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So the fact that I both twice typed this as 2014 Year In Review and that I already finished this post only for Firefox to crash and me to lose it all is telling, right?

Anyway, I have to be grateful, despite 2015 being a shit year in so very many ways for the world at large and for many of us personally and collectively there is NO DOUBT that this was a huge breakthrough year for me professionally after many years of working hard…finally some things are starting to pay off.

Also, as much as 2015 feels like something we’d all just like to forget about in the mediums I love so much I was given Furiosa, The Five Wives, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Jessica Jones, Rey, and even Jem (yeah, I said it!). Of course a lot of those things are very very very white, so we still have plenty of work left to do, but I’m still thankful.

And while we’re being thankful, a huge thanks to all of you that have been so kind and supportive and have bought my books and have sung their praises both loudly on social media and privately with your friends/loved ones. It makes ALL the difference. Thank you.

And before we get down to business, because some of you will appreciate THE HELL out of this – I got for Christmas the best freaking gift ever from my boyfriend – a custom made bust of Tessa Battle, the heroine from my Storykiller book series – sculpted and cast by him, it is just…well, there aren’t words for how cool it is:

Tessa Bust 1

Okay, well, enough of that, onto this “accounting of the year” business…let’s see what the tally looks like:

PUBLISHED:

HEART IN A BOX (Dark Horse) with artist/co-creator Meredith McClaren. This is my first ever graphic novel – I feel like not nearly enough people were exposed to this book (indie comics are tough, kids) but the people who did read it seemed VERY moved and that in turn moved me. AND we did manage to hit #77 on CBR’s Top 100 of 2015…so YAY.

I also had 15 comic books published including a double-sized annual and 2 short stories (comics) that I wrote or co-wrote, plus one short story that I both wrote and illustrated. [And Jem hit #12 on CBR’s Top 100 books, kids! OMG!]

WROTE/CO-WROTE:

Not everything I wrote came out in 2015 (obvs) or even will for sure come out at all (wah!) but by my count I actually wrote (or co-wrote): 28 comics, 5 “Sample Pages” (basically pitch pages for something I was/am pitching), 18 Pitches (with varying degrees of intensity from a “paragraph or two” to “holy shit that’s involved” and including a couple revisions of existing/earlier drafts of pitches), 7 detailed summaries (or revisions of summaries) for a series or arc of something, a screenplay revision, a pilot revision, 9 short stories (for the Storykiller Novella…still forthcoming!), and many many words/pages (I’m not gonna count) for Storykiller Book 2.

Yeah, that sounds like about it. A really amazing year considering it was my first “real” year in comics and I hope 2016 is going to kick its ass. So speaking of 2016…what’s on the horizon? Here are the plans (and a few hopes…well, more than a few since nothing is for sure) for 2016:

Storykiller Book 2 Kickstarter (March/April)

Storykiller Book 2 Published (May/June Publishing/Fulfillment)

Storykiller Novella Released (sooooo late – I’m sorry guys!)

A year of Jem (yay!)

A year of A-Force! (speaking of, you guys may or may not have seen this great interview with G. Willow Wilson on EW yesterday that also happens to let people know I’ll be taking it over full time starting with issue 5!)

I have a new Middle Grade Comic (with a great artist!) that I am close to setting up with a publisher and if we can work it out, it will begin publishing in 2016. The first volume would be 5 issues.

I also have a creator-owned thing that I’m hoping REAL hard is going to work out with an incredible artist (and publisher) on board. Details still need to be worked out but it would be about 6 issues and the first issue(s) would probably begin coming out in 2016.

I have a REALLY FREAKING AMAZING pitch in with a big publisher for an ongoing book with an incredible character…and though it’s been taking A WHILE it’s finally looking promising. I’m crossing my fingers real hard on this one.

I have 3 cool mini-series pitches in at a couple publishers and 3 more due in January, as well as a pitch on a short story due, and hopefully a couple of those will be a go.

There’s always also other creator-owned stuff and various opportunities floating around, but I think everything I laid out here is the most likely stuff to hit in 2016, the stuff I’m focused on and am most optimistic about.

AND, 2016 may be the year that THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE KING finally moves forward (television). As some of you know Legendary Television picked up the option this past year and some exciting things have been happening. Stay tuned!

Lastly, though this is more personal than professional, I am moving cross country mid-year which will make it easier to run Kickstarters (NYC is not Kickstarter fulfillment friendly) and I’m hoping to work some Comic Cons into my schedule once we move as well…so that’s gonna be time consuming and stressful but I’m really excited about it too. Fingers crossed, kids!

So, that’s the sum up of 2015 not bad (personally/professionally at least) and the prognosis for 2016. Here’s to making it work…I’m sure I’m gonna blink and it will all be over all over again.

XO

KELLY

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6cf30a9a9dd958f0f280f6ee5d039269_largeOkay, the big Storykiller Holiday Sale is now live. If you’ve been wanting to pick up a limited edition illustrated hardcover copy of the book for yourself or for a loved one for the holidays, now is the best possible time. Prints, swag, and postcard books are also all on sale – everything at its lowest price (ever) and the closest prices to the original Kickstarter campaign. Run don’t walk and all that nonsense!

http://bit.ly/1wjSuz1

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Everything is on sale at the Storykiller store. Signed and numbered hardcovers, swag, postcard books, and even prints! Get your orders in now!

http://storykiller.com/Webstore.html

4 Day Sale Image

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Hey Everyone

Thanks for all the entries on The Big Storykiller Giveaway. Here are your winners!

First Prize/Grand Prize Winner is XAVIER BOLANOS

Our Four Runners up are: Rachel Atwood, Kevin Rushing, Lawrence Bryant, and Liz Brandow!

You should all have gotten emails from me, asking you to submit your addresses so you can receive your prizes. If you have not gotten an email (and have checked your spam/junk folder) give me a shout.

Thanks again, everyone!

Sk Cover Shot

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Storykiller Deluxe packageWant to win everything you see above plus a few limited edition signed prints? You’re in the right place – keep reading!

UPDATE: CONTEST NOW CLOSED 8/21/14

FIRST PRIZE (worth $275.00) includes the following: a limited edition signed and hand numbered copy of the hardcover illustrated edition which also includes a sketch by yours truly. Also a limited edition signed and numbered postcard book, a Tessa Battle round acrylic magnet, a Tessa Battle double sided acrylic keychain, a Fight Your Fiction magnet, 4 oversized postcards, 5 bookmarks, a mini-tote, a full size tote, the super secret sealed green envelope, stickers, AND three signed 13×19 prints – one by Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel & Faith artist Rebekah Isaacs, one by Ms Marvel and Necropolis artist Jake Wyatt, and one by Spera and the forthcoming Storykiller Novella artist Kyla Vanderklugt.

SK prints giveaway

Signed and numbered prints by: Rebekah Isaacs, Jake Wyatt, and Kyla Vanderklugt

FOUR RUNNERS UP will get the “almost deluxe package” (worth $100.00) which includes everything above EXCEPT the three prints and will include only one postcard, one bookmark, and no stickers (we’re running seriously low on all of those!)

Unfortunately we have to limit this to US shipping only, which means if you’re outside the US you CAN enter, but only if you have a location in US where your package can be sent/received. Sorry guys, but the international shipping costs are just really prohibitive.

Here’s how it works…

You get 1 POINT for each of the following categories:

#1. READ THE BOOK! – prove it by answering the five questions at the bottom of this post.

#2. REVIEW THE BOOK ON AMAZON, GOODREADS, or B&N! – prove it by screencapping or linking to your review. Reviews do not have to be positive, but if you didn’t like the book…why do you want to win this contest? Look inside yourself, grasshopper!

#3. PROMOTE THE BOOK! – prove it by screencapping or linking to your promotion of the book. Acceptable places to promote? Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Blogs, Instagram and similar. If you are not sure the place you’d like to promote qualifies, just ask in the comments!

#4. GET OTHERS TO READ! – prove it by sending in screencaps (or something similar) of your friends’ purchase of STORYKILLER. Eligible places for purchase include: Amazon paperbacks or digital purchases, Lulu or B&N paperback purchases, or hardcovers via the Storykiller website. You get 1 point for EACH verified reader.

#5. FAN ART – prove it by sending in STORYKILLER fan art that can be posted on the website/blog/tumblr/etc. Only one fan art piece per entrant.

Every points gets your name entered into the contest once. So if KellyA just reads the book and answers the questions correctly in her email then she gets one entry into the contest. If KellyB does EVERYTHING above she can get 4 entries into the contest plus an extra entry for every verified reader. Easy peasy.

Names will go into a blind drawing. First name drawn is the first prize winner, following four names are the runners up.

EMAIL ENTRIES directly to me at: 1979semifinalist@gmail.com

Feel free to send more than one email. If you’d like to answer the questions now for example so you have one entry in, but want to do fan art (or something else) for later. That’s fine.

And you can ask questions in the comments below or via email.

We’re going to run this contest for two weeks to give people that have not yet read the book a chance to do so. CONTEST CLOSES AT 11:59pm (EST) ON THURSDAY 8/21, winners are announced here on Friday 8/22.

HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS:

1. What’s the name of Tessa’s primary weapon? French or English accepted!

2. Who does Fenris take Tessa (and Robin) to see in the woods?

3. What does Micah always carry with her? (hint: it’s not Jeff)

4. Who is Tessa’s first kill?

5. What is the name of either Detective Wade’s partner or her police captain?

Alright, any questions in the comments and spread the word around, the first rule of Storykiller is that talking about Storykiller GETS YOU MORE POINTS. :)

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Sk Cover ShotIf you missed out on the STORYKILLER Kickstarter, the webstore is OFFICIALLY OPEN, where you can pick up the remaining copies of the Limited Edition Illustrated Hardcover (signed and numbered x/1300).

SK Cover 9

SK Photo Interior 3

The hardcovers have a red foil stamped title cover and spine, 32 pages of full color illustrations by 21 incredible comic book artists, and a 25 page behind the scenes section that includes writer process pages, artist process pages, and deleted scenes from the book as well as a sewn in black satin bookmark.

On the website you can also buy all sorts of swag like totebags, magnets, and keychains, as well as limited edition prints and the limited edition postcard books (limited to 200 and each book signed and numbered):

Postcard book 1SK Postcard Book 4Anyway, time to get your shop on, kids! Go forth and spend, spend, spend!

 

 

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Just a quick shout out to all of you that were so instrumental in helping us fund STORYKILLER, and more than that, be absolutely DOMINANT in doing it.

THANK YOU!  And for posterity, and bragging rights (for all of us, cause this is a community win!) here’s the final page screencap:

Screen shot 2014-02-21 at 9.05.08 PM

I hope the novel meets (nay, exceeds!) your expectations, though to be honest, both are going to be tough given the incredibly talented artists that lent themselves to the project – and the general success of the campaign – but I’ll try my best.

If you’re anxious for more on Storykiller and haven’t checked out the website in full, make sure to do that, there are lots of hidden pages and fun things to find like bios and an “official Storykiller Playlist.”

If you’re not already following STORYKILLER on Facebook – please consider doing that. And DEFINITELY add us on Goodreads!

Thanks again, everyone. It takes a village and all that. So thank you, my village!

xo
kelly

 

 

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Okay, so they’re not ALL mean, but they’re certainly not traditional!

Click to get the largest possible version! And go to STORYKILLER NOW to support the project!

SK Great 8 Valentine's Cards R1

And don’t forget to BACK STORYKILLER. We’re in our LAST WEEK! WOOOOOO!

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I wrote an essay of sorts for THE MARY SUE about my love for Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and Buffy specifically and how she is (and was) a feminist touchstone for me as a writer and fan and how her existence in the world helps make my own Tessa Battle (of STORYKILLER!) possible.

If you like any of the words above, head on over to The Mary Sue and check out the piece. People seem to be vibing it. :)

Also, we are ALMOST at 30k – which will mean FIRST STRETCH GOAL REACHED!

Come and help put us over the edge, will ya?

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It’s finally here, kids!

STORYKILLER is live on Kickstarter.

Head on over and check it out!

Here’s a teaser illustration by Stephanie Hans, but you’ll find lots more over on the Kickstarter site!

You can also read a 50 page excerpt here on the blog, or download a pretty formatted pdf perfect for iPads –> STORYKILLER Excerpt

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Tessa Battle and her axe The Black Dove from Storykiller. Illustration by Stephanie Hans!

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