ellenmillion

MARCH REVIEW

I swear this month went faster than Februrary.

My biggest release was the Alaska Animals Translations (eeeee!), which was the accumulation of three years of work. There was much squeeing. I am contracted for a second book!

I also wrote 31k, mostly on Tropical Lion's Legacy (and associated untitled short story I hope to finish today), but also on Run and on Bearly Tolerable, which has a good start and is outlined to the end.

I survived Spring Break (barely).

I noodled some artwork for Sketch Fest and mocked up one cover and am 80% done with the pencil work for a portrait of Mal that is full of spoilers.

I released a 10-page hunky shifters coloring book download on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/676772560/hunky-male-shifter-coloring-pages-for

I did not get anything done for Fatemakers, which was the only other thing on my to-do list for the month, but it was a rollercoaster month in a lot of ways, so I'm really happy with what I did do.

PLANS FOR APRIL

* 3 pages for the 2nd Alaska Animals book
* Publish Lion's Legacy
* Revise Tropical Tiger Spy and launch changes
* 30k (1k a day) in writing total, spread out over whatever projects, with 20k earmarked for Bearly Tolerable so it's finished in May.
* Some other art progress of any kind.

Sketch Fest is scheduled for Friday!

I was fairly lax with my August goals, because I've been face-down in burnout and barely smart enough to recognize that I needed a little time off. I also traveled for a week to see my folks (GREAT visit), and school started for Guppy.

And I did okay with those goals! Girl Nest Door only didn't come out this month because of technical difficulties out of my control, and anyway, it's scheduled for this weekend so I'm counting it as a checkmark for August.

X Release Girl Nest Door - queued for Sept 2 release
X Release Shifting Sands Box Set 2
X 1 Torn World short story
X 1 shifter coloring page (finished and scanned, but not yet released)
o Finish NDA art stuff (caribou and 2 translation pages) - caribou is about 3/4 done
o 15000 words on Dandelion Spring - 12k
o 1 print volume of something
X Get Scarlet and the Christmas Kittens in for revisions
X Get #junicorn out

I'm wibbling about the print volume. I'm thinking maybe Rails, but it would be pretty much for vanity only - I wouldn't expect to make a lot on them. Maybe that's a good enough reason? I don't think I'll do anything fancy or include illustrations.

Goals for September to follow. It will include finishing Dandelion Spring. And the NDA art stuff. And some legwork for the 25th anniversary of EMG in October. Look for more on that topic soon!

A roundup of monthly accomplishments!

Artwork

5 pieces for Sketch Fest: http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/sketchfest/sketchfestartist.php?id=9&page=2&date=92

I won #inktober!


Several big, complicated pieces, and a few easier or rougher ones. The last one was really phoned in, but I was so not going to give up when I was that close.

I officially released only a few of these - more would be released in November with the coloring book, and some of them are still on hold pending publication.

Writing

I finished a book! This was the fastest (to date) that I'd completed a book, wrapping up in 6 weeks. I wrote 11k of those words in October.

Other

So. Many. Playdates.
There were many small personal upheavals and minor dumpster fires.
And no snow to speak of, which is very weird for us.

Artwork

3 ACEOs for Sketch Fest: http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/sketchfest/sketchfestartist.php?id=9&date=90

It was skycat month at Torn World, and I did four ACEOs (plus a sketch) for the Muse Fusion:


Plus http://www.tornworld.net/artpageview.php?id=562
http://www.tornworld.net/artpageview.php?id=565
AND http://www.tornworld.net/artpageview.php?id=563

And a new portrait: http://portraitadoption.com/portrait.php?id=2999


Writing

I edited my forth Not-a-Book, having finished it the month before. I also released it this month, which meant a certain amount of promotional and administrative work.

I also edited a short story for an anthology, which involved adding quite a lot of words.

I started a short story during the Muse Fusion, to the tune of 1200 words, but it isn't finished yet.


Other


August... was hard. Really hard. I started the month entirely crippled from overdoing it, which comes with a pile of baggage. Kindergarten was an exciting new addition to the schedule. And I was laid low when I lost my beloved dog just a few days after that. It wasn't a surprise - his health had been failing for some time, but that didn't make it less of a blow.

Have you missed some of my creative updates over the last month? I'm doing monthly roundups to try to keep some sense in the chaos!

Artwork

I only did two sketches for the May Sketch Fest, but both of them spanned into full coloring pages that I released at Torn World for Sea Monster Month. Arguing Over Dinner also became my Patreon perk:



I also did this one: http://www.tornworld.net/artpageview.php?id=554

At Muse Fusion, I did this painting:



I also did two sketches that didn't go anywhere, and two sketches I finished into coloring pages! http://www.tornworld.net/artpageview.php?id=553 and http://www.tornworld.net/artpageview.php?id=552

And, miraculously, finished this painting that I started last year:



I also did this for a client:



In total, 4 complex coloring pages from sketch to finish, another inked piece, a teeny painting, and I finished a giant painting. Go, me!


Writing

A poem up at Torn World for subscribers from our previous Muse Fusion, "Tokens, Time, and Fire": http://www.tornworld.net/storypageview.php?id=614

I set a goal of 500 words/day, which I didn't quite meet, but I did get a little over 10,000 words written, which is a LOT for me!


Other

Guppy graduated preschool!

Whittled one and one half spoons! So fun! http://hotlink.ellenmilliongraphics.com/ellen/IMG_8901-spoon.JPG

Have you missed some of my creative updates over the last month? I'm doing monthly roundups to try to keep some sense in the chaos! -

Artwork

At Portrait Adoption:

At Sketch Fest, I did 6 (!) pieces, 3 coloring page sketches, 2 little paintings (for Torn World, below), and a toned paper portrait sketch (finished as a portrait, above).

For Torn World:

(several more were posted at the site, but they're part of April's update because that's when I released them in my blog.)


I did sketches at the Morris Thompson complex, including this one:


(Patreon patrons got more sketches.)



Writing

STILL NONE. (Okay, I did a little outlining.)


Other

A bear photo of Guppy on her birthday:

I re-coded Torn World to use the database of the rest of EMG. It was a MASSIVE upgrade, and I also added Muse Fusion functionality at the site itself.

I also worked on several projects that wouldn't be released until much later!

Have you missed some of my creative updates over the last month? I'm doing monthly roundups to try to keep some sense in the chaos! - I'm still catching up on these. January was pretty slim - I spent most of the month on vacation!


Artwork

For Portrait Adoption:


One piece for the January Sketch Fest:


Some pieces and photos were also shared with my Patreon Patrons, but a few of them would be shared publicly the following month!


Writing

Nada.

Other

This is my favorite photo:


And I traveled!

Have you missed some of my creative updates over the last month? I'm doing monthly roundups to try to keep some sense in the chaos!


Artwork:

3 ornaments painted for Sketch Fest: http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/sketchfest/sketchfestartist.php?id=9&date=81

At Portrait Adoption:

Also: http://hotlink.ellenmilliongraphics.com/ellen/melyssine.jpg

Leftovers from #inktober: raven, cubicle dragons, Christmas Tree Dragon.

I released 2 pages from the Wild Teas of Alaska coloring: Cranberry, and Chaga Tea.

Skycat Chaos at Torn World: http://www.tornworld.net/artpageview.php?id=531

In the Beginning illustration, Raven Creates Woman: http://hotlink.ellenmilliongraphics.com/ellen/ravenmakeswoman6x9.jpg

Hidden Youth illustration: http://hotlink.ellenmilliongraphics.com/ellen/ellenmillion-notawitch-ink2.jpg

I also finished a bunch more, lots for Portrait Adoption, that I won't share until later.


Writing:

A few thousand words and finished the not-a-book, then edited it! I wrote one book in 2015, and two in 2016, which is better than I've EVER done in my entire life!

I wrote a whole bunch of ridiculous poetry for a big site-wide scavenger hunt.


Other:

UWA show, Pop-Con, Scavenger Hunt, and ACEO print sale.

Have you missed some of my creative updates over the last month? I'm doing monthly roundups to try to keep some sense in the chaos!

Artwork:

Only the cover for Wild Teas of Alaska was technically released:



I did paint a few teeny ornaments, as well:



Writing:

13k on my not-a-book, which is AWESOME for me.

Other:

We did landscaping at our house, completely transforming the downhill side of our house in particular. It may actually qualify as a yard now, not just a tangled wilderness of junk we don't know where else to put and scruffy willows.

Everyone in the house was sick at one point during the month, some of us worse than others.

Finished the artwork for and released Wild Teas of Alaska! http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/coloringbook.php?id=75

Flooded the basement being dumb and ended up dismantling, drying, and reorganzing my entire studio.

Got new furniture for Guppy and completely rearranged her room into something MUCH better. Which was my favorite Guppy photo of the month:

Have you missed some of my creative updates over the last month? I'm doing monthly roundups to try to keep some sense in the chaos!

Art:

Official release of the color version of Tentacle Friends.


Inked my first #junicorn and released it as a coloring page at my Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/468252337/junicorn-unicorn-digi-stamp-digital

Two little pieces for Sketch Fest: http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/sketchfest/sketchfestartist.php?id=9&date=77


Writing:
Released second not-a-book (which did fine if not as spectacularly as the first), and wrote 7700 words on the third.

Other:
I had a First Friday artshow.
I participated in the "HUGE" Facebook event promoting my art.
I was a vendor at AYP (a local music fest).
All Kickstarter rewards were sent!
I took a scary painting class!
I signed the biggest contract of my life.
There was the release of Adult Coloring Treasury 2, which I have 2 pieces in!
I picked blueberries!
I did a product pitch for a thing that I may or may not follow up on...
I suffered more than a week with SERIOUSLY BUGGY email.
My favorite Guppy photo: http://hotlink.ellenmilliongraphics.com/ellen/baby/IMG_3800-sittingonafrog.jpg
I did a Goodreads giveaway for Serenitrix - almost 1700 people entered, which is exciting, but lead to no actual sales, so I'm not sure it was worth it...