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Frostbite release and the MCM

2012-05-23T11:18:51Z

Gosh, I have so much to write about, including my time at Camcon and Kapow! But I'll have to do roundups after conseason madness.

Yes, it's time! Those of you in Australia and New Zealand - I hope you're enjoying your copies, we'll join you soon!

From what I'm hearing, there has been all sorts of a frenzy of confusion over at Penguin HQ in New York, with Frostbite copies actually selling out from the warehouse on pre-orders alone. You guys are all sorts of amazing *hug*

The book is currently being re-printed. As far as I know, if you pre-ordered a copy, you'll be getting yours on release, tomorrow. The rest of us, myself included, will have to wait for the reprint, haha! XD

I'll be at the MCM Expo event in London this Fri-Sunday. Alas, I'm not sure I'll have Frostbite copies with me to sell...but if you managed to get one, do feel free to bring it along and I'll scrawl something pretty on it :) What I will have is just 9 copies of a limited run A3 print featuring snippets of Frostbite.

After the show I'll be hopefully opening up online sales for posted copies of the print. Again, these will be limited, so if you want one reserved, let me know. ^_^ I'll post up the image when I'm back from the event.

I'll also have three new non-Vampire Academy prints at the event: The Mermaid, the Goggles and a limited Avalon Chronicles one! Not to mention the book of Avalon Chronicles itself - which is just gorgeous and shiny and gold! Plus some very funky postcards at just £2 each. So do come find me at the Sweatdrop area towards the back of the ComicVillage. Say hi and take a look at some shiny stock. ^_^

Books, books!

2012-05-09T18:14:04Z

So, I came home from Italy (where I managed to catch up with family I really don't see enough) to find news online that Frostbite is out in the world! Some of the world :) Australia and New Zealand, you have the first sightings, it seems!

I'm already seeing some positive comments from readers and am just thrilled that you guys are enjoying the book. ^__^ If you're in the US, I'm afraid the release date will be on the 24th May, so just a little longer to wait, but the book is available for pre-order from all good stockists.

If you're in the UK, I am making efforts to have copies of the book at Kapow, MCM and 2D, but only in very limited supply, I'm afraid. I'll be at the Sweatdrop stand for MCM all weekend, and am signing at Kapow from 13:30 on the Sunday, following a panel on independent comics at 12:45. If you're attending one of those events and want to reserve a copy, drop me a line by email or over on twitter (@emmavieceli). Otherwise, the trusty internet will of course provide. How did we survive without online shopping, eh?

In other book news, Avalon Chronicles is also doing its thing and I'm so happy to see people enjoying it. I'm working on book two of the series right now, and hooo boy it's going to be fun! Some brilliant new characters and lots of surprises in store for our heroes ^_^ You should be able to get Avalon part one from all good bookshops, but you can of course also order it online or even pick it up on Comixology - where the panel-by-panel reading system works really well on portable platforms.

Convention Season - and then some!

2012-04-10T16:57:50Z

I remember a time when I'd attend maybe two or three conventions a year. But, these days we are spoiled here in the UK for geeky gatherings, don't you think? Here are my guest appearances over the next couple of months and, as you'll see, it's a little packed in! If you spy me at an event, prepare the coffee. ^_~ Be sure to say hi!

April 14th/15th - Alt.fiction- Leicester

April 21st - Comica - London

May 5th - Cambridge Union Japanese Art exhibition - Cambridge

May 12th - Camcon - Cambridge

May 19th/20th - Kapow - London

May 25th/26th/27th - MCM Expo - London

June 1st/2nd - 2D Festival - Derry, Ireland.

Some of these events I'll have a table at, some I'll be with Sweatdrop (my comic posse) and some I'll just be speaking or signing at, but whatever my capacity I'll be happy to say hi! I just hope I manage some sleep, haha. If I do happen to look like a zombie, be kind! At most events, I'll have copies of my brand new Oni Press book, Once in a blue moon: the Avalon Chronicles 1 available, and should even have some Frostbite by the later events! ^__^ Happy con season, guys!

Inspiration breeds creation

2012-03-14T14:34:27Z

So, just recently I've been finding it harder and harder to find the time to consume comics and art like I used to. When you start working full time in comicking, the medium can't help but be linked with a work headspace a bit. And when your schedules start getting more and more manic, it gets harder to steal time to turn off from deadlines and just get lost in the joy of reading and absorbing. I've had a couple of absolutely insane years (as I tallied up last night, I've produced nearly 800 pages of comic over the last two years between Vampire Academy, Avalon Chronicles, Dragon Heir, Bella Nolita, My Little Pony, Tara Duncan and a few smaller children's comics as well - phew) and so my reading has utterly plummeted. I've been picking up my weekly comic stash and then they've been sitting in bags, unread. It's all very sad.

But, I'm fighting back! It's time to get reading again. Because, without absorbing comics, it becomes hard to stay motivated and fresh or to even build the enthusiasm to draw at all. We need to remind ourselves why we're doing this in the first place, after all, and nearly all creators I know were fans first. ^_^ So, yesterday I asked my twitter feed to suggest just one title, one graphic novel that they'd recommend anyone read. I'd read a fair number of them already, but I will be working through the rest, for sure. I thought I'd share the list of the most suggested titles here, as it could be a handy selection for anyone to take a look at! So, what were the top 10 graphic novels and collections recommended by my twitter feed?:
Alec Omnibus - Eddie Campbell - Top Shelf
Tale of Sand - Jim Henson - Titan Books
Black Hole - Charles Burns - Jonathan Cape
The Incal - Jodorowsky & Moebius - Selfmadehero
Sky Doll - Barbucci & Canepa - Marvel
Lucille - Ludovic Debeurme - Top Shelf
Transmetropolitan - Warren Ellis & Darick Robertson - Titan
Welcome to the NHK - Oiwa & Takimoto - Tokyopop
Promethea - Alan Moore, J.H Williams III, Mick Gray - DC
Bakuman - Ohba & Obata - Viz media
There were lots more suggestions besides, and if you'd like to see more just go check my @replies in twitter from yesterday. I couldn't list them all though, so went for those that were mentioned multiple times. It's a great spread of publishers, if not creator gender, which is really interesting to see. So, ten graphic novels you should read, as suggested by my twitter followers. Thanks, all! ^_^

Avalon Chronicles volume one ^_^

2012-03-05T12:32:28Z

I am very excited to announce that part one of the Avalon Chronicles will be released this very month from Oni Press! Together with writers Nunzio Defilippis and Christina Weir, and lovely editor Jill Beaton, I am very chuffed that the book will soon be out in the world, in pretty hard cover format, no less! Already available for pre-order from bookshops and online.

Once Upon a Time...^_^

Previews and travels ^_^

2012-03-02T13:26:21Z

First up, I posted up a second spread of previews for the fast-approaching Frostbite graphic novel yesterday on my DeviantArt account ^_^
Remember, the book is out in May and is already available for pre-order. Thanks to you guys, the first book made it into the NYT bestsellers list and nabbed itself the Goodreads GN of the year prize, and we can't thank you enough. Let's hope Frostbite is a worthy follow up! ^_^

In my travels: Nexy Thursday I'll be in London at the Charing Cross branch of Blackwells for the amazing sounding Gothic evening! A host of creators, myself included, a discussion on gothic literature and comics (including Vampire Academy, of course) and Rum! What more can we ask for? The wonderful Kitschies awards will be hosting the event and it's open to all! So do come along ^_^

And then, a little later in the month, I'll be heading to Spain! Watch out, Madrid, UK comics are coming ^_^ And what a great lineup!
I'm honoured to be a part of this British Council-run event. I'll be there discussing a career in comics, how exciting and varied it can be, and of course giving some love to Manga Shakespeare, Vampire Academy, the Avalon Chronicles and, well....maaaanny comics ^_^

Paris! Madrid! London!

2012-02-19T13:57:31Z

Hello, all! And yet again apologies for my slow, slow updates. I am a failure *sob sob*.

So, what is there to tell you right now? Well, work-wise this is turning into a really interesting year. Whilst we all eagerly await the release of Vampire Academy: Frostbite and Avalon Chronicles #1, I have been spreading my arty tentacles and picking up a few other interesting possibilities as well. News when I have it, folks. I hate being one of those vague 'and stuff is happening' people, but honestly, I can't say anything right now. What I will say is that two of the projects are actually my own or co-written projects, and so these are obviously potentiall very exciting for me. ^_^

So, the title of this blog post? Well, first of all I was in Paris recently for Paris Manga & Scifi! The above banner is from a photo sent from the lovely Prof. Okashi. Sarah and I living it up at our table!
I went along with the wonderful Sarah McIntyre who, as usual, managed to do an incredible write up that puts me utterly to shame! (and OMG I got to be in a comic with Vern and Lettuce! *explodes*). She had a candy store of a stock collection on display with Vern & Lettuce, her Princess books, badges and all sorts. So many goodies! But yes, Dragon Heir received its French release, courtesy of publisher Aaltair, and a jolly good time was had by all. We were looked after so well, and everyone was wonderful ^_^ It was so lovely getting to meet French readers of Vampire Academy, you guys rock!
Next month I'll be heading to Madrid with the British Council to join other speakers like Posy Simmonds, Doug Wallace, Paul Gravett and Woodrow Phoenix in discussing the good word of comics.
And on Thursday 8th March, I'll be closer to home in the Charing Cross branch of Blackwells, London, to take part in a kitchtastic evening about gothic comics and books; where my focus will of course be Vampire Academy. I'm just one of a list of fab creators who'll be speaking, so it sounds like it will be a really fun event! Do come along to join the discussion ^_^

I think I'll leave it there for now, folks! Drawing to do!

2012!

2012-01-25T13:41:16Z

Hope everyone had a great new year! I've been so behind in blogging for the last few weeks; rubbish of me. ;_; So - first of all, I wanted to let you know that I'll be in Paris on the 4th and 5th of February for the Paris Manga & Sci Fi event - huzzah! I'll be there because my creator owned title, Dragon Heir is receiving a French edition, courtesy of publisher Aaltair - how cool is that?!
I'll be at Aaltair's booth along with fellow creators Nacho Fernandez and the super Sarah McIntyre - who we keep joking that I'm whisking away for a Parisian retreat, haha.

And from older projects to new, I'm very excited that the first book of Avalon Chronicles and the second of the Vampire Academy series will be out in a couple of months! Things to look forward to. I'm also beavering away on a couple of creator-owned projects that I seriously can't wait to talk more about.
Here's to an exciting year ahead ^_^

Happy Festive season to everyone ^_^

2011-12-23T15:35:15Z

Have a good one and I'll see you in the new year! x

Woah, is that the time?

2011-12-15T11:21:28Z

Lovely Paul Cornell has started up his 12 days of Christmas and prolific Morag Lewis is working on her visual advent calender; both annual events that hammer home to me that Christmas really is nearly here! Oh my goodness where was it hiding?

For me and the Vampire Academy crew, Christmas came a little early when we learned that the Vampire Academy graphic novel had won the GoodReads graphic novel and comic prize for 2011! We were overjoyed, so thank you so much to anyone who voted for us. To be up there amongst such incredible titles was an honour. To win was just...well, thank you! ^_^ Click the frostbite preview banner to see the full category and where VA sits in it; it's keeping some amazing company there!

It certainly gives us yet more enthusiasm as we dive into Shadowkiss! You guys rock *hug*

I have been all over the place recently. Convention season really knocked me for six, but I met some amazing people. Massive thanks and hellos to everyone I met in Malta comic con and Komix in Melksham. I've been looked after so well - thank you! ^_^
Now, I'm back to working hard on Avalon 2 and, soon, shadowkiss. You may see more of the chappie in the banner appearing over time, as my wind-down sketches have been largely featuring him recently. I won't dive into who he is exactly just yet, but he's a character I'm certainly hoping to do more with at some point. Yes, another one. I have a stable out back...but I keep them all well fed until their moment to shine, honest! '^_^