Just got back from a long and hot weekend over in Phoenix Arizona for the first year of YAOI JAMBOREE!! (will there be another one? I don't know...)

Generally I had a swell time, where the first day was spent following Hope around as her personal camerawoman for all of her Loveless Seme cosplay goodness! I think I did a fine job, if I do say so myself...

Things turned right around, however, when I quickly found myself as the 2nd impromptu interpretor for the Mitsubua/Futaba mangaka group, alongside my wonderful sister Chrissy. Kurenai Mitsuba and Aoi Futaba are the masterminds behind the classic BL manga/anime series LEVEL-C. I'm not a huge fan of their work myself, but they were a pair of fine ladies, with their two good friends: graphic designer Ando-san and manga assistant Koreeda-san. <--Strangest name yet!

Anyhoo, I learned much about the anime convention scene in Arizona thanks to the helpful and friendly con staff (which felt like pretty much 4 out of 5 people there). The artist' alley seemed to contain only one or two people, unfortunately, so nothing new on that frontier. The Spin the Bishounen Wheel sounded like a good dose of uninhibited molestation on some unsuspecting (is that a bad thing?) bishounen.

All-in-all, I had a splendid time in the 100+ degree Phoenix, taking full advantage of the GORGEOUS hotel architecture and pool. Also, I went to Johnny Rockets for the first time in my life and I approve of their hot dogs.

Now, I look forward to finding the crap-ton of Hope photos that are sure to fill up everyone's YJAM reports online. She was...e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e.

Over and out! Onto AX in just another week!

Just a few days ago, I'd finally updated this journal with such happy news! The first NEMESIS: WHO ME pilot was up on the TOKYOPOP website! Hurrah!

But just a short week later...I have news that I have been laid off from TOKYOPOP.

I wasn't the only one this time, however. 38 other fine editors, production artists and the like were also let go during TOKYOPOP's "restructuring." They were some of the most diverse, talented, FUN, and creative people I know, and I imagine it will be difficult finding a new "Family" as good as them.

What really makes the saddest, however, is that I won't be able to work with all the wonderful creators and artists I've had the honor to meet over the past 2 years. Even browsing DA won't have that same sparkle where I used to browse and admire artists and dream of helping them create a manga with TP one day. There is no "one day" for me any more. The TOKYOPOP Editor chapter of my life as closed, and I now I must venture forth to new and (hopefully) greater things!

Looking at the bright side of things, this gets to mean I can focus again on freelance translation and....ART! Yes, that's right, art. I need to draw more and add to this pitifully empty gallery.

Cheerio~!


[I have attempted to contact individually any creators I have worked with, but if you see this message, then here's a special hug good-bye and I hope we can meet again in the future. ^_^]

Hello, DA!

I'm popping in for a very special announcement!
TOKYOPOP has finally launched the first batch of pilots!
For those of you not familiar with it, the Pilot Program is TOKYOPOP's attempt to test new (and old) talent with a short snippet of an original story. This first chapter is shown to the masses, and based on any overwhelmingly positive feedback, may be OKed for a full-fledged manga!!

So please, click on the link below and show your support for all these wonderful creators by voting and reviewing their story!:

[link]


Though each and every pilot is special in its own way, I still have a soft spot for the first one listed...
NEMESIS: WHO ME?
I had the honor of working together with the great illustrator and talented writer Grace Randolph (www.gracerandolph.com), and I think the results are phenomenal!
Thanks to this simple project, I've gotten to know both ladies so well and joined them on many more projects!!

Thank you and show your support! <3

Okay, this is going to be a short and crappy journal entry, until I get some of my photos!! Because lost my camera. AGAIN! This is the THIRD time (twice at Yaoi-con just two weeks ago.) I think my camera is running away from me...

Anyhoo! PMX was BLAST because I got to dress LOLITA, and...I've been bitten by the Lolita-bug! I want to get more adorable skirts to wear over my fluffy petticoat. I never knew they'd feel so good against the bum!

I got to talk to a lot of wonderful young ladies of Lolita, as well as my fave artists! As usual!
especially, and many of the other amazing artists in the "Something Colorful" collection. Woop-woop!

You'll see more once I get...my camera back. ;_; Somehow? (meh, it was a cruddy thing anyway.)

Life is so good. ;_;

Wow, I have not updated for a while. I guess I should first say how incredibly fruitful Otakon was. My post was, alas, late... BUT I still got to meet a truckload of amazing artists that I am still hounding to this day.
In particular, , , , ... My oh my, there are still so many on my list to contact!! >_<! It was so swell seeing Dina, though, we both kept balking at each other, saying how the other looked so different from before! <-- Does that makes sense...? Anyway, she's adorable and very energetic. ^_^

Anyhoo, moving right along to...Comic-con. Goodness, two conventions in so little time is definitely a...surge. Surge. I moderated two panels at the TOKYOPOP booth, both of which had a wondeful line-up of original creators that were great at answering my little prepared questions. Ah, Marcy of Bizenghast. She brought up some interesting points during the "Women in Manga" panel. Here I am, hoping for good old feminist drama, but she actually went a different path... Insightful. However, there was the-one-the-only Grace (love her!) in the crowd, who's also been a woman in the comic industry, apart from manga, and her take on the issue was full-throttle adamant about how tough it is.

She was wonderful to hang out with, as was Yishan Li, and @_@ And now I've hopefully gotten her addicted to Tatertot casserole!! Bwahahaa~~
All I want for Christmas is rem's sketchbooook~~ La-di-da. And here's a little shoutout that I'm sure she's head plenty of times already: CON-GRA-TU-LA-TIONS!!

Thankfully, I was able to get away from the booth for the pure purpose of...the AVATAR COSPLAY GATHERING! Alas, I did not cosplay, but some people actually recognized me from when I was the bald-chick Aang. My reign...lives...on...

Really, though, it was such a thrill to see so many faithful cosplayer--all of them of the highest caliber! And I never knew this about gatherings, but the fans had some of the best ideas for groups/pairings/scenes etc, that I took over 100 photos just in that half hour alone. @_@ I must upload some of them!! is the most BEAUTIFUL 3rd season Aang eva!!!! ;_;

I could also go on and on about the sneak peek panel of Avatar, but it was overall a blast, and tears were a-stingin' as I watched the preview. Wonderfully edited and composed to make this show look way kick@$$.

Okay, I must stop now! For all of those (and there's a lot of you) that I did not mention in particular, my apologies~

p.s. I am lovin' these PIXEL IDs! There's sooooo attractive and addictive and fun to look at!