It was supposed to happen today. I was hoping I’d be able to post a joyous post about how gorgeous it looked outside, but unfortunately, no snow, and the once predicted flurry has turned into a prediction of sleet. For Monday. Such is life.

EDIT: OH MAN. Okay, as I was writing this, it started snowing. YEEESSSSSS. I’m going to go stare at it for awhile after this.

I’ve been putting together an autumn playlist (I love this time of year!) as well as–and don’t hate me for this–a holiday/winter playlist, because I also love that time of year. I know it’s October. Hey, I  would have done it even sooner, had I thought of it and had the time. The winter one is healthy-sized, naturally, but the autumn one is kind of meager. Anybody got any suggestions for good autumn-like songs? They don’t even have to be about fall, but just make you think of it or kind of feel that way.

Natalie’s outfits have had some good reception (must have been suffering so long with that sweatshirt that did it), and because it has made me happy/laugh, I drew this thing in my sketchbook. You can have it because you’re such good readers:

Also, speaking of that sweatshirt, I may as well formally address the “UM”, since it’s really no longer in the picture. Presently. (watch me attempt to never eat my words : P).  It’s actually a university sweater, and “UM” is a feeble “University of Michigan”.  Natalie is not from Michigan; Kipling picked her up in Chicago.

P.S. One more thing…you guys are so awesome: there are two new pieces of fanart by AnakMoon in the fanart gallery. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

New vote incentive is up! This is another (inked)sketch of the first five characters (first five created, not first five introduced.) I’m still pretty satisfied with this image–it’s another that’s 8 months to a year old–although a few things are outmoded (stylistic stuff again). I really enjoy the grouping and the way the characters are portrayed; it’s an accurate depiction of these guys in a funny sort of way.

No, seriously. I have sketchbooks chock-full of Next Adventure.

Making a painting! These upcoming weeks my friends and I are preparing for our school’s annual art sale. It’s a good chance to sell the huge pile of artwork that has accumulated behind the dresser, thereby not only cleaning out, but (with any luck) making a chunk of money from it. That money can then be used to pay off debts and buy food. It’s great being an artist.

It’s absolutely gray and gloomy outside, but I sort of like it. It is October after all. Not only that, but there is more satisfaction in drinking tea and burning candles. I’ve been going through candles like crazy, which has only resulted in more frequent trips to Patina. Happily : ) . These candles are so good! (I have to warn you, the website may have audio, so if you’re somewhere quiet you may want to turn the sound down/off).  They burn very well and the fragrance works even when they aren’t burning. I recently bought the amber scented one, but I’ve got a wishlist of at least four more.

There is going to be a change in page updating following this Thursday’s page. It may only be temporary. There will be a single new page this Thursday (October 29), but after that the next post will be Sunday, November 15, with six pages. So it’s a two week gap, but there will be a bunch of pages to read at once when it does come. Again, this may be temporary. I’m interested in seeing what this is like and hopefully you wonderful people will bear with me.  I appreciate your patience!

Finally, an update! There are six new pages today, as promised. I’m toying with the idea of doing the next post in a chunk like this as well, though again, there would be a longer wait. I’m not sure if it would be quite as long. We’ll see, and once things are settled on I’ll post about it. I think I’ve figured out which way I prefer, but I’m interested in how you guys would like the comic to be posted, too! If you’ve got a preference, let me know.

I’m absolutely enjoying this time of year! Our art sale is next weekend, holiday stuff is coming out, I can listen to Christmas music out loud, and Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Thanksgiving trumps Halloween in my world. Part of this is because I enjoy food a lot. That’s part of it.

EDIT:
All right! There is a poll in the sidebar concerning how the comic could potentially be updated. Do me a favor and take part!

There will be a new page today (unfortunately, not until this evening when I can post it) as well as on Sunday.

The poll will be active until next Tuesday, so if you haven’t voted for an updating preference and want to have a say, please vote! Next week will start whatever new updating schedule is highest in the poll.

The poll is almost up, and it looks like once a week, 2-3 pages per update is going to be the winner. The once-a-week day will be Sunday, and there should be at least two pages.

This week’s vote incentive (up later tonight, early tomorrow!) is an actual illustration (albiet a quickie). My friend and I decided we haven’t made a straight-up image (not including comics) in awhile, so we used a word generator and got “desert”, so my incentive is the desert illustration I did. Here’s a peek:

Vote at Top Web Comics this week to see the rest! (There’s a button conveniently located in the side bar)

I honestly spent the entirity of today in the Tea Garden, a local bubble tea…shop. Café? It’s been awhile since I’ve done that. The beauty of freelance. It might get stressful, but you can pick anywhere you want to have a breakdown : ).

EDIT:

Final poll results!

2-3 pages once a week (winner!): 24 votes

whatever works: 18 votes

twice a week, a page each time: 15 votes

6-8 pages twice a month: 2 votes

large story chunks, once a month: 1 vote

Thank you to all of you that gave your input! Next update will be this Sunday!

There’s a new vote incentive today! Check it out by clicking the Vote TWC buttton in the side bar!

I personally prefer this one to the last; though it may be because of a bias. You’ll have to check it out to see what you think.

Which brings me to the other piece of comic-on-the-web related news: there’s now an illustration gallery for public perusal (link is also in the sidebar). It will continue to be updated, especially since I’m really enjoying making Next Adventure illustrations. I’m much more comfortable illustrating than making comics, so I don’t think updating the gallery every once and awhile will be a problem. Fancy old vote incentives (like this week’s and last week’s) will ultimately find their way here.

Hopefully everybody had a good Thanksgiving! I got to spend it with my family, which was great, especially since I don’t see them as much. We did some Christmas shopping too. Get this: the day after Thanksgiving, shopping is hellish. The day before? Golden. Well, it was at the Mall of America.

Finally a new incentive! This one is Regina-centric. Originally, I was going to do something that revealed her past a little more, but opted for something a little more festive. There will be plenty of time for history-of-Regina later, not to mention some of that stuff is reserved is for the story : ) . For now you’ll have to do with meeting her siblings.

There will be no new page update today, Sunday December 20th.

A new vote incentive is up!

Just a quickie, but it’s in season.

Going home for the holidays! I’m leaving with my sister tomorrow, and I’m pretty excited. I love my family a lot. They’re awesome : ).

I’ve also got some really awesome friends! We got together last weekend and had a Christmas get-together. Witnessing downtown on a pre-holiday evening, with all of the lights and people and shopping, going out to eat, exchanging gifts…and I got some really amazing presents. One of them I’m  pumped to share: my friend Katy made me a gorgeous illustrated picture of Natalie, Regina and…another character that hasn’t been introduced yet :  P. I’ve got to wait until I can get at a really good scanner or take a really good photo, because my scanner didn’t do it justice. I’ll be sure to let you know when and where you can see that when the time comes, though!

In the meantime, the fanart gallery has been updated with new pieces (you people rock) and the gallery has the last three vote incentives, if you haven’t had the opportunity to check those out.

I did some (kind of last minute) Christmas shopping today at the mall. Happily I wasn’t in a huge hurry, so I could actually enjoy being there, and I did. But on the other hand, when it’s cold out and I see people that don’t have enough to have a place to stay and eat and sleep and bathe it tears the holidays in two.  While it’s a comfortable time for some, it’s the exact opposite for others. I wish it wasn’t that way.