So begins another trip around the sun for me today. I just turned 30. 🙂

And on that note, I want to thank you guys. If there’s one great thing on my birthday, it’s getting to take a moment and look at where I’ve gotten myself to, and to who’s helped me along the way. You all deserve recognition. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, I’ve got the best group of readers I could ever ask for. You’re all fun to tell stories to. You curious and helpful, you’re funny and smart, and you genuinely seem to like my rambling tales.

You’re supportive, too! So very supportive. I’ve successfully sent many little original paintings out into the world since I started sales late last year, and I’ve even gotten to hear back from most of you via email when the package arrived, which is always a real treat. I love when I get to exchange little messages with you guys. 🙂 Even recently I’ve been so pleasantly surprised and impressed. I started the Patreon for Prophecy of the Circle less than a month ago and already it’s been more successful than I could have hoped. It makes me want to contribute as much as I can. There’s content going up four or five times a week there, and I want to offer more.

One change I know I’m making is that I want to make the short stories I’m writing a bit more accessible to more people. Currently there are two parts to Annen’s story posted and ready to read, but $10 a month is a bit steep for some (it definitely would be for me, for sure). I still want to keep the $10 tier special, so I’m not changing that one. The higher level contributors still get to read whatever I’ve written each week with no waiting, but in the future, at the $5/month tier you can read the stories once they’re finished. It means a longer wait in between, but you still get the content in the long run. I’d feel better getting to share with more people. Bonus, that tier already comes with an early comic every week, access to my sketchbook of ideas, progress scans and photos and my commentary to go along with. It’s pretty snazzy. I want to make it snazzier.

In case you missed it, too, I posted the first little bit of my first short story for the public to see. I only mentioned it on my Twitter and Facebook at the time, but I want to make sure you guys get to see it, too. It was meant for all to see. Here’s where you can take a look at it.

The fact that I’m writing again is amazing unto itself. That deserves more of a thank you to you guys. Its been years for me since I had the motivation to write. As some of you know, I actually have a degree in Professional Writing, and, I won’t lie, for the last very long time it’s felt very strange to look at it on my wall because I really wasn’t writing much. Not the way that I used to, at any rate. Somewhere in there I just lost all interest in full paragraphs and in painting a picture with words alone and instead it’s all been comic scripts and storyboards. Comics are great, though! Don’t get me wrong, they’re fun, but the variety is better. I like doing more. It strengthens my artistic muscles, so to speak. I couldn’t find a way to get started before, and I think a large part of that was a lack of confidence. Knowing that there are people out there who are keen to read what I’m writing even without the artwork attached is just what I needed to kickstart my work again.

Thanks again, all of you. I’m thankful just to be able to hear from so many of you and to talk back. I’ve made great friends, I’ve seen some great work from you in response to my own – fanart and cosplays especially (I never, ever thought there would be cosplay from this story; wow) – and I’ve felt valued.

Happy birthday to me, you guys are just great. 🙂