoping it is an isolated incident. But write me, for sure, if there is any problem with your book(s).
But overall, I think it all has gone smoothly. The books look really-really good. You all were really supportive. And I've made some new friends at the post office from me standing at the counter so long. :)
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10/2/07 - So, I'm going to be going away sometime next week. And I am going to be traveling for several months (not sure how long). During this time, the strip will not be interrupted (to the best of my effort), as I will be bringing it with me.
but...
But a friend of mine will be taking over duties of fulfilling online orders. So, that was part of the reason for the big sales push of Little Dee book #2. Sales went well, thank you all, and I encourage others to try to get orders in this week, to leave as little as possible on her shoulders.
Also, half-way through yesterday I posted about an article in the Telegraph, if you missed it, see post below. :)
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10/1/07 - There was a lovely write up over the weekend in the UK Daily Telegraph about online comics, and they listed me as #2 for "pick of the web comics." Thanks, Telegraph! And welcome, everyone who has linked here from there. :)
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9/28/07 - Jeezum Crow! I have too many blogs and such. I just realized, I don't think i mentioned that I'll be tabling at the Stumptown Comics Fest this weekend. Oye!
Also, I've been nominated for two "Comicsfest Trophy Awards." one for "Outstanding Art" for book #10 of my comic strip Bruno, and the other for "Outstanding Small Press" for Volume #2 of Little Dee.
Anyhow. Sorry i didn't mention it. I mentioned it in my monthly Livejournal blog (or for Myspace: here), and totally forgot to mention it here.
Of note, Bruno and the comics linked to from my monthly blog sometimes contain "adult" content and themes.
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This week marks the book release of "
Little Dee Volume 2"
And although the strips this week will be silliness regarding the book release, know that indeed, a fair part of my income comes from Little Dee Sales.
So please, if you can, and enjoy the strip, I encourage you to buy a book, buy an original strip, or even simply donate.
My best, -Christopher
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9/25/07 - Today's strip may seem a tad odd to some, and so I will provide some explanation. For those who do not know, Halo 3 is a video game that's been awaited for eons by video gamers, and was released today. The two characters in panel 3 are based on Tycho and Gabe, from the lovely video game themed comic strip Penny Arcade written by Jerry Holkins and illustrated by Mike Krahulik. (note: Penny Arcade does contain profanity, violence, and sexual topics.)
-Christopher
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9/17/07 - To nip it in the bud, for those of you looking for precision. A marathon is actually 26 miles and 385 yards. Ted is approximating. :)
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9/12/07 - If anyone is concerned, I just wanted to say that, no, I haven't lost anyone recently. I'm not sure what this week is about as far as my life, but I guess I felt the need to write about loss for some reason.
I do find it a tricky situation to deal with heavy issues like this in a comedy strip. I wish the strip to remain funny, at least somewhat, but I also try hard to do justice to the issue.
I'm not sure if I have (or am), but I'm trying.
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9/1/07 - Quick teaser: Little Dee Volume #2 will be out neat the end of the month. Here's a link to the Front Cover and here's a link to the Back Cover
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8/31/07 - Um... You know.. "chased" "chaste." Common unicorn legend, only tamable by chaste maidens?
Oh. I see. you got it. That pained look is because it's such a terrible pun.
I go hide now.
actually...
I did want to note that this has sometimes been my interaction with kids, when they are being particularly beastly. First, I get surprised. Then, i try to make light of it to give them a saving-face exit. Then, I stop, and give them my full attention. Then we both frown.
Actually, that's kinda how i interact with my friend Nick too.
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8/27/07 - Back in the saddle. A week of working furiously to get caught up on everything else. And I'm... well, in decent shape.
I've had dreams about birds. Shooting at me. Dreams are weird.
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8/20/07 - I'm relaxing a bit this week, and filling in with interviews of the cast. Please excuse any breaking of the 3rd wall, disillusioning of anyone and everything, and general silliness.
Just know it is that and nothing more: silliness.
And me resting up a bit.
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8/13/07 - if you're confused by the return of the Pudu, he first appeared HERE, and last appeared (with the mop) HERE.
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8/7/07 - Okay, I'm back. Or will be in 6 hours. I'll try to have all orders out in the mail in the next day or two.
I have the correct link now for the interview with Shaenon Garrity, it's at Talkaboutcomics.com.
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8/7/07 - Okay, I'm back. Or will be in 6 hours. I'll try to have all orders out in the mail in the next day or two.
I have the correct link now for the interview with Shaenon Garrity, it's at Talkaboutcomics.com.
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I'm away to Fairbanks until the 7th. Orders will be fulfilled when I return.
I'm visiting my sister, and am very excited. i haven't been up to Alaska to visit her since maybe 1998 or so.
I'm away and can't check their site, but there should be a small interview of me by Shaenon Garrity (author of Narbonic and other lovely works) over at Modern Tales. Thanks Shaenon!
8/1/07 - Little Dee has returned to running again here at littldee.net, and the full archive has here has been restored. And Little Dee is also currently running at Modern Tales, a great site with tons of talented folk running strips on it. Yay!
For those of you coming from comics.com, the original artwork for the strip can be purchased directly in the archive (or on this main page for the current strip), see the links on the left side of this page for archive pages, and books can be purchased through the link at the top of the page which will bring you HERE.
My relationship with United Media is not over, but there is no new news at the moment. I will keep you posted when news occurs. But basically, relations are still positive.
For those of you who have been reading Little Dee at comics.com when you desired to continue reading it here, thank you for bearing the inconvenience. I asked for the favor, and I appreciate it.
