My journal entries have been far and few between and art has dried up to nil. I want to thank everyone for sticking with me and staying my friends. I'm not sure when art will be posted again. Hopefully, sometime later this Summer. I have a lot of creative ideas I want to do with my art and actively start drawing a comic strip again. It's been a few decades since I gave one a serious go.

The reason I haven't been posting is for a few reasons. The main one is that I've been sick to one degree or another. I think the incident back in October is related. The last 3 months have drained me though. Started with a weekend of what I thought was a stomach virus, which led to weeks of waking up in the morning feeling nauseous, to a week of intense pressure in my abdomen, culminating in another visit to the ER for sharp pains in my left side. Both visits to the ER found nothing, despite tests galore.

I know I shouldn't feel guilty for not wanting to do anything outside my work day, but I do. I've gotten further behind in my side projects, both paid and personal. Today I feel 95% good. I hope tomorrow and the tomorrows after are as good so I can get back to participating.

I don't know why I'm telling you this, but I guess I needed to vent today.

Thanks for listening ... um reading. Keep up the great art.

Marvel's New Policy on Open Submissions
Due to an unprecedented number of unsolicited art and writing submissions, Marvel has altered its open submissions policy effective immediately. Marvel has remained the only major publisher to continue accepting open submissions, however that practice has been halted as we review our strategies for accepting future submissions.

Marvel has a proven track record of attracting new and emerging talent and does not plan on ending those efforts in any way.

"If you look at our track record over the last 18 months, I think you'll find the names of more new writers and artists in Marvel books than ever before. Maybe more than at any other major comic book publisher, as a matter of fact," says Marvel Talent Liaison C.B. Cebulski. "We pride ourselves on finding new voices and artistic styles to help us shape the Marvel Universe in original and exciting ways. And while the hunt for new artistic resources to help us ever expand the Marvel mythos will continue, we'll just be going about it in different ways. We've examined all our past practices concerning talent recruitment and it quickly became clear that more 'reactive' methods such as open submissions were the least effective ways to open the Marvel door for up-and-comers. So instead we'll be continuing with the more ' proactive ' methods of artist and writer discovery that we've found so successful of late, including some soon-to-be-announced new outlets."

While the open submissions policy has ceased, Marvel will continue its active recruitment of artists through its Talent Management department. Artists are also encouraged to bring portfolios for review to the major conventions at which Marvel will have a presence this year.

Talent Coordinator for Marvel, Chris Allo adds, "In regards to finding new artists, we in the Talent Management department will still continue to look at online websites such as Deviant Art, Comic Art Community, as well as comic art blogs, and other related sites. Online comics are rapidly becoming a source for scouting as well. And, of course, we will still go to the comic book stores on Wednesdays and see what new artists are out there working for other companies and on independent books."

With the successful discovery and publishing of writers in the fields of comics as well as TV, film and literature, Marvel will continue to search out new voices in all published fields, as we have for the past number of years.

As new media and means of publishing comics on the web as well as small and independent press, we encourage all new creators to continue honing their craft by using all of the tools available during this time. Marvel will be announcing a new submissions policy in the near future.

I'd heard good things about The Umbrella Academy, but I don't buy singles anymore. The trade was at the book store today. Very good story by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba. I enjoyed it. You should read it. Buy it. End of story.

I love the word terminal. It evokes different feelings depending on the reader and is an example of how confusing the English language is. When I tell people I'm writing and producing an audio novel called TERMINAL, they tend to assume it has something to do with computers, me being an internet developer working at my "terminal" every day. But no my book is about death and dying because I'm such a morbid fuck. Really. I am. And it sounded cool.

So if you haven't already checked it out, go stop by my placeholder site and sign up for the newsletter. TERMINAL NOVEL.

Today, however, has nothing to do with TERMINAL. It was just an excuse to point you guys in that direction so you completely miss that it's my BIRTHDAY. 40th to be exact. Yep, I'm not only a morbid fuck, but I'm an old fuck. Well to all you awesome 20-something artists. I don't even want to think about when you guys hit 40, I'll be 50ish ... *cold chill*

It's just another day just like any other and 40 isn't really old. I'm not going to become a quarterback or a teen idol, but with luck and health I should see another prosperous 40 years.

And being 40 isn't so much a shock. No the shock, and you guys with the new babies will get it soon enough, my daughter turned 15 last Sunday. Wow, that cranks up the OMG factor to the next level. If ever there was a map of our existence it's our kids.

So if any of you wish me some BDay cheer, be sure to stop over at my 15 yr/old's dA account and wish her a belated BDay.~KassyKat

To a great, a prosperous year and a longer life.

And don't forget to visit the TERMINAL site.

Till next time, be fabulist,

Ron Earl Phillips
Website

Hey Folks,

Hope you all had a good holiday and have a great New Year. In 2009, just 9 days after the last day of 2008, I turn 40. Wow. But it had to happen eventually. Time keeps on passing, passing in to the future. Or so I've heard.

So I want to make 2009 my most productive. To that end, my entire focus for the next 4 months is my novel TERMINAL. I've gone ahead as created a holding page where you can sign up for update and news. Eventually in about a month it'll span out into more of a blog and then on May 4, 2009 I will launch my first audio episode. Hopefully it won't suck. Take a moment and jump over to the TERMINAL NOVEL page and sign up. You can also post here if you like the logo or the tag line or if it looks totally lame.

I hope to also launch a couple other projects this year. Webcomics! Fingers crossed and before mid-year we'll see THE NETIZEN, featuring all my fun comic characters. Trust me after 6 months of TERMINAL, I'm going to need something a bit light hearted. Also going to try my hand at a pseudo slice-of-life comic called PAISLEY DAYS. Much later in the year.

Big goal is to always be writing. So hopefully a couple other things can squeeze in there.

Again, everyone have a great New Years and carry the good tidings all year round.

Till next time, be fabulist,

Ron Earl Phillips
Website